Power and data transmission deployed and connected in less than 60 minutes

igus' revolutionary autoglide 5 system requires no guide channel

Conducting energy safely over long travel distances and at low cost: that was the goal behind the development of autoglide 5 from igus. The new cable track system is specifically designed for horizontal use in intralogistics applications and on crane systems. The special feature: the energy supply is quickly installed because it does not require a guide channel. Instead, it lies on a steel cable held in place by the contours of the cable caterpillar.

Many users rely on busbar systems to transfer power and data in tight, compact spaces and for fast movement, for example, in storage and retrieval units (AS/RS). Their main disadvantage is that they are expensive to maintain, can be used by default only for power transfer, and they need regular cleaning to prevent contact failures. igus has now introduced the autoglide 5 developed for safely guiding horizontal cables at speeds of up to 4 m/s and tfor aisles of up to 80 meters, even without a guide channel. "The autoglide 5 can be easily installed in the aisle on a cable or profile. The product is especially attractive due to its low price, an 88% shorter installation time compared to chute systems and its maintenance-free operation," explains Christian Strauch, Industry Manager Intralogistics at igus. "Thus, the new energy supply offers a real alternative to bus bar systems."

autoglide 5: for safe, quickly installed and cost-effective cable crawler systems for long roadways. (Source: igus B.V.)

Conducts energy and data securely even without a gutter

To install autoglide 5, the intralogistics technician only needs to provide the steel cable, which he stretches across the aisle floor. Alternatively, guidance via a plastic cable or profile is also possible. The cable caterpillar can move over the cable because the developers at igus have devised a special guiding concept. The underside of the cable caterpillar links is equipped with a central guide element so that the cable caterpillar can rest securely on the cable. For the wear-free and precise rolling of the top run of the cable caterpillar on the bottom run, the engineers relied on autoglide elements from igus. This system consists of comb-like cross connectors produced by the injection molding process that prevent the cable track from slipping. This allows the user to completely omit a guide channel.

Long service life, maintenance-free and easy to clean

Busbar systems, or pantograph contacts, are very sensitive to wear and tear and must be replaced after only one or two years. With autoglide 5, igus has designed a maintenance-free energy supply system with a long service life, made of high-quality polymers. igus is currently testing the long service life of the new cable track in its own 3,800-square-meter test laboratory. In the laboratory, utoglide 5 was already convincing due to its quiet operation. At a speed of 2 m/s, the measured value was only 63 dB(A). A further advantage: "Because autoglide 5, unlike the busbar system, has no open contacts, the walkway can be easily cleaned," Christian Strauch tells us enthusiastically. igus already offers the cable crawler system fully assembled as a readychain with highly flexible chainflex cables.