The Finale for North America
2 months, 13,670 miles, 30 out of 50 states and one smart car later.. the North American tour has come to an end. This tour has been an overwhelming success for our customers, for our company and for our little orange iglidur® car. Through this journey we visited 43 companies, met with hundreds of customers and received many new potential projects. I can safely say, igus® is a company that prides itself on quality for their customers and this tour proved that message to them. From first hand experience I can say that customers were beyond impressed by the iglidur® car tour. It made engineers who have never heard of igus® come outside, look at the dry-tech® box and say, “I have been looking for this exact product for a project I have.”
The unique part about the US is that the car has driven through various climates and a variety of terrains. It started in Anchorage, Alaska winding through the mountains and sliding on mud roads. Many people say their cars (meant for those conditions) do not make it through the Alaskan Highway, but the iglidur® car surpassed all expectations. It then drove down the sunny west coast and crossed into the Midwest. The car drove through deserts, hail and wind stormsand dry heat. Then it was time to head east where the roads arebusier and the drivers are aggressive. The car ended in one of the busiest cities in the world andprobably the most dangerous city to drive through in the US. From the mud and dirt in Alaska to the congested, pot-hole filled streets of Manhattan, the bearings did their job.
The road conditions of Alaska
The iglidur® car in the Yukon
Do you see the iglidur® car in Times Square
The iglidur® car cruises past the Naked Cowboy in New York City
On Friday, October 3rd, the iglidur® car made it to igus® Inc. in East Providence, RI (before heading to NewYork), after driving 13,670 miles across North America. We had a very busy day with local press visits in the morning from the Providence Journal and WJAR Channel 10 News. Also, Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, Mayor Allan Fung of Cranston, RI and Congressman David Cicilline, all stopped by to join the festivities and to experience a little piece of the tour. Friday night ended with a reception to celebrate the success of the North American tour, iglidur® 30, and igus® 50.
Vice President, Rick Abbate, and Senator Jack Reed at igus® USA
Throughout this tour I spent many hours with igus® employees all over the country and I want to personally thank everyone who I had the utmost pleasure of meeting and working with on this tour. The people I have met on this trip have turned into family.
Thank you to the people who loaded my 6 suitcases in and out of the van countless early mornings and late nights, to the person who drove around for an hour trying to find me a laundry mat, who dedicated their long weekend to drive with us through Wyoming and South Dakota, who invited me into their home, who stayed up until 2 in the morning to repack the van so I wouldn’t have to, (these are just to name a few) this tour wouldn’t have happened without you. It takes a team to make something like this possible. And that is what igus® is, a team.
Now it is once again time to pass the torch to the next group of adventurous souls who will be taking the iglidur® car throughout Europe for its final leg of iglidur® on tour. The three gentlemen are Karl Weinmeister, head of the blog, Nils Schneider, filmographer and driver, and Sandor Meierjohann, filmographer and driver. To all of you, I wish you the absolute best and will be following your exciting journey!
It has been my pleasure being apart of this tour and being able to share this experience with all of you,
*For the last time*
Thanks for reading,
Kayla
