Complete sealing and complete cleanliness – New cleanroom chain from igus with ISO Class 1

Structure of the CRC cleanroom chain: (1) Abrasion-resistant outer sheath, (2) e-chains available in various widths, (3) dense connection elements that prevent any contamination of the cleanroom (Source: igus GmbH).

The igus GmbH introduces a specially designed energy chain for cleanrooms, which offers very high protection against abrasion and enables complete sealing of the system. It has been certified with the highest cleanroom class ISO 1.

Applications for cleanrooms are experiencing increasing demand across various industries. The technical requirements for components are continuously rising. An abrasion-resistant power and media supply is an essential part of any cleanroom solution. For this purpose, igus has developed the new CRC CleanRoomChain, which prevents any contamination by capturing potential abrasion particles in a corrugated hose. This "housing" of the actual energy chain and cables is itself highly abrasion-resistant. All components, including strain relief and connection elements, are designed for a hermetic seal of the interior. This ensures the cleanroom suitability is maintained even under high loads. The flexibility of the outer sheath allows not only variability in installation, assembly, and operation of the energy guidance but also simple maintenance and inspection of the cables through an easy and resealable opening mechanism. Additionally, high travel speeds and accelerations are possible, as required in applications like pick-and-place operations. The complete energy chain system, along with chainflex cables with abrasion-resistant sheath materials, is continuously coordinated by igus to optimize lifespan.

Energy guidance of the highest category

Due to its properties, the CRC CleanRoomChain has been classified by the IPA Fraunhofer Institute without restrictions to DIN ISO Class 1. It meets all performance features to be used under the most demanding conditions, such as in medical technology, semiconductor, or automotive industries. It is available as standard in two different inner widths (38 mm and 103 mm). The inner height is 24 mm, and the outer height is 59 mm. Variants with predefined bending radii of 150 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm, 225 mm, and 250 mm can be ordered. As with all e-chain types, igus offers a free online tool with 3D CAD simulation for configuration to develop the optimal product for and with the customer.