For decades, the company has been in the business of developing and manufacturing motion plastics, which are high-performance polymers used for movement. These revolutionary, lubrication-free products — which include energy supply systems, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings, lead screw technology, 3D printing, Low Cost Automation, and smart polymers — are employed across a wide range of vital applications, in various sectors.
With 190 newly developed physical and digital products — like a low-cost robot operated through a virtual reality headset, and a smartphone artificial intelligence application that identifies and orders spare parts for various industries — Igus drives engineering forward.
Entering its 60th year in the business, Igus is taking a more creative and greener approach: “Enjoyneering — unleash your engineering power with play.” This direction showcases the latest motion plastics technologies in more innovative and sustainable ways, utilizing VR applications and low-cost automation, among others.
We want to develop new solutions that even small companies with limited budgets can easily use.
Frank Blase, Chief Executive Officer of Igus
“The possibilities of virtual reality for mechanical engineering design are absolutely fascinating,” Igus CEO Frank Blase pointed out. “We want to develop new solutions that even small companies with limited budgets can easily use.”
With a thrust toward a carbon-neutral factory by 2025, the family-run company based in Cologne is in the thick of developing systems and improving the environmental balance of plastics through progressive recycling programs. Alongside its technological expansion, Igus continues to broaden its global reach.
Presently, Igus has over 188,000 customers and around 5,000 employees at 31 locations, worldwide. Japan is an important market for this growth.
“Japan is one of the big countries for us, in terms of sales, and we’ve been doing business with the Japanese for more than 30 years. With our unique products, we are currently serving a roster of Japanese businesses, including machine tool builders, semiconductor manufacturing equipment builders, crane builders, automotive-related companies and more. There is an especially large opportunity in the Japanese automotive market. Currently, we’re increasing resources in Tochigi, to increase production capacity. Igus is globally putting more and more focus on low-cost automation, too. We believe we can expand this business in the Japanese market, as well,” Blase shared.
