50 percent lighter: world's first modular hybrid cable track made of steel AND plastic

Energy supply systems made of steel and plastic can easily handle long, cantilevered roadways and can open and close at lightning speed.

Safe vertical routing of cables and hoses: igus has now developed its first hybrid cable bead made of both plastic and steel for these applications. The new energy supply system, called YE.42, is 50 percent lighter than conventional steel cable tracks thanks to the use of high-performance polymers and also offers 50 percent more cantilever length than plastic cable tracks. The hybrid solution has very high rigidity and can be assembled and maintained very easily thanks to its modular design. Operators can rely on work platforms or vertical elevators for a safe, economical and quickly replaceable system.

Cherry pickers, construction machinery and lifting platforms face the same challenge: safe and compact vertical routing of cables as well as hoses. For such scenarios, users typically rely on robust and rigid steel cable tracks. However, these are very heavy and difficult to install and often need to be replaced in their entirety when service or repair is required. This represents a huge cost to machine operators and rental companies due to equipment downtime. igus has now developed a hybrid cable caterpillar specifically for long cantilevered roadways. The supporting cable caterpillar links of the new power supply solution are made of steel, ensuring high rigidity, while the pin/hole connection, outer links and cross connectors are made entirely of a tribologically optimized high-performance plastic. Thanks to the plastic, the user - unlike a steel cable caterpillar - saves 50% in weight. Compared to a plastic cable track, the new hybrid cable track can implement 50 percent more cantilever length.

Quickly assembled and maintained thanks to modular design

Another important advantage of the new cable crawler system lies in its modularity. The cable caterpillar links of the YE.42 can be easily plugged together and quickly assembled. Thanks to the modular design, igus completely omits screws, nails or bolts, which can become loose due to vibrations. Cables can be replaced quickly thanks to the cross braces that can be opened: another advantage over classic steel cable beads, which are usually completely nailed or bolted. In addition, the new YE.42 achieves its high stability thanks to a tongue and groove design for securing the cable caterpillar links. For the inside of the cable caterpillar, igus offers a wide range of internal partitions, including partitions that are friendly to cables and hoses.

readychain - connection-ready including system warranty

The new hybrid cable caterpillar is now available with an internal height of 42 mm and an internal width of 50 to 400 mm with a bending radius of 100 mm. Other sizes are available upon request. The new energy supply system is also available as a connection-ready, made-up readychain system with tested chainflex cable caterpillar cables, hydraulic components, hoses and hose fittings. All chainflex cables are offered including a unique 36-month worldwide warranty, this is possible thanks to the numerous tests carried out under realistic conditions in igus' own 3,800 m² laboratory.