igus twisterchain energy chain targets compact robot rotation past 600°

Motion plastics leader igus GmbH has announced a new self-supporting twisterchain energy chain for industrial robots, aimed at reliable cable management through rotation angles of more than 600°.

“The new power chain is designed for industrial applications such as palletizing.”

The engineering idea is straightforward: keep the cable path controlled while the robot turns.

“This rotary module sits in a sag around the robot base. As the robot rotates, it lifts step by step to a new level, enabling full 360° rotation without colliding with the connector plate.”

Where igus sees the fit

igus said the twisterchain product solves challenges for compact robots and palletizing robots. In practice, that means the design is being framed for fast rotation near the robot base and for applications where cable or hose movement can become difficult to control during repeated rotary cycles.

Because the energy chain system is self-supporting, installation is simplified compared with arrangements that depend on added guidance hardware. The chains open at the inner radius for easy cable insertion and offer flexible interior separation, a combination that speaks directly to maintenance access and layout discipline inside crowded robot cells.

Serviceability and company backdrop

The service-life angle is part of the pitch. igus said about 234,000 articles are available from stock, and the service life can be calculated online. For engineers, that matters less as a slogan than as a design input: predictable selection and replacement planning can reduce ambiguity when rotation angle, cable package, and duty cycle interact.

“Research in the industry’s largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users.”

igus is the worldwide market leader in energy supplies, highly flexible cables, and plain and linear bearings. The company employs 4,600 people across the globe and generated a turnover of €1.15 billion in 2022, equivalent to $1.32 billion.

Beyond the new chain, igus has U.S. headquarters in Rumford, R.I., and has expanded by creating internal startups. Its wider portfolio references include the RBTX platform, smart plastics, and the change program for recycling used e-chains. That broader context does not prove the twisterchain energy chain will fit every robot layout—but it does show igus is trying to pair hardware with configuration tools, service-life calculation, and end-of-life handling.