Made from one piece: the energy chain E1 for particularly compact installation spaces

MANILA, Philippines - Oct. 14, 2025 - PRLog -- Whether in food-vending machines, laboratory equipment or electric doors: whenever space is at a premium, designers often dispense with guides for individual moving cables - and thus risk cable damage and unnecessary maintenance costs. A new, one-piece, injection-moulded and particularly compact energy chain made of high-performance plastic from igus is designed to put things right. As this product is currently still a design study, the Cologne-based motion plastics specialist is now looking for interested companies that would like to use the energy supply systems in pilot projects and develop them further to series production.

In simple applications, designers have often dispensed with guides for individual cables altogether, be it for reasons of space, due to costs or because the movements appear to be too small. "The cables then often move freely or are held roughly in position by cable tiewraps," explains Kira Weller, Product Manager e-chains at igus. However, designers accept certain risks. Without defined guides, the cables move uncontrollably and can chafe, kink or, in the worst case, break. This leads to malfunctions, increased wear and unnecessary maintenance costs." To close this gap, igus is developing a new one-piece energy chain in the E1 series. It was first unveiled as a design study at the Hannover Messe in 2025. "We received positive feedback from designers around the world who have been searching in vain for a cost-effective cable guide solution for compact installation spaces. This motivated us to press ahead with development," says Weller.

The energy supply features a one-piece design made via single injection moulding, making it more cost-effective than multi-link chains. It offers cable stability in tight spaces, extending system life. The easy-chain design allows tool-free cable insertion through flexible teeth, which secure and protect the cable. Integrated mounting brackets ensure controlled movement with a defined bend radius.

To accelerate the transition to high-volume production, igus is currently looking for design engineers who are interested in pilot projects. The company wants to adapt the e-chain to various applications. This is not just a question of length. Even extremely short movements of only 40mm are possible, for example when moving electrical objects. Several materials are also available for injection moulding, including the high-performance plastic igumid NB, which is characterized by wear resistance, resilience and chemical resistance. "We want to work with users to take the final steps towards series production," says Weller. "We welcome everyone who wants to bring their ideas to life with us.

Explore more: https://www.igus.sg/energy-chain