What Igus UK does

Igus UK is the United Kingdom trading subsidiary of igus SE & Co. KG, a privately held, family-owned German industrial company founded in 1964 and headquartered in Cologne. The entity operates a single UK sales and distribution office reachable via a Northampton-area phone number (01604 677240) and WhatsApp, and markets itself as a provider of "motion plastics" - high-performance, self-lubricating polymer components designed to replace traditional metal parts in moving applications. The company's product portfolio spans more than 50 product lines organized around three pillars: energy supply systems (e-chains, chainflex flexible cables, readycable pre-assembled harnessed cables, readychain turnkey carriers); bearings and linear technology (drylin linear guides and drives, iglidur plain bearings, igubal spherical bearings, xiros ball bearings, PRT slewing rings, iglidur gears, dryspin lead screws); and robotics and automation (robolink articulated robots and cobots, ReBeL cobots, drygear and Apiro gearboxes, electric motors and controllers). Supporting layers include smart plastics IoT modules (i.Sense condition monitoring, i.Cee predictive maintenance), digital configurators and a CAD download portal, an engineering and installation service for turnkey energy supply systems, and on-demand custom manufacturing via 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection moulding.

The business model is primarily a direct-to-customer, sales-led hybrid that combines a self-service e-commerce storefront with inside sales and field engineering support. Standard components are sold online with no minimum order quantity, free standard shipping, and 24-hour dispatch, while complex or customised solutions are routed through expert consultation (book-a-call, live chat, WhatsApp) and engineering services. Revenue is overwhelmingly transactional hardware sales (standard polymer components, readycable harnessed cables, custom manufactured parts) supplemented by professional services revenue from project planning, system integration, and installation. Distribution channels include the UK online shop for SMB and individual buyers, engineering services for enterprise turnkey projects, expert consultation for mid-market application support, and the RBTX marketplace as a multi-vendor automation component platform. The customer base is fragmented across 50+ industries including industrial machinery, automotive and aerospace, food and beverage, robotics and automation, energy and environment, medical technology, maritime and offshore, and agricultural engineering, with cable products pre-engineered for compatibility with 20+ major automation OEMs such as Siemens, SEW Eurodrive, Bosch Rexroth, Allen Bradley, Beckhoff, FANUC, Mitsubishi, Festo, Parker, Omron, and HARTING. Igus UK holds a Trusted Shops Excellent Shop Award (5 consecutive years) and the products carry a broad compliance portfolio (ISO 9001/14001/50001, RoHS, REACH, UL, FDA, EU MDR, cleanroom, PFAS-tested/PTFE-free options), evidencing readiness for regulated verticals.

Name

Igus UK

Legal name

igus SE & Co. KG

Website

https://igus.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Igus UK distributes lubrication-free polymer motion components (bearings, energy chains, cables, linear guides, robotics) to UK industrial, automation, food, medical, and agricultural customers via direct e-commerce, engineering services, and the RBTX automation marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product sales - standard components: Direct sales of standardized polymer components including plain bearings, spherical bearings, ball bearings, energy chains, linear guides, lead screws, gears, motors, and cables. One-time purchase model with no recurring fees.
2. Custom manufacturing services: 3D printing service, CNC machining, and injection moulding for bespoke polymer components based on customer CAD specifications.
3. Engineering and installation services: Project planning, system integration, and installation services for turnkey solutions from component-level to complete energy supply systems.
4. Ready-to-install cable assemblies: Pre-assembled, ready-to-connect cable harnesses and energy chain systems for various industrial manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Igus UK manufactures and sells self-lubricating, maintenance-free high-performance polymer components for industrial motion applications. Core product lines include iglidur plain bearings, igubal spherical bearings, xiros ball bearings, drylin linear technology, e-chain/chainflex energy chain systems, chainflex flexible cables, readycable harnessed cable assemblies, dryspin lead screws, and robolink robotics. The company also provides engineering services, custom 3D printing/CNC/injection moulding, and operates the RBTX automation components marketplace.

Product overview

Igus UK is a motion plastics technology company offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 50 product lines focused on lubrication-free, maintenance-reducing polymer components for industrial applications. The core product architecture consists of three main pillars: energy supply systems (e-chains, chainflex cables, readycable assemblies), bearings and linear technology (drylin, iglidur plain bearings, igubal spherical bearings, xiros ball bearings, prt slewing rings), and robotics and automation (robolink robots, drygear gearboxes, e-motors). These core product families are complemented by add-on smart monitoring modules (i.Sense condition monitoring, i.Cee predictive maintenance) and value-added services (engineering and installation, custom manufacturing via 3D printing/CNC/injection moulding). The portfolio spans the full motion chain from power transmission and linear movement to cable management and robot integration. Key sub-brands include dryspin for lead screws, triflex for 3D robot energy chains, and xiros for polymer ball bearings. Digital tools including configurators, CAD downloads, and the RBTX marketplace support product selection and purchasing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• drylin: Linear technology products including linear guides, shafts, and bearings
• chainflex
• iglidur
• igubal
• xiros
• robolink
• triflex
• dryspin
• readycable
• readychain
• smart plastics
• motion plastics

