The igus® guidefast system; secure cable guidance for indoor cranes

More and more well-known indoor crane manufacturers have discovered the igus® e-chain®, either on its own or as a complete system, as an efficient and reliable cable guidance system. End customers are also increasingly appreciating the advantages of the e-chain® systems over other alternatives.

But what are the individual advantages of the igus® energy chain, compared to the classic festoon or cable trolley system on the indoor crane?

One of the predominant systems that igus® provide for indoor cranes is the compact guidefast control system. This system is mounted directly onto the crane girder and can be fitted quickly and easily in four simple steps:

• Attach bracket
• Connect the guide trough and screw on
• Insert energy chain with cable and fasten
• Connect trough joints with the help of clips

The systems can come with a floating towing arm which ensures that the moving arm remains securely located in the trough. The trough, again, is simply installed, saving 80% installation time compared to other troughs and there is no need for welding brackets.

Below are a few key points that are important for customers to understand before and during the decision-making process for the correct cable management system.  The advantages of utilising the guidefast system can be roughly classified into two fundamental areas, Handling and Service & Maintenance.

Here are a couple of key features for each area:

Handling:

• Increased inner span without obstacles
• Unrestricted space under the entire crane girder – due to the small installation space of the chain system required on the crane
• No hanging cables from the crane girder – higher storage space
• Reduced distance from hook to wall
• No additional steel construction on the crane necessary
• Low weight

Service & Maintenance:

• Longer service life of the cables (prerequisite: cables suitable for energy chains, such as chainflex®)
• Lower operating and maintenance costs compared to a festoon or cable trolley system
• Less prone to errors
• No components that need to be lubricated regularly

As mentioned, this energy chain system is perfect for single girder overhead crane application however if the system doesn’t quite match the requirements, there is such a large range of energy chain systems that this allows igus® to be able to provide the best system for each individual application. The guidefast system is fast becoming the go-to for securing cables for indoor cranes.