igus sets the course for Global growth with investments in automation and local production

SINGAPORE - April 20, 2026 - PRLog -- In a time marked by geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, igus continues to focus on innovation, speed and customer proximity as key drivers of growth. With global investments totaling €124.4 million, the motion plastics specialist is expanding automation, infrastructure and local production to ensure fast, reliable delivery worldwide.

Despite challenging market conditions, igus increased its 2025 turnover to €1.155 billion, representing growth of 4.4 percent year on year. China, Germany and the USA remain the company's strongest markets, accounting for around 60 percent of global sales. igus now employs 5,423 people worldwide, including 2,044 at its Cologne headquarters.

To strengthen supply chains and reduce dependency on the external labor market, igus invested heavily in automation and skills development. A new Training Factory in Cologne supports long‑term workforce development, while advanced automation solutions significantly accelerate production processes. At the headquarters alone, 857 injection‑moulding machines now produce over one billion components annually. New automated crimping and soldering systems reduce throughput times by up to 30 times compared to manual processes.

As part of its "Phase 8" expansion in Cologne, igus is also building a fully automated small‑parts warehouse capable of up to 1,800 storage and retrieval operations per hour. In parallel, the company expanded its test laboratory to 5,500 square meters, enabling up to 17,000 tests per year and supporting the development of PTFE‑free and bisphenol‑free materials.

Customer proximity remains a strategic priority. While 95 percent of components are still manufactured in Germany, igus expanded production and logistics capacities in China, the USA, Poland, Turkey and Japan, while opening new subsidiaries in Australia, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Latvia. These measures reduced transport weight by approximately 1.2 million kg in 2025, contributing to CO₂ reduction.

igus continues to drive sustainable innovation, launching 227 new motion plastics products and expanding its low‑cost robotics ecosystem via the RBTX platform. "We are proving that technological innovation and sustainable growth are possible even in challenging times," says Artur Peplinski, CEO of igus. "With speed, local presence and automation, we are setting the course for long‑term success — for igus and our customers."

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