Products and services

• drylin Linear Technology Dry-running linear guides, slide bearings, and shaft guides made from high-performance plastics for lubrication-free linear motion applications.
• drylin Drive Technology Linear modules with lead screw, toothed belt, or rack drive systems for precision linear positioning and automation.
• e-chains Energy Chain Systems Cable carriers and energy chain systems for protecting cables and hoses during linear, rotary, and multi-axis motion applications.
• triflex Energy Chains 3D energy chain systems specifically designed for robot cable management in multi-axis robotic applications.
• chainflex Flexible Cables Highly flexible cables engineered for continuous movement in energy chains, including control, bus, motor, data, robot, servo, and fibre optic cables.
• readycable Harnessed Cables Pre-assembled cable assemblies configured for specific industrial manufacturers including Siemens, SEW, Bosch Rexroth, and others with pre-terminated connectors.
• iglidur Plain Bearings Self-lubricating polymer plain bearings available in various formulations for maintenance-free rotation and linear motion.
• igubal Spherical Bearings Polymer spherical bearings for angular misalignment compensation, featuring corrosion resistance and maintenance-free operation.
• xiros Ball Bearings Polymer ball bearings for clean, corrosion-resistant rotary motion in food, medical, and cleanroom applications.
• PRT Slewing Rings Polymer slewing ring bearings for 360-degree rotary motion with integrated gear teeth options available.
• iglidur Gears Injection-moulded polymer gears including spur, bevel, and angular gears for quiet, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant power transmission.
• dryspin Lead Screws High-efficiency lead screw systems with trapezoidal and high-helix designs for converting rotary to linear motion.
• robolink Robotics Low-cost robotics solutions including cobots, linear robots, delta robots, SCARA robots, and humanoid robots for automation applications.
• drygear Gearbox Technology Modular gearbox systems including planetary, worm gears, strain wave gears, and turntables with motor integration.
• E-motors and Motor Control Electric motors including stepper, EC/BLDC, DC motors, gearboxes, linear actuators, and associated motor controllers and power supplies.
• 3D Printing Materials 3D printing materials including filaments, laser sintering powders, and resins for additive manufacturing of custom components.
• smart plastics / i.Sense Smart IoT solutions for condition monitoring of energy chains and motion components, enabling real-time status detection and predictive maintenance.
• i.Cee Predictive Maintenance Predictive maintenance software solution that analyzes energy chain and component data to predict maintenance needs and prevent failures.
• readychain Pre-assembled Energy Chains Ready-to-install cable carrier systems with pre-assembled energy chains, strain reliefs, and guide troughs for quick installation.
• Engineering Services Project planning, design engineering, installation services, and turnkey solutions from component assessment to full system integration.
• Custom Manufacturing On-demand manufacturing services including 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection moulding for custom polymer components.
• RBTX Marketplace Online marketplace for compatible automation components from multiple manufacturers, enabling users to source and combine products from different suppliers.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SKF: Global leader in rolling bearings, seals, and lubrication. Overlaps with Igus on ball bearings, plain bearings, and linear motion, but anchors a much broader industrial portfolio and is increasingly expanding into polymer and condition-monitoring products that compete with Igus.
• Bosch Rexroth: Leading linear motion, assembly, and automation technology supplier. Directly competes with drylin linear guides and lead screws, and is a strategic partner for Igus's readycable assemblies.
• NTN: Global bearing and drive specialist (NTN-SNR in Europe) with linear motion, ball bearings, and condition monitoring offerings comparable to Igus's core product lines.
• Schaeffler: INA/FAG-branded bearings and linear motion products directly comparable to iglidur, drylin, and xiros. Schaeffler is a major global incumbent with overlapping product families and far larger automotive and industrial OEM relationships.
• NSK: One of the world's largest ball and roller bearing manufacturers, with growing presence in linear motion and condition monitoring. Competes with Igus in ball bearings and increasingly in polymer components.

Direct peers

• Misumi: Catalog-driven B2B e-commerce platform for mechanical components including linear motion, bearings, and automation parts. Closely mirrors Igus's online configurator, CAD download, and 24-hour shipping model.
• THK: Pioneer of linear motion systems including LM guides and ball screws. The most direct technical competitor to Igus's drylin linear guides and dryspin lead screws, especially in precision automation.
• Hiwin Corporation: Major manufacturer of linear guides, ball screws, and linear motors. Closely comparable to drylin and dryspin product families, with strong global presence in factory automation and medical equipment.

Emerging players

• HepcoMotion: UK-based specialist in linear motion, slides, and track systems. Comparable to drylin linear guides and dryspin lead screws, with a narrower product range but a strong UK engineering footprint.
• Bishop-Wisecarver: US-based manufacturer of linear guides, cam followers, and specialty bearings. Overlaps with drylin and iglidur ranges, particularly in harsh-environment and food-grade applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/igusuk

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Igus UK