igus (Rumford, RI) has designed a one-piece, injection-molded energy chain in its E1 series, offering a simplified and more reliable cable management solution for highly compact spaces.
Designers often skip cable guides in small installations — such as in food vending machines, laboratory equipment or electric doors — risking cable damage and increasing maintenance costs. This new, compact energy chain is engineered to close that gap.
Made from a single piece of high-performance plastic, the E1 chain is more cost-effective than traditional assembled chains. Its unique easy-chain principle allows users to push individual cables through flexible teeth without tools, securing them and defining a controlled bend radius. This protection prevents cables from chafing, kinking and breaking, ensuring a longer system service life.
To accelerate its transition to high-volume production, igus is actively seeking design engineers for pilot projects. The company aims to collaborate with users to adapt the e-chain for various applications, including those with extremely short movements of only 40 millimeters.
