MechChem Africa September-October 2025

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

eration: igus chains glide with mini mal resistance thanks to their self lubricating plastic design, which significantly reduces drag forces. • Maintenance-free: No greasing or lubrication is needed throughout the life of the chain. • Quick configuration and customi sation: Designers can use the free igus online configurators to select, model and download their ideal energy chain setup. • Intelligent condition monitoring: With igus’ i.Sense smart plastics, add-on sensors can be embedded to monitor wear, cable tension and chain motion in real-time. • Space-saving and safe: Energy chains allow for neatly routed cables and hoses that don’t hang or swing, improving machine aesthet ics and workplace safety. igus e-chains are in use across over 50 industries, ranging from CNC machines and robotics to packaging lines, quarries, and marine applications. Their proven versatility makes them a reliable choice across virtually any moving cable application. From travels as short as 100 mm up to the current longest application of 950 m. https://www.igus.co.za

Cable care and machine longevity The management of moving cables and hoses in machine building is crucial to the operation and longevity of the equipment, with modern systems, such as energy chain cable carriers, often replacing conventional systems like cable festoons, reels, or free hanging loops.

neat and always protected,” says igus South Africa managing director, Ian Hewat. He cites the following compelling rea sons for turning to igus energy chains when designing and building machines: • Cable-friendly design: igus energy chains have smooth inner surfaces and a controlled minimum bending radius based on cable specification, protecting cables and hoses from micro-abrasions and stress cracks. • Modular, lightweight and strong: Made from high-performance poly mers, igus chains are lighter than metal systems yet offer impressive strength and stability. • Multi-media integration: igus en ergy chains can simultaneously carry electric cables, pneumatic lines, hydraulic hoses and even fibre optic cables. • Predictable service life with war ranty: igus backs its products with a guaranteed service life based on millions of lab-tested cycles, with many igus chainflex cables carrying up to a four-year warranty. • Low-friction, energy-efficient op

Introduced in South Africa by German polymer manufacturer igus, innovative polymer chains serve as a protective guide for cables and hoses, ensuring they move in a defined, controlled path without tangling, twisting, or wearing prematurely. Widely used in manufacturing, automa tion, packaging, mining, robotics and ma chine tool industries, igus energy chains are fast replacing traditional festoon and cable reel systems due to their low-maintenance characteristics and ability to handle mul tiple energy types, including electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, fibre optic and even auxiliary components such as hoses, all in one neat, flexible solution. “Our e-chain cable carriers are increas ingly being designed into new systems or retrofitted to festoons and cable-reel systems in many industries. They act as a moving conduit or spine that keeps the cable

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