What Igus does

Igus (legal entity igus® SE & Co. KG) is a privately held German manufacturer of motion plastics — engineered polymer components designed for moving applications — headquartered in Cologne with a regional US office in Providence, Rhode Island. Its core product architecture centers on polymer-based mechanical components: e-chain® cable carriers for energy and signal transmission in linear motion; iglide® plain bearings, igubal® self-aligning bearings, and xiros® ball bearings for mechanical guidance; drylin® linear bearings, slides, and actuators combined with dryspin® lead screws for linear motion; chainflex® and readycable® cables for dynamic flexing applications; and drygear® gearboxes for power transmission. The portfolio extends into automation systems including ReBeL® cobots, gantries, delta robots, and 7th-axis extensions controlled by iRC software, plus 3D printing and custom-parts services.

The company runs a product-led go-to-market anchored by a global 24/7 e-commerce storefront, an online CAD library with over 100,000 downloadable 3D models, product configurators, a free sample program, and inside and field sales teams. Customer segments span automation and robotics, medical technology and cleanroom, food and beverage, heavy-duty industries, renewable energy, travel and leisure, and machine tools. Revenue streams are predominantly one-time product sales of standardized and customized polymer components, supplemented by custom-parts services (3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding) and professional services through its "Orange Services" installation and inspection offering. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and appears quote-based, with no disclosed subscription or licensing model.

Layered on top of the components business, Igus has begun productizing digital and intelligent features: smart plastics® (i.Cee) embeds sensors in polymer components for IIoT condition monitoring and predictive maintenance; the igusGO AI app and an AI Search Assistant support product selection and recommendation; and the iguverse AR platform supports product visualization. Recent strategic activity includes the 2025 expansion of the RBTX robotics marketplace, in-house ACME lead screw production, an Upgrade During Shutdown service targeting scheduled plant outages, and the 2026 launch of the e-skin flat cable carrier. Awards include the 2024 PBN Fastest Growing Companies recognition and the 2026 PBN Best Places to Work designation, alongside industry awards (LEAP Awards, ASME BMEA Award for e-loop, AAPA Maritime Award, BI Award for e-skin flat). Financials including revenue, headcount, and ownership structure are not disclosed in the available data.

Name

Igus

Legal name

igus® SE & Co. KG

Website

https://igus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Polymer Motion Components

NAICS

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets & Washers (3452)

akta.pro primary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consumer Products Injection Molding (Housewares, Toys, Personal Care) (IMANAFAE)

Keywords

• Polymer bearings
• Cable carriers
• Linear motion systems
• Flexible cables
• Motion plastics

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Igus generates revenue primarily through the sale of standardized and customized polymer components for motion applications including cable carriers, bearings, linear guides, cables, motors, and gears. Products are sold via e-commerce, direct sales, and through the RBTX robotics marketplace.
2. Custom Parts Services: Revenue from 3D printing services, CNC machining, and injection molding services for custom polymer parts.
3. Installation and Inspection Services: Orange Services offering engineering, installation, and inspection services for cable carrier systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Igus manufactures and sells polymer-based motion components (motion plastics) for industrial applications, including plastic cable carriers (e-chain), self-lubricating plain bearings (iglide), lubrication-free linear bearings and actuators (drylin), lead screws (dryspin), flexible cables (chainflex), and gear systems. The company also offers pre-assembled cable carrier systems, ready-to-connect cable assemblies, low-cost automation including cobots and gantries, custom 3D-printed polymer parts, and IIoT-enabled smart plastics for predictive maintenance.

