Revolutionary autoglide 5 system from igus without guide trough

Safely guiding energy over long distances at a cost-effective price: this was the goal behind the development of the autoglide 5 from igus. The new energy chain system is specially designed for horizontal use in intralogistics as well as at crane locations. The special feature: The energy supply system is quickly installed, since it does not require a guide trough. Instead, it lies on a tensioned cable with the help of a special bottom construction.

Many users use conductor rails for power and data transmission in tight, compact spaces and for fast aisle movements, for example of storage and retrieval machines. Their major disadvantage is that they are costly to maintain, can only be used for power transmission as standard and must be cleaned regularly to avoid contact faults. In order to be able to safely guide cables in the horizontal at speeds of up to 4 m/s and up to 80 meters travel distance even without a trough, igus has now developed the autoglide 5. “The autoglide 5 can be easily installed in the alley on a cable or a profile. It scores above all with its low price, an 88 percent shorter installation time compared to trough systems and its maintenance-free operation,” explains Christan Strauch, sector manager for intralogistics at igus. “The new energy supply system thus offers a real alternative to the conductor rail”.

Energy and data can be safely managed without a channel

For the installation of the autoglide 5, the intralogistician only needs the supplied metal cable, which he stretches to the floor of the aisle. Alternatively, guidance via a plastic cable or a profile is also possible. The e-chain can move safely on the cable, because the igus developers have come up with a special guide concept. The underside of the chain links has a guide element in the middle, so that the energy chain can safely rest on the cable. For wear-resistant and precise rolling of the upper run of the chain on the lower run, the engineers relied on the igus autoglide elements. This system consists of comb-like injection-molded stays that prevent the Energy Chain® from breaking out. The user can thus completely dispense with a guide trough.

Durable, maintenance-free and easy to clean

Conductor rails, or rather the contacts of the current collector, are very susceptible to wear and tear and must be replaced after only one to two years. With the autoglide 5, igus has developed a durable and maintenance-free energy supply system made of high-performance plastics. The long service life of the new energy chain is currently being tested by igus in its own 3,800 square meter test laboratory. In the laboratory, the autoglide 5 already convinced with its quiet operation. At a speed of 2 meters per second, the measured value was 63 dB(A). Another advantage: “Since the autoglide 5, unlike the conductor rail, has no open contacts, the aisle is easy to clean,” says Christian Strauch enthusiastically. igus offers the energy chain system already pre-assembled as a readychain with highly flexible chainflex cables.

For more information, please visit: https://www.igus.com/