energy chain and bearing for rides

Safe movement, less maintenance

Whether it's a fast-paced ride on a high-altitude chain carousel, a looping rollercoaster or spooky fun on a ghost train: the technology used is subject to very high safety standards and therefore places the highest demands on all installed components. Our energy chain systems and bearing technology are just right for this: absolutely reliable thanks to a predictable, long service life, low maintenance requirements, robust and quiet. no minimum order quantity available. And if, for example, themed attractions with decorations and animatronics need to be completely customised: special parts made from high-capacity polymers in 3D printing have comparable specifications and can be configured and ordered online with just a few clicks.

Ride enthusiasts among themselves.

igus® as a guest in the podcast "Podcoaster"

Sebastian Horacek, Sales Manager at igus®, was a guest on the podcast "Podcoaster" by Sebastian Grünwald and Hans Pieper. Among other things, he explains which attractions are already running with igus® energy chain, whether cables can be run under water and much more.

Have fun listening

Ferris wheels

Our maintenance-free igutex ® heavy-duty bearings are the right choice for the suspension of Ferris wheel gondolas. Consisting of a robust glass fibre fabric and an inner layer optimised for sliding properties, they are our specialists for high loads. For the door mechanisms in the gondolas, we recommend iglidur ® J bearings, drylin® ZLW linear drives and energy chains from the E2.1 series.

Vertical lifts

Vertical lifts are often used on water rides and roller coasters to transport carriages. E.4 series energy chains, for example the E4.56, are used to power the lift, together with the vertical flizz® system with matching chainflex® cables.
If the entire lift or part of the track for a switch rotates, cables must be routed in the rotary movement. Our reverse bend radius systems, which enable uninterrupted cable routing with a rotation of up to 600 degrees, are suitable for this application.

Free white paper

white paper Design tips for turning applications

10 design tips for your rotary application

In this white paper you will find valuable information on choosing the right guide trough for rotary modules if you want to design them yourself. Avoid errors that can impair the service life of your system or even lead to failure.

Download a free white paper now

Success story

Reverse Bend Radius module in PowerSplash water ride

e-chain® Circular module in PowerSplash water ride

The "Power Splash" launch coaster races through the water at 100 km/h and a drop height of 45 metres at the Walibi theme park in Belgium. To ensure that the passengers can get on and off safely, the developers of the water ride from Mack Rides installed a turnout that placed special demands on the energy supply. igus® provided the right solution: a modular rotary energy supply system consisting of a double energy chain in a guide rail lying on its side.

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Elevated rides

On elevated rides, the cables for drives and lighting must be routed upwards to ensure unrestricted ride enjoyment. This can be done safely and without interruption using our energy chains and a suitable trough. Just as with lifts in roller coasters, e-chain® from the E.4 series, such as the E4.56 and the vertical flizz® system, can be used as guidance with matching chainflex® cables.

Giant swing with RBR system and various bearings

Giant swings

Even in giant swings or classic boat swings, a wide variety of media must be guided safely in the gondola. Our reverse bend radius systems are ideal for rides that do not roll over. The cables are guided here without interruption and there is no need for a fault-prone slip ring that requires maintenance. The SRM-V or PRM-V modules with the appropriate chainflex® cable are used for vertical movement.

In hydraulic cylinders, which erect the ride and make it ready for operation, there are numerous bearing points that are exposed to high loads. Our fibre composite bearings made from the materials igutex® TX1, TX2 or TX3 and bearings made of iglidur ® Q3E are the right choice here.

Roller coaster transfer track with e-chain

Roller coaster switches and transfer tracks

Large roller coasters have transfer tracks to transport the roller coaster trains to parking or maintenance positions. Our e-chain® series E4.1 or E4.Q with matching trough systems and chainflex® cable are suitable for energy supply on transfer tracks.

Success story

Roller coaster from Six Flags with maintenance-free bearings

The operator of the Six Flags amusement park chain relies on bearings made of the material iglidur® Z, which have led to a considerable reduction in costs. The reason: Maintenance work could be completely dispensed with during the season. Neither inspections of the mounts and shafts nor relubrication are necessary with the dry-running plain bearings made of high-performance plastic. Another plus: the bearings save a lot of weight.

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Roller coaster cars and iglidur Z plain bearings

Roller coaster carriages

Bearings made of the material iglidur ® Z are ideal for the bearings of safety bars. It enables maximum service life under extreme conditions and is also a good choice for bearing points on the wheel mounts of roller coasters.

Roller coaster entrance area with iglidur and igubal bearings

Entrance areas

In the entrance areas of amusement rides, our lubrication-free plain bearings are used, for example, on automatic flaps of luggage storage lockers, where iglidur ® G or iglidur® J bearings are ideal. Our igubal ® pillow block bearings are used on automatic gates.

Success story

Pre-assembled energy supply for gondola lift

The Trier-based lift manufacturer Baasch & Didong GmbH was looking for a solution that would reliably move all cables during continuous operation - even when the gondola rotates 180 degrees as it rises. Further challenges for the material: absolute reliability under constant UV radiation, extreme heat, frost, rain and splash water. With an E4/4-energy chain, a stable solution was found for continuous use. And as a completely pre-assembled readychain®, quick and cost-effective installation and simple subsequent dismantling are guaranteed.

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Simulators

Simulators can tilt in any direction and therefore require a three-dimensionally movable cable guide. For this purpose, we offer our triflex® energy chain systems with the appropriate torsionable cables. In electric or hydraulic cylinders, which ensure the tilting and tilting of the ride, we recommend our plain bearings made of the materials iglidur® QE3, Z or P. They score with a long service life at high loads and are cost-effective.
Our self-aligning igubal ® spherical plain bearings and dryspin® lead screw technology are used in joysticks.

Success stories

Better joystick haptics with dryspin® lead screw technology

A dryspin® zero-backlash lead screw nut with matching spindle is used in the control system of Brunner's flight simulator joystick. Compared to the metal ball screws previously used, the overall behaviour of the drive has improved significantly: the control system is now more precise and sensitive, the feel is better thanks to the minimised clearance of the lead screw nut and the vibration-free running behaviour. And thanks to the dry-running plastic material, everything runs cleanly without the need for maintenance.

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Racing simulator moves reliably with igus® bearing technology and e-chain®

In the racing simulator from Greaves 3D Engineering, 45 igus® products ensure perfect movement of the seat and the four monitors. Used are drylin® linear and drive modules, iglidur ® plain bushes, xiros ball bearings and tribo-tape sliding foils. Linear and three-dimensionally movable e-chain® ensure complete cable management.

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