In a bid to conduct advanced research of Profinet technology in moving applications, a global leading manufacturer of energy chain systems and polymer plain bearings, igus is now a member of the Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. as a cable specialist.

According to the results of a study by IHS Markit, Profinet is the industrial Ethernet communication system. Based on the newly installed nodes, Profinet achieved a market share of almost 30 per cent in 2018. The technology was developed by the Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. (abbreviation PNO).

Andreas Muckes, Head-Chainflex Cables Product Management, igus said, "Due to the increasing importance of Profinet in moving applications in industry, we have now joined the Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. as a cable specialist. Here we want to further advance the development of the technology.”

"So the customer can be sure that our cable solutions always meet the current electrical requirements," Muckes added.

Profinet offers clear advantages for industry. A large amount of data can be transferred at up to 100 Mbit/s based on the Ethernet protocol. However, this also means that machines and cables must move increasingly more dynamically in a compact installation space: a challenge for standard cables. Therefore, igus has been developing cables that are specifically suitable for use in energy chains and on robots for over 25 years. For Profinet alone, igus offers nine types of cable for different application scenarios.

The chainflex Profinet cables are available in four jacket materials, four bend radii and two torsion angles. The igus product range offers solutions for small installation spaces, maximum speeds and three-dimensional movements with up to ±360 degrees/m on the robot or in free movements. The cables have several approvals such as UL, NFPA, EAC and CTP and are available in desired lengths directly from stock. All cables also undergo an extensive series of tests in the company's own 3,800 square metre test laboratory. For example, the Profinet cable CFBUS.LB.060 completed over 65 million strokes with a bend radius of 63mm. After the numerous laboratory results, it is noted that the chainflex cables have a 36-month functional guarantee, which is unique in the world. Upon request, they are also available fully harnessed as readycable, for example with an M12 round connector from Telegärtner.