Test laboratory for energy chains

In the largest test laboratory in the industry, over 10 billion test cycles per year are carried out with energy chain and chainflex® cable at a total of 180 test stations. We test our products under real conditions with the aim of offering the optimum energy supply for every application and being able to make reliable statements about the expected service life. For this reason, we are the only supplier in the world to offer a 4-year guarantee on our energy chain. Regardless of whether your application is located in a dusty desert or icy cold - we test our energy chain systems under the most realistic conditions possible in order to offer you reliable safety in a wide range of applications.

test laboratory for energy chain - facts:

• 2,147 m² (total area igus® test laboratory 3,800 m²)
• Over 15,000 tests per year for all products
• 53 test systems
• 10 billion e-chain® cycles per year in the e-chain® and chainflex® test laboratory
• 3 billion test cycles for e-chain alone®

motion plastics from igus are designed and manufactured for applications involving movement: energy chains, cables, bearing technology. For this reason, our measurements and product tests are also carried out in motion, ideally in an environmental simulation that best represents future requirements. For optimum quality assurance.

To test energy chains and cables under real conditions even for extreme climates, we have set up a climate chamber in a shipping container in which we can simulate temperatures from -40°C to +60°C. Leading standards regarding cold bending or cold impact testing deal extensively with the durability of materials at certain temperatures. However, we believe that only testing in continuous motion can reveal the maximum load capacity of an energy supply and whether it is suitable for the planned application. This is the only way we can make reliable statements about the use of our components.

Values regarding thermal stress and bending load are meaningful technical data, but only combining these factors with continuous operation can start reflecting the reality in which energy supplies are used. At igus, for example, a cable only passes the test if it does not show any jacket damage.