Just go straight in

The e-skin® is a hose consisting of an upper and lower shell that are connected together and completely sealed. It is made from the specially developed polymer material igumid SK. Thanks to the simple and resealable opening mechanism, maintenance and inspection of the installed lines can be carried out easily. (Source: igus®, Photo: klaus_fritsche_koeln)

The e-skin® is a hose consisting of an upper and lower shell that are connected together and completely sealed. It is made from the specially developed polymer material igumid SK. Thanks to the simple and resealable opening mechanism, maintenance and inspection of the installed lines can be carried out easily. (Source: igus®, Photo: klaus_fritsche_koeln)

Phillip Hagedorn, Igus® GmbH and Tanja Eisermann, Fraunhofer IPA.

For the area of energy management in pure productions, igus® has developed a novel corrugated tube. This »e-skin®« reliably, robustly, and flexibly supplies systems with data, media, and energy, without generating airborne particles through friction that could violate strict standards and contaminate the environment. The improved corrugated hose for cleanroom applications received second place.

From cables to robots – everything introduced into a clean production must guarantee cleanroom compatibility – even the consumables intended to prevent contamination. Because any contamination directly damages products and processes and costs the manufacturer dearly. For the area of energy management, igus has developed a novel corrugated tube. This »e-skin®« reliably, robustly, and flexibly supplies systems with data, media, and energy, without generating airborne particles through friction that could violate strict standards and contaminate the environment. igus®’s e-skin® convinced the jury: it awarded the improved corrugated hose for cleanroom applications with second place.

Closed design and abrasion resistance for pure production. The e-skin® is made from tribologically optimized, abrasion-resistant plastic. The removable top and bottom shells can be easily assembled into a fully enclosed pipe with high dust and water tightness using a hook-and-loop fastener system. This guarantees both cleanroom suitability and quick filling and maintenance of the lines. The easy-to-mount e-skin® is also extremely lightweight, suitable for small spaces – for example in pick-and-place applications – and, unlike other corrugated hoses, due to the rigidity of the material, the rib contour, and a defined direction of movement, can even be used as a free-standing system over short distances. The design and material of the e-skin® have been tested and certified for cleanroom suitability. e-skin® bears the Fraunhofer Tested Device quality seal of ISO Class 1.