Configurable online on the tablet, as a long-lasting special edition 3D-printed or equipped with smart intelligence: Motion plastics are developing more and more into high-tech components. This development shows Igus at this year's Hannover Messe with 120 innovations - from intelligent slide bearings to the world's first online platform that brings together providers and users of cost-effective robotics.

With igus core technology "motion plastics - plastics for movement", igus ventures into new areas of industry every year: 3D printing for wear parts with online calculable lifetime, intelligent "Smart Plastics", energy chains with 1000 m travel or lubrication-free polymer ball bearings with 10 often higher maturity. And with success, because high-performance plastics for the movement are in high demand worldwide. For example, Igus GmbH increased its 2018 sales by 8,5% to 748 million euros. Of total sales, 53% was generated in Europe, 31% in Asia and 16% in the Americas and Africa. The number of employees increased to 4150.

With start-up mentality in new areas

Igus grows purely organically and continuously opens up new markets such as stage technology or the solar industry. At the main location in Cologne Porz-Lind there is start-up vigor. "Thanks to agile working methods and open structures, we are able to quickly implement new motion plastics ideas in sprint teams," emphasizes Frank Blase, Managing Director of Igus GmbH. "We try out, make new, improve until the user receives exactly the product that takes him further forward." One result of this dynamic are the 120 innovations that the plastics specialist is presenting at the Hanover Fair this year. It shows that plastic machine elements have long since become high-tech components.

High quality wheels and castors for industrial applications

In this way, the people of Cologne are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digitization and are presenting slide bearings that can be equipped with smart intelligence. With the extended communication module "Icom.plus", the user can decide in which form he wants to integrate the obtained data. From an offline version for restrictive environments to the connection of the values ​​to the in-house server, for the automatic ordering of spare parts, the user is free to integrate and read out his data.

Robotics platform and 3D printing 

High-performance polymers also expand the possibilities of low-cost automation. Because if you build robots with gears and many other parts made of plastic, enormous cost savings are possible. Robots from 3000 euros are already a reality. Together with 16 other partners from the industry, Igus is presenting the world premiere of the online platform rbtx.com, which brings providers and users together on a platform for lean robotics. The customer can completely configure industrial and service robots there.

The area of ​​additive manufacturing also continued to grow in the last year. The 3D printing capacities were tripled by the new SLS printer and a dedicated high-temperature printer was developed for the heat-resistant tribo-filament "Iglidur J350". There are now special online configurators and printed solutions with excellent wear behavior for common machine elements such as gears and rollers. Unique in the world: the service life of these 3D-printed components can be calculated online.

Test lab as a growth driver

These calculations are based on the data from the test laboratory. Last year alone, over 264 new plastic compounds were developed and tested in the test laboratory. In addition, there were over 11.300 tests in the plain bearing area alone at over 50 different test stations. In 2018, over 4100 tests and thus more than 10 billion e-chain cycles were run in the energy chain and cable laboratory. At the same time, the test laboratory is always a think tank for developing special solutions with tribo-polymers for a wide variety of industries and applications.

One result is the Iglidur plain bearing Q2E, which can safely store up to 7 t in the construction machinery and agricultural sectors without lubrication. For long travels the E-Chain E4Q is suitable. With its slender pebble-shaped design, it saves weight and is easy to assemble with quick-release bars without tools. Especially for corresponding long-distance tests, a new outdoor test facility is currently being built. The test laboratory is thus expanding to over 3800 m². The signs are also pointing to a further expansion of capacities worldwide, with the goal of quickly supplying customers on site. For example, the US subsidiary was expanded by an additional 5000 m² on approximately 19.000 m² of office and production space. In China, the new building on 22.000 m² is currently taking place, the project will be completed in August. In addition to extensions in Brazil, India, Poland and Thailand, a property was acquired in Korea for the new construction of the branch. The 2019 m² building will be erected by the end of 9.500.

The whole world of igus robots

But global growth can only succeed if the customer continues to be the focus of all company activities, of that Frank Blase is certain. "The question that my father asked the first customer in 1964 as the company founder has lost none of its relevance to this day," says the managing director. “He asked, 'What is your most difficult molded part?' Today we vary the question: 'How do we help you to reduce your costs, to improve the technology and to do it easily, quietly, lubricant-free and durable?' With Motion Plastics we find more and more answers. "

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