Has been developing and manufacturing lubricant-free high-performance polymers such as energy chains, plain bearings and linear guides in Cologne since 1964
igus SE & Co. KG
Cologne (headquarters, factory, test laboratory)New on Amplifa
About igus
igus SE & Co. KG, headquartered in Cologne, has been developing and producing so-called motion plastics since 1964: innovative components made from lubricant-free, wear-optimized high-performance polymers. The portfolio includes energy chains, cables and fully assembled energy supply systems, plain bearings, linear guides and axes, spindle technology, low-cost robotics, and intelligent sensor technology for predictive maintenance. Most products are manufactured by injection moulding, which is also the origin of the company name (industrial injection moulding); injection moulding tools are produced in the company's own iform toolmaking shop. In addition, igus offers a 3D printing service from prototype to small series, a 5,500 m² test laboratory with free application testing, and, via the chainge platform, a recycling programme for technical plastics. The products are used in more than 50 industries, including automotive, packaging, mechanical and machine tool engineering, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, medical technology and vending machines. With around 4,600 employees, 243,000 products available from stock and revenue of €1.136 billion (2024), igus supplies more than 188,000 customers in over 80 countries, with factories in 15 countries.
- Site
- Cologne
- Processes
- Injection moulding (industrial injection moulding), Toolmaking for injection moulding (own tool shop, iform), Industrial 3D printing (FDM printing of wear-resistant iglidur parts, laser sintering), 3D printing service from prototype to series production, Cable assembly (readycable, cables for energy chains), Connector service packs (crimped/soldered contacts, fully assembled), Engineering and installation services, Test laboratory: wear, load capacity and service life tests, custom application studies
- Materials
- iglidur (high-performance plain bearing polymer), igumid (UL-certified material for energy chains), igutex (high-strength fibre composite plain bearing material), PTFE-free, PFAS-tested materials, igumid ESD grey, Stainless steel (linear modules), Anodised aluminium (telescoping rails, guide profiles), PVC / PUR / TPE (cable jacket)
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, EN 9100
- Founded
- 1964
- Employees
- 4600
- Industries
- Automotive, Packaging, Mechanical engineering/Machine tools, Construction and building materials machinery, Agricultural machinery, Railway technology
- 01
Engineering & Design
- 02
Toolmaking (iform toolmaking shop)
- 03
Injection moulding
- 04
3D printing (additive manufacturing)
- 05
Cable assembly (readycable) & connector service packs
- 06
Assembly of fully assembled energy supply systems (readychain)
- 07
Test laboratory & testing
- 08
Predictive maintenance (smart plastics)
- 09
Recycling (chainge)
Materials & Processes
iglidur high-performance polymer
Wear-optimised plain bearing material for maintenance- and lubricant-free bearing and linear applications.
igumid
UL-tested material for energy chains, also available as an ESD version for EX areas.
igutex
High-strength fibre composite for heavy-duty plain bearings, e.g. in construction machinery and RTG cranes.
PTFE-free, PFAS-tested materials
New formulations without PTFE for lubricant-free applications with PFAS-tested materials.
Anodised aluminium
Material for telescoping rails and guide profiles of the drylin linear guide.
Stainless steel
For corrosion- and chemical-resistant linear modules with an FDA-compliant variant.
PVC / PUR / TPE
Cable jacket materials for chainflex cables in energy chains.
Injection moulding
Main manufacturing process with 800 injection moulding machines; custom parts partially within 7 days (FastLine).
Industrial 3D printing
Production of wear-resistant iglidur components from prototype to series, including laser sintering.
Locations
Cologne
DEHeadquarters, factory and test laboratory (5,500 m²)
- Lot size
- Prototype to large series
- Materials
- High-performance polymers (iglidur, igumid, igutex), aluminium, stainless steel
- 800 injection moulding machines
- iform toolmaking shop
- 3D printing (FDM/laser sintering)
- Test laboratory covering 5,500 m²
- readycable cable assembly
Products & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection moulding (industrial injection moulding)Plastics | – | – | – | – | high-performance polymers, iglidur, igumid |
| Toolmaking for injection moulding (own tool shop, iform)Plastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Industrial 3D printing (FDM printing of wear-resistant iglidur parts, laser sintering)Additive | – | – | – | – | iglidur |
| 3D printing service from prototype to series productionAdditive | – | – | – | – | iglidur |
| Cable assembly (readycable, cables for energy chains)Assembly | – | – | – | – | FireWire cable, USB cable, Gig-E cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable |
| Connector service packs (crimped/soldered contacts, fully assembled)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering and installation servicesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Test laboratory: wear, load capacity and service life tests, custom application studiesTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Predictive maintenance / smart plastics (wear detection)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Recycling of technical plastics (chainge platform)Plastics | – | – | – | – | energy chain plastics |
| Energy supply systems (energy chains, 3D energy chains, fully assembled systems)Assembly | – | – | – | – | tribopolymer, steel-plastic hybrid |
| FastLine: custom injection-moulded plain bearings delivered within 7 daysPlastics | – | – | – | – | iglidur |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection moulding machine | igus | 800 | – | – | Germany (factories in 15 countries) |
| Test laboratory | igus | 1 | 5,500 m² | – | Cologne |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certifications
The products are tested for wear and load capacity in the company's own 5,500 m² test laboratory at around 2 billion test cycles per year; the service life is predictable online. The quality management system for energy chains and polymer plain bearings is regularly audited in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
| Evidence | Cologne |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| IATF 16949 | |
| ISO 14001 | |
| ISO 50001 | |
| ISO 13485 | |
| EN 9100 |
History
- 1964
Founded by Günter Blase in Cologne-Mühlheim
- 1977
Relocation to Bergisch Gladbach
- 1994
Move to the current site in Cologne-Lind; new factory building by Nicholas Grimshaw
- 2016
Introduction of smart plastics (predictive maintenance) and 3D printing service
- 2019
Launch of the RBTX Lean Robotix platform
- 2022
iguverse (industrial metaverse) and chainge recycling platform presented; chainge programme launched
- 2023
Release of the igusGO app with AI support
- 2024
€1.136 billion revenue, 4,600 employees worldwide, 188,000 customers, 243,000 products ex stock, 800 injection moulding machines
- 2026
igus acquires Krott Electronic