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igus® inc.

PO BOX 14349

East Providence

RI 02914

+1 800 521 2747
+1 401 438 7270
US(EN)

Plastic e-chain® cable carriers reduce downtime & increase service life of cables

Plastic e-chain® cable carriers are more durable and longer lasting than the plastic carriers you’re used to.  That’s because they’re made of highly engineered plastic materials that are put through 10 billion test cycles each year inside our 41,000 sqft. test lab at our headquarters in Cologne, Germany.  We also offer readychain® pre-assembled with chainflex® high ​flexible cables​ that can reduce costs and assembly time by up to 95%. 
 
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Installation instructions
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What are the advantages of our e-chains®?
  • Cable-friendly due to smooth contours
  • Many options in terms of movement and length
  • Reliable even in harsh environmental conditions
  • Low weight, modular, strong, quiet, easy to open
  • Energy, data, FOCs, oil and air guided in one system
  • Predictable service life with up to 4 year guarantee
  • Low maintenance, easy to install
  • Large catalog of standard items
Industries:
Automotive, Robotics, EOT and Indoor Cranes, Port and Terminal Cranes, Material Handling, Oil and Gas, Shore PowerOffshore, Aerial Lifts and Platforms, Steel Mills, Stage and Theater, Vertical Farming

Browse interactive 3D models of various cable carriers and cables


Explore our innovative and interactive 3d model of this product. Experience different design elements and visualize concepts with unparalleled precision.
 
Browse 3D Models
3d models

Browse e-chain® cable carriers

Low-cost, small e-chains®

low cost
  • Lightweight & high torsion resistance
  • Snap-open or closed design
  • Internal separators -- standard or notch
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Long Travels, Heavy Duty e-chains®

Long Travels, Gliding
  • Smooth, cable-friendly interior surfaces
  • Integrated "brakes" on radial stop dogs
  • Suitable for a wide range of applications
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Special Solutions

Special Solutions
  • Vertical, spiral and rotary movements
  • ESD material to avoid static charges
  • Low noise, high-speeds
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Multi-axis cable carriers for robots

triflex
  • Built-in torsion stop
  • Defined bend radius
  • Split cavity for cable separation
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Closed tubes for dirt, chips & debris

tubes
  • Cost-effective and stable chip protection
  • Stop-dogs encapsulated for dirt protection
  • Hinged or removable lids for easy-opening
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smart plastics for IIoT

smartplastics-all-products
  • Smart sensors allow self-monitoring.
  • Real-time alerts prevent unplanned downtime
  • Value limits can trigger a system shut-down
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Browse the Engineer's Toolbox

 

e-chain® cable carrier online tools

e-chain® cable carriers come in a variety of sizes ranging from 5mm inner height for the smallest installation spaces up to 350mm inner height for high loads. Find solutions for long, gliding and unsupported travels as well as for horizontal, vertical, zig zag and robotic applications.  We also have open or closed systems with easy-to-open crossbars enables fast filling, and interior separators help increase the lifetime of the cables and hoses.  Use the lifetime configurator to determine the service life of your e-chain® cable carrier.
 
e-chain expert

e-chain® Expert Configurator

Orange Services

e-chain® CAD Library

Robotic Dresspack Configurator

Robotic Dresspack Configurator


Application examples with smart plastics

Orange Services

Proper installation is essential for the life of your cable carrier, and igus® has a team of dedicated engineers ready to assist you every step of the way. From site inspection, to installation, to complete modernization, our team will ensure the longest possible service life for your cable carrier system. 

Contact us at (800) 521-2747 to discuss your project today!
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e-chain® news 2022

Tech up, cost down: we will always give you at least one of the two. We have been pursuing this goal for you for many years.
This year we are presenting our new innovative energy supply systems that make the operation of your machines even better and more cost-efficient:

Learn more

FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: What are e-chains®?

    A: Energy chains (also called energy supply chains, e-chains®) are mechanical machine elements. They are used to guide and protect energy, data and signals that have to withstand the most diverse environmental influences. The decisive fact about cable guides is the symbiosis of the components moving against each other. They include cables, hoses, interior separation elements, strain relief devices and guide troughs. The materials used have to be optimally matched to each other so that maximum operating times and a long service life are achieved. Thanks to energy chains, downtime is avoided wherever energy in the form of electricity, gas, air or fluids is supplied to moving loads.

  • Q: How long is the service life of an e-chain®

    A: Simply use our service life calculator to determine the expected service life of the energy chain.

  • Q: How can I find the right e-chain® quickly?

    A: We recommend the product filter in the shop. In the shop, just filter by movement type and narrow down the results using the dimensions.

  • Q: What maximum travel length is possible?

    A: With rol e-chains®, travels of 1,200m and more can be realised. Find out more.

  • Q: What is the standard temperature range for plastic e-chains®?

    A: As a rule, the standard temperature range for plastic energy chains is -40°C to +130°C, with +170°C in the short term.

  • Q: Are there cable guides for offices and furniture?

    A: Our award-winning cable chains have been specifically developed for offices and furniture. For example, igus® offers the ZF14 or OCR cable chain for organised cable guides at the desk. Fastening options: magnetic, screwed and glued.

  • Q: Are e-chains® chemically resistant?

    A: A detailed list provides information on the resistance of igus® igumid G, TE, and NB materials to many chemical substances.

  • Q: Are plastic e-chains® resistant to hot chips?

    A: Yes, plastic e-chains® that use the  igumid HT material can resist chips as hot as + 850 C.

  • Q: Can I implement a long travel even without a guide trough?

    A: Yes, the autoglide system allows travels of up to 80 m without guide troughs.

  • Q: Can igus® e-chains® be used in the deep-freeze area?

    A: Yes, all igus® e-chains® materials can be deployed in continuous use at temperatures as low as -40 °C


Contact a Cable Carriers Expert


Whether you're interested in end-to-end, fully assembled solutions or looking to build your own customizable project, let us assist you with a solution based on your specific application and requirements. Contact us via the form below or call us at (800) 521-2747 to discuss your project today!
 

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The terms "igus", "Apiro", "chainflex", "CFRIP", "conprotect", "CTD", "drylin", "dry-tech", "dryspin", "easy chain", "e-chain", "e-chain systems", "e-ketten", "e-kettensysteme", "e-skin", "e-spool", "flizz", "ibow", "igear", "iglidur", "igubal", "kineKIT", "manus", "motion plastics", "pikchain", "plastics for longer life", "readychain", "readycable", "ReBeL", "speedigus", "triflex", "robolink", "xirodur", and "xiros" are legally protected trademarks of the igus® GmbH/ Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany and where applicable in some foreign countries.

igus® GmbH points out that it does not sell any products of the companies Allen Bradley, B&R, Baumüller, Beckhoff, Lahr, Control Techniques, Danaher Motion, ELAU, FAGOR, FANUC, Festo, Heidenhain, Jetter, Lenze, LinMot, LTi DRiVES, Mitsibushi, NUM,Parker, Bosch Rexroth, SEW, Siemens, Stöber and all other drive manufacturers mention in this website. The products offered by igus® are those of igus® GmbH