igus records €1 billion in sales and a 5% increase in active customers

igus, a global manufacturer of high-performance polymers for motion applications, has hit €1.105 billion in sales and plans to introduce a record number of motion plastics products for 2025.

This year, igus is introducing a record 277 motion plastics innovations, showcasing a variety of new lubrication-free plastic products under its slogan ‘Go Zero Lubrication’. These products include PTFE-free materials, a complete energy chain series made from recycled materials, and even a humanoid robot. This achievement stems from continuous investment in R&D, aimed at providing customers with cutting-edge solutions. The results are clear to see. Despite the challenging political and economic landscape of 2024, igus increased its number of active customers by 5% and maintained its billion-euro turnover.

“The changing political and economic conditions have impacted us,” says Matthew Aldridge, Managing Director at igus in Northampton. “Like many of our customers, we’re focusing on savings and efficiency, such as increased automation in our factory. However, our focus remains: ‘What’s in it for the customer?’ These challenges motivate us to innovate and enhance our competitiveness and that of our customers. This year, we’re introducing a record number of motion plastics products and continue to invest in the research, development and production of new technical solutions. The Cologne site, where we manufacture, test and research, now spans 218,000 m², including a new 20,000 m² test laboratory, the largest in the industry.”

On track to CO₂ neutrality

According to igus, the company has reached 92% of its goal to be CO2-neutral in HQ buildings and production by the end of 2025, measured against Scopes 1 and 2.

“We need to improve further,” says Aldridge. “In Germany, we’re implementing many sustainability measures, including a the construction of a new multi-storey car park with façade greening, modernising buildings with photovoltaic systems, and expanding our MHRS system to heat buildings using waste heat from machines.”

Environmentally friendly solutions such as PTFE-free versions of the company’s standard plain bearing materials are also being presented. Regarding energy chains, igus is converting its entire E2.1 series to recycled material consisting of post-consumer recyclate, such as old fishing nets and disused energy chains, which the company recycles as part of its own ‘Chainge’ programme. This will reduce CO₂ footprint by 80%.

With the igus Mobile Shore Power Outlet, igus has also developed a mobile ‘socket’ for the shore power supply of container and cruise ships. It is already in use in ports such as Hamburg, Rotterdam and Singapore, and has been nominated for this year’s Hermes Award. The company is also driving forward new solutions for dry cleanrooms, increasingly important in battery production lines. Together with the Fraunhofer IPA, igus has developed a new type of certificate that confirms the cleanroom suitability of igus e-chains in long-term tests. These chains can withstand over 15 million double strokes with minimal particle emissions.

At a time when many companies are having to make savings, igus is investing in the development of cost-effective products for its customers. This includes the new glide-chain G4.42 for simple gliding applications such as indoor cranes, with up to 30 m of travel. Due to its optimised design, it is not only up to 25% lighter but also around 40% more cost-effective than standard chains of the same dimensions from the E2 and E4 product range. In addition, the company is currently developing its first humanoid robot made of high-performance plastic, based on the mobile robot ReBeL® Move. This means that it can be deployed and operated at different workstations – with a return on investment of less than one year.