Space-saving, abrasion-resistant, and dissipative: Compact e-skin soft ESD for cleanrooms

With the e-skin soft ESD, igus introduces a wear-resistant and conductive energy chain for cleanrooms that ensures greater safety in chip and battery manufacturing. (Source: igus SE & Co. KG)

With the growing demand for electric vehicles and the increasing spread of AI, the need for lithium-ion batteries and microchips is also rising. As these technologies are required to deliver more and more power, they become more sensitive and place high demands on production environments. With the e-skin soft ESD, igus is now launching a new energy chain for cleanrooms that is not only abrasion-resistant but also conductive. For designers, it is a game changer because it allows significantly more flexibility and space savings in the routing of cables.

Minuscule electrostatic discharges (Electrostatic Discharge, ESD) are invisible to the eye but can damage sensitive products in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. Accordingly, it is crucial that all machine components used near these products have ESD protection. However, this is not a given when routing power and data cables, as they are usually not conductive. "Many designers implement special shielding, which, however, wastes valuable space in the cleanroom," says Kira Weller, product manager for e-chains and cleanroom expert at igus. An equally impractical alternative is to keep a large distance from the product, which can also lead to space issues. To solve this dilemma, igus has developed a new variant of the cleanroom-compatible energy chain e-skin soft: the e-skin soft ESD, a compact e-chain that is not only abrasion-resistant but also conductive thanks to additives in the material. Electrostatic charges can be discharged via the connection elements, similar to a lightning rod. Kira Weller: "For designers, the new energy chain is a game changer because it can be used without additional shielding near the product."

Space-saving e-chain enables tight bending radii

The e-skin soft ESD is designed to be compact and requires minimal installation space. It consists of an upper and a lower shell, forming a closed pipe housing that securely encloses cables, wires, or media conduits. It is made from an in-house high-performance plastic that allows a tight bending radius of 55 mm. The internal height varies depending on the version between 20 mm, 24 mm, 28 mm, and 40 mm, and the internal width between 33 mm, 48 mm, 68 mm, and 85 mm. Another special feature: thanks to its oval geometry and defined stiffness, the e-skin soft ESD can, unlike conventional corrugated hoses, also realize free-standing lengths. This makes additional guidance unnecessary. Furthermore, the energy chain proves to be particularly durable, reaching a lifespan of more than 20 million double strokes.

On the way to the highest purity level ISO Class 1

The e-skin soft ESD meets the strictest cleanroom requirements. "The high-performance plastic is extremely abrasion-resistant, so no particles are generated even during rapid movements," emphasizes Kira Weller. Particles from the cables cannot escape either, as the upper and lower shells can be joined together with a zip-lock principle to form a closed pipe. "This guarantees both cleanroom suitability and quick filling and maintenance of the cables," says Kira Weller. Tests in the in-house cleanroom laboratory in Cologne, which was established together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation (IPA), have already yielded very good results for the new energy chain. Official certification will follow in the coming weeks.