Leading developer of visual solutions uses Energy Chain

Barco Media replaces competitor cables with Energy Chain Systems from igus

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – December 18, 2007 – Igus® Inc., the industry-leading supplier of Energy Chain Systems®, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and iglide® plastic bearings, today announced that Barco Media, a leading designer and developer of solutions for large-screen visualization, display for life-critical applications and systems for visual inspection, uses Energy Chain cable carriers and Chainflex cables.  For close to a year, System E4 Energy Chains have housed and protected vital Chainflex fiber optic, power and control cables on eight automated LED displays located at Victory Plaza, immediately outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

 For the project, Barco used a total of eight Energy Chain Systems, one on each 26-foot- wide moving-screen display, to house Chainflex CFLG, CF9 and CF300 cables.  Barco required a tough, maintenance-free cable management solution, as it is vital for the components to withstand continuous exposure to harsh environmental elements such as extreme heat, sunlight, rain and snow.  For Barco, igus’ all-plastic, corrosion-free cable carriers were the ideal solution.

Igus’ System E4 is specially designed for high performance in rugged environments, making it perfectly suited for the 18-hour-per-day, 360-day-per-year operating schedule of the LED screens.  Barco turned to igus when the cables of a leading competitor failed.  The competitor cables, not rated for temperatures dipping below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, began to corkscrew and compromise the performance of the system.  Igus replaced the deteriorating cables, which only lasted 20,000 cycles or a mere 200 days, with Chainflex cables approved for temperatures tumbling to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

‘‘The igus team rose to the occasion to help us find a perfect solution,’‘ said Lawrence Allen, senior engineer with Barco.  ‘‘The company really went above and beyond the call of duty by aiding us in remedying a situation that could have been a potential disaster for our customer.  The Energy Chains and cables were the low-maintenance solution Barco was looking for.’‘

System E4, like igus’ entire line of Energy Chain cable carriers, is maintenance-free, corrosion-resistant and extends the service life of cables and hoses.  Energy Chains can be found in a wide range of applications ranging from robotics to cranes to machine tools and conveyer systems.  Chainflex cables, the perfect partner for Energy Chains, are designed for continuous-flexing and are available in more than 800 sizes and styles.

To learn more about Barco Media, go to www.barco.com.  For free samples or to discuss a potential application using igus products, call an igus design at (800) 521-2747 or e-mail [email protected].  To read other customer success stories featuring igus’ plastic machinery components, visit the Application Corner at www.igus.com/applicationcorner.

About igus

Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems.  With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide.  Product lines include Energy Chain Systems to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings.  For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.

igus, Energy Chain System, Chainflex, iglide, DryLin and igubal are registered trademarks of igus Inc.  All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.