Digital Innovation Fair: More than 18,000 visitors at the igus booth

The igus exhibition booth can be explored virtually on your own or together with a consultant. Scheduling an appointment is particularly easy, and the consultation is efficient and personalized, as previous visitors highlight. (Source: igus GmbH)

Since early May, it has been located in a trade fair hall in Cologne Porz-Lind, the igus Innovation Fair. 100 motion plastics News are displayed at the real igus exhibition booth and can be explored independently or together with igus experts digitally. Over 18,000 visitors have already experienced this unique offering and learned how they can improve their moving technology and save costs with motion plastics.

Currently, igus presents 100 motion plastics News at its 400-square-meter exhibition booth at the main location in Cologne Porz-Lind. As with the orange igus stands at Hannover Messe, Motek, or SPS, here you will find the latest motion plastics innovations that help customers improve their technology and reduce costs: low-cost automation robots, intelligent sliding bearing technology, or the e-chain autoglide 5 as a user-friendly and low-maintenance alternative to the power rail. Visitors, however, are not seen on the igus stand.

Only at first glance – because over the internet, more than 18,000 interested parties have already visited the igus stand; on their own in the virtual version or as part of a digital visit together with igus specialists on-site or online. At each station, displays, videos, and texts inform about product innovations, from SPE cables specifically for the e-chain to lightweight drylin polymer telescopic guides and 2-component 3D printing. Links lead to more technical information and videos on the website. "While a catalog provides an initial overview, especially given the variety of new products, a guided digital tour is extremely helpful," says visitor Themistoklis Savvidis, Head of Mechanical Design at ISC International Service & Consulting GmbH from Remscheid. "You learn directly about the new products and focus with the igus advisor exactly on what interests you for your daily work." This personal quick consultation is indeed very efficient, even compared to a real trade fair, agrees designer René Wirt from CKO Maschinen- und Systemtechnik GmbH. "At a trade fair, it can happen that I wait longer due to the high number of visitors. Here, appointment scheduling is quick, and the news tour is not particularly time-consuming, but it is much more personalized." Uwe Kinze, Development Manager at the Velbert-based fastening manufacturer Haps, also highlights that igus's digital fair is an interesting alternative to a physical trade fair in the current situation. However, he is convinced that it will not replace the traditional igus trade fair appearance in the medium term. "I like the tactile experience at a stand, want to hold the products in my hand, and examine the product details closely." But igus has also made this possible for him, simply sending him the relevant samples after the appointment. To allow even more interested parties to experience the innovations firsthand, the fair will go on tour to customers starting in September. igus employees will present the latest motion plastics on-site, jointly consider the application scenarios of the products with the company's staff, and assist with the design.

A trade fair stand in motion

The igus trade fair stand in Cologne, under the motto "Cost down, Tech up. It’s our job," continuously evolves and is actively used for igus communication. It has served as a filming location for the annual press conference, for reports by news broadcasters, or for new product presentations on YouTube. The vector award 2020 was also presented here, honoring exciting and creative energy chain applications. Gildemeister Italiana S.p.A. won the gold vector with their Multisprint machining system. In the tightest installation space, a total of eight fully assembled energy chains ensure the safe guidance of cables and hoses in the multi-spindle turning machine. Additionally, a webinar studio is currently being set up near the trade fair stand. Here, customers can learn everything about current developments in the field of tribo-polymers – from material science to project planning to assembly aids, plastic recycling, or how to build a 3D printer yourself. An overview of current webinars can be found at https://www.igus.de/info/igus-academy