Posted to News on 10th Nov 2008, 00:00
Profile roller energy chain P4 for fast, quiet movement
With the development of the roller energy chain more than 10 years ago, Igus has successfully designed a safe solution for the transmission of energy and data for cranes. Since then, energy chain systems have been proving their abilities in even the toughest of crane applications the world over. Since 2006, the numbers of large shipyard cranes being equipped with energy chains from Igus has run into double figures. In June 2008, the 375th ship-to-shore crane was equipped with an Igus energy chain. So far, in the field of RTGs and RMGs the company has now equipped more than 2,500 cranes world-wide.
In view of ever increasing speeds, the demands made on energy chains are increasing all the time. Smooth running properties and low noise levels are increasingly needed, because many ports are moving closer to residential areas as they grow. After about three years of development work and endurance testing, Igus now has a completely new generation of roller energy chains available. The new System P4 was recently presented to the public. P4 is an energy chain series where rollers no longer roll over one another, and where all chain links have the same short pitch. Endurance tests at speeds of up to 7 m/s have been carried out safely under operating conditions on an outdoor testing facility 125 metres long (which can be extended to 300 metres) on Igus' company grounds.
The new P4 System is available immediately with an inner height of 56 mm and in five inner widths (200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 mm); bending radii can be chosen from 250, 300 or 350 mm. The inner height 80 mm and central links for infinite widening will be available from autumn 2008.