Product overview

Igus is a manufacturer of motion plastics components and systems with a platform-based product architecture centered on its core polymer-based mechanical components. The product portfolio consists of e-chain® cable carriers and readychain® pre-assembled carriers for cable management; iglide® plain bearings, igubal® self-aligning bearings, and xiros® ball bearings for mechanical guidance; drylin® linear bearings, slides, and actuators combined with dryspin® lead screws for linear motion; chainflex® and readycable® cables for energy transmission; and drygear® gearboxes for power transmission. These are complemented by smart plastics® IIoT solutions for predictive maintenance, low-cost automation including ReBeL® cobots, gantries, and delta robots controlled by iRC software, and 3D printing/custom parts services. The company also offers AI-powered tools (igusGO app, AI Search Assistant) and augmented reality (iguverse) for product selection and visualization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• e-chain®: Plastic cable carriers for energy chain systems
• triflex®
• readychain®
• chainflex®
• readycable®
• drylin®
• iglide®
• igubal®
• xiros®
• dryspin®
• smart plastics®
• RBTX
• ReBeL
• igusGO
• iguverse
• yes program

Products and services

• e-chain Cable Carriers Plastic cable carrier systems (energy chains) for protecting and guiding cables and hoses in linear motion applications. Available in small, medium, and large sizes with configurations for dirt protection, cleanroom, and heavy-duty use.
• triflex Multi-Axis Cable Carriers
• readychain Pre-Assembled Cable Carriers
• iglide Plastic Bearings and Bushings
• drylin Linear Bearings and Slides
• drylin Linear Actuators
• dryspin Lead Screws and Nuts
• chainflex Flexible Cables
• readycable Cable Assemblies
• igubal Self-Aligning Bearings
• xiros Ball Bearings and Rollers
• iglide PRT Slewing Rings
• smart plastics Predictive Maintenance
• drygear Gearbox Technology
• Low-Cost Automation Systems
• 3D Printing and Custom Parts Services
• iRC Robot Control Software
• robolink Articulated Arms
• ReBeL Cobots
• RBTX Robotics Marketplace Online marketplace that aggregates robotic components from multiple manufacturers and partners, allowing customers to build complete low-cost automation solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lubricant-free operation eliminates maintenance requirements for bearings and linear guides
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RBTX Marketplace PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationRBTX is Igus's own robotics marketplace that aggregates components from multiple technology partners, allowing customers to build complete automation solutions. Partners include robot manufacturers and component suppliers whose products are integrated into the RBTX ecosystem.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• NSK Ltd. Japanese bearing and linear-motion manufacturer with deep automotive and industrial OEM penetration. Overlaps directly with Igus in linear guides, ball screws, and plain bearings.
• SKF Group: Global leader in ball and roller bearings, linear motion, seals, and lubrication systems. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the mechanical power-transmission categories where Igus competes, with much broader metal-bearing depth.
• Schaeffler Group: German manufacturer of INA and FAG bearings, linear guidance, and direct-drive technology. Direct competitor in polymer and metal plain bearings and linear motion, with stronger automotive OEM positioning.
• Timken Company: Engineered bearings and power transmission (including GGB polymer bearings). Closest incumbent overlap with Igus's iglide plain-bearing and linear-motion portfolio.
• Bosch Rexroth: Major manufacturer of linear motion, ball screws, and automation components, plus assembly and robotics. Competes with Igus in drylin linear guides and dryspin lead screws and increasingly in factory automation.

Direct peers

• GGB (Gleitlager Group / Trimec): Manufacturer of self-lubricating polymer plain bearings used in automotive, industrial, and fluid-power applications. Closest direct peer to Igus's iglide plain-bearing product line.
• Universal Robots: Cobots and integrated automation platforms. Direct peer in the cobot category where Igus's ReBeL competes, and a major customer use-case driver for Igus's triflex robot dresspacks.
• Tsubaki (including KabelSchlepp): Owns KabelSchlepp, a direct competitor in cable carriers (energy chains) for machine tools and robotics. Strongest like-for-like competitor to Igus's e-chain and triflex product lines.
• Misumi Group: Configurable mechanical components and factory automation parts sold via e-commerce with same-day shipping. Closest peer to Igus in product-led growth, CAD-first self-service, and engineer-channel distribution.
• Thomson Industries: Specialist in linear bearings, linear actuators, and lead screws. Direct peer in the drylin and dryspin product categories, particularly for industrial automation OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/igusInc
• Xx.com/igus_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/igus-119580201405109
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/igus-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Igus