Gliding, rolling, saving: igus expands E4.1 energy chain modular system for long travels

By OEM Update Editorial October 12, 2021 2:56 pm

New rollers and glide pads for upgrading reduce costs and increase the service life of E4.1 e-chains.

On long travels, the energy supply systems from igus are favourites for safely guiding cables and hoses. In most applications, customers rely on the strong E4.1 universal energy chain modular system. igus has now expanded the successful system with glide pads and roller chain links for quick retrofitting. This allows users in abrasive environments as well as in applications with very high speeds or extreme travel lengths to increase the service life of their systems quickly and cost-effectively. 

More than 25,000 igus energy chains move over long distances every year, whether in STS cranes, storage and retrieval units or linear robots. In all these areas of application, customers worldwide rely on the tough and modular E4.1 energy chain system from igus. The energy supply system has an undercut design and thus a high torsional rigidity. It is quiet and variable in heights and widths. In 90 per cent of gliding applications, the E4.1 is the universal solution. To extend the service life of the energy chain, especially in abrasive environments, igus has now introduced glide pads with which the chain can be easily upgraded. The wear-optimised sliding elements can be easily placed on the chain links in the inner radius. They are made of a highly abrasion-resistant igumid polymer, which can double the service life of the energy supply system at travel speeds of 1-3m/s. 

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igus has had energy chain links with rollers in its product range for over 20 years. They reduce the pull/push forces on long travels and ensure a significantly longer service life of the energy supply system. Therefore, igus has now developed new optimised roller chain links in two sizes especially for its E4.1 modular system. Their use is particularly worthwhile at high speeds of up to 10m/s or very long travels. The rollers reduce the drive power by up to 37 percent, which significantly saves energy. The new roller chain links and glide pads provide a customised energy supply system for every special application from 12m to 500m travel. “In order to find the best technical and economical solution for the customer, we advise them individually”, says Jörg Ottersbach, Head of the e-chains Business Unit at igus. “In future, users will also be able to obtain a proposal for their optimum energy chain solution for long travels online in the e-chains expert. Depending on the application site and parameters, the suitable E4.1 energy chain is offered classically in the trough or in special cases with glide pad or roller elements.” Optionally, all igus energy chains can be equipped with smart plastics systems for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. 

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