If cables break, machines and systems come to a standstill. However, companies weren't able to be sure how long a cable would last. Not until igus solved the problem: 10 years ago, igus was the first industrial company in the world to introduce a 36-month guarantee on moving cables. Just in time for the SPS 2023 automation trade fair, the plastics specialist is extending the guarantee period for its entire cable range by a further 12 months to four years. This gives customers even more functional and planning security. The guarantee, which is unique in the industry, is possible due to thousands of new customer applications and over 20 billion additional test cycles in the in-house chainflex laboratory carried out in the past decade.

Which cables are robust enough to guarantee a high degree of reliability and durability? This question is a worry to companies as many manufacturers of industrial cables don't provide binding service life information. "We want to put an end to this uncertainty. We have therefore been giving customers a guarantee of 36 months on our entire chainflex range for 10 years, which is unusual in the industry," says Rainer Rössel, Head of the chainflex Cables Business Unit at igus. A promise that has even been certified by the US institute Underwriters Laboratories (UL). "In the past decade, we have gained valuable expertise, which is why we can now extend our guarantee promise to a full four years. This gives our customers even more functional and planning security," emphasises Rössel.

The unusually long guarantee period is possible due to the largest test laboratory for moving energy chain systems in the entire industry, which the plastics specialist operates at the company headquarters in Cologne. Here, experts test the chainflex cables in practical test with over two billion test cycles per year. The data obtained from the tests also forms the basis for the online service life calculator igus provides. Here, customers enter the parameters of their application for a cable of their choice - such as temperature, radius and travel. The service life of a cable can be calculated with just a few clicks. "We have now gained so much experience with cable designs, tests, online tool and customer requests that we are increasingly able to find the right cables for specific applications," emphasises Rössel. In the unlikely event that a cable fails during the guarantee period, igus quickly provides a free replacement, which reduces downtimes.

The main reason for extending the guarantee period lies in igus's efforts to make its own products as sustainable as possible. "Every time a cable breaks, a replacement has to be produced - with a corresponding CO2 impact in the entire production and transport chain," Rössel points out. This also means that products that last longer save more CO2. "For this reason, we are constantly working on improving our cables and adapting them to a wide range of industrial applications." Today, the chainflex range comprises over 1,350 cable types from low-cost to high-end options - including bus, motor and servo cables, but also robot and measuring system cables. The ideal combination of materials is the key to the long service life of chainflex cables in the energy chain. Real-life tests over many years have already proven their suitability. The products are used worldwide, including in storage and retrieval machines, cranes, lifts and platforms.