Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Hack the Crