Let’s talk: Manufacturing
Plastics for motion, not the ocean The plastics used by igus are not for single-use applications, but instead form part of a circular economy that sees the company reuse up to 99% of its plastic waste, reintroducing it to in-house manufacturing processes in granular form. We have ISO14001 accreditation as well as recycling programmes for certain major product groups, such as our e-chain® range of energy chains,” says managing director Matthew Aldridge. “Customers can return their worn energy chains, even those made by competitors, and know that we guarantee to recycle and reuse them in industrial components.” The company has a corporate goal of being carbon neutral by 2025, which is an ambitious target, but igus is implementing many changes within the business to try and meet this aim. “This is not a tick-box or greenwashing exercise, we’re very serious about contributing to a cleaner planet,” says Mr Aldridge. “All that said, some people don’t realise that far less energy is required to manufacture a plastic bearing than a metal one. Plastic bearings are also smaller and weigh less, so there are fewer emissions attributable to transportation. Another key point is that plastic bearings do not require lubrication, unlike metal ones, reducing the potential for environmental contamination and making them a very ecological choice.”
online free-of-charge. “Customers can visit our website and select a delta robot, for example, and use the online Robot Control software to move it on-screen in a way that replicates the actual application,” explains Mr Aldridge. “So when the customer receives the actual robot, they already have the program and simply load it into the Robot Control.” Ample cost savings are available with low-cost automation from igus. For example, a basic SCARA robot will cost as little as £5000, perhaps £7500 after adding an end effector and a controller. In terms of service life, while igus might calculate life as three years, for example, the robot will not fail at that point, it will simply require replacement of its liners. “It’s a very cost-effective option for small factory tasks that require automating,” says Mr Aldridge. “Furthermore, this year we’ll have collaborative robot [cobot] accreditation for one of our models, helping us to enter the market for robots working with human operatives.” He concludes: “With massive pressure on robots globally to help boost productivity and solve labour shortages, low-cost automation is a rapidly growing area of our business.” n www.igus.co.uk
AEROSPACE MACHINING EXPERTISE
ALIMASTER FOR ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
VQ END MILLS FOR DIFFICULT-TO-CUT MATERIALS
ASPX FOR TITANIUM ALLOYS
Watch the video
mmc-hardmetal.com
14
Machinery & Manufacturing
Powered by FlippingBook