Many users rely on conductor rails for power and data transmission in tight, compact spaces and for fast aisle travel, for example for storage and retrieval machines. Their major disadvantage is that they are expensive to maintain, can only be used for power transmission as standard and must be cleaned regularly to prevent contact faults. Igus has now developed the Autoglide 5 to safely guide cables horizontally at speeds of up to four meters per second and up to 80 meters of travel, even without a channel. "The Autoglide 5 can be easily installed in the aisle on a cable or profile. It scores points above all with its cost-effective price, an 88 percent shorter installation time compared to channel systems and its maintenance-free design," explains Christian Strauch, Industry Manager Intralogistics at Igus. "This makes the new cable carrier a real alternative to conductor rails."

Guiding energy and data safely even without a channel
To install the Autoglide 5, the intralogistics specialist only needs the metal cable supplied, which is tensioned to the floor of the aisle. Alternatively, a plastic cable or profile can also be used as a guide. The e-chain can travel safely on the cable because the developers have come up with a special guide concept. The underside of the chain links has a guide element in the middle so that the energy chain can rest securely on the cable. The engineers used Igus Autoglide elements to ensure wear-resistant and precise rolling of the upper strand of the chain on the lower strand. This system consists of comb-like injection-molded bars that prevent the energy chain from breaking out. This allows the user to completely dispense with a guide trough.

Conductor rails, or the contacts of the current collector, are very susceptible to wear and have to be replaced after just one or two years. With the Autoglide 5, Igus has developed a durable and maintenance-free cable carrier made from high-performance plastics. The company is currently testing the long service life of the new energy chain in its in-house test laboratory. In the laboratory, the Autoglide 5 has already impressed with its quiet running. At a speed of two meters per second, the measured value was 63 dB(A). Another advantage: "As the Autoglide 5 has no open contacts, unlike the conductor rail, the track is easy to clean," says Christian Strauch. Igus offers the energy chain system already preassembled as a readychain with highly flexible Chainflex cables. as