Energy supply systems made of steel and plastic easily cope with long, unsupported travels, and are openable and closable quick as a flash
Safe vertical guidance of cables and hoses: igus has now developed its first plastic-steel hybrid chain for these applications. The new energy supply system, called the YE.42, is 50 percent lighter than conventional steel chains due to its high-performance polymers and provides 50 percent more unsupported lengths than plastic energy chains. The hybrid solution has a very high rigidity and is easy to assemble and maintain thanks to its modular design. Operators can rely on work platforms or vertical lifts for a safe, lightweight, cost-effective and quickly replaceable system.
Cherry pickers, construction machinery and lifting platforms have an identical challenge to face: a safe and compact vertical guidance of the cables and hoses. For such scenarios, users usually rely on tough and rigid steel chains. However, these are very heavy and difficult to install, and often need to be completely replaced when service or repair is called for. This means immense costs for machine operators and hiring companies due to equipment downtime. igus has now developed a hybrid energy chain especially for high unsupported travels.
The supporting chain links of the new energy supply solution are made of steel and ensure high rigidity, whereas the pin/bore connection, the outer links and the crossbars are completely made of a tribologically optimised high-performance plastic. Thanks to the plastic - unlike a steel chain - the user saves 50 percent weight. Compared with a plastic energy chain, the new hybrid energy chain can implement 50 percent more unsupported length.
Quickly assembled and maintained by modular design
Another advantage of the new energy chain lies in its modularity. The chain links of the YE.42 are easy to plug together and can be assembled quickly. Thanks to its modular design, igus completely dispenses with screws, rivets or bolts that can become loose under vibration. Cables can be quickly replaced due to the openable crossbars: another advantage over classic steel chains, which are usually completely riveted or bolted.
The new YE.42 additionally achieves its high stability by means of an undercut design for locking the chain links. For the interior of the energy chain, igus offers a wide range of partitioning elements that ensure an interior separation friendly to cables and hoses.
Readychain - ready to connect with system guarantee
The new hybrid energy chain is now available with an inner height of 42 millimetres and a width of 50 to 400 millimetres with a bend radius of 100 millimetres. 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. All chainflex cables are offered with a unique worldwide guarantee of 36 months, thanks to the numerous tests conducted under real conditions in the in-house 3,800 square metre igus test laboratory.