A plastic-steel hybrid chain for the vertical guidance of cables and hoses has been developed.

The new supply system is said to be 50% lighter than conventional steel chains owing to the use of polymers and is said to provide 50% more unsupported lengths than plastic energy chains.

The energy supply systems are made of steel and plastic and are designed to cope with long, unsupported travels and to facilitate easier opening and closing.

The hybrid solution has a high rigidity, with a modular design for ease of assembly and maintenance. 

Cherry pickers, construction machinery and lifting platforms all require safe and compact vertical guidance of the cables and hoses. Traditionally, this kind of equipment used rigid steel chains, which can be heavy and difficult to install, and may need to be completely replaced when maintenance is required. This could lead to higher operating costs and disruptions in productivity.

The new hybrid energy chain developed specifically for high unsupported travels, has supporting chain links made of steel to ensure high rigidity, whereas the pin/bore connection, outer links and crossbars are made of a tribologically optimised high-performance plastic. The use of plastic instead of the traditional steel chain, is said to save up to 50% in the total weight of the system. In addition, the new hybrid energy chain is said to be able to implement 50% more unsupported length, compared to a plastic energy chain.

The chain links of the system plug together to facilitate faster assembly and the crossbars of the cables can be opened and replaced. In addition, the manufacturer states that the design does not include the use of screws, rivets or bolts that could loosen due to vibration. An undercut design for locking the chain links adds to the stability of the system. For the interior of the energy chain, the manufacturer offers a range of partitioning elements to provide an interior separation compatible with cables and hoses.

The YE.42 hybrid energy chain from igus is available with an inner height of 42 mm and a width of 50 mm to 400 mm with a bend radius of
100 mm. Other sizes are available upon request. The new energy supply system is also available as a ready-to-connect, harnessed readychain system with chain-friendly and tested chainflex cables, hydraulic components, hoses and hose fittings. The chainflex cables are offered with a 36-month guarantee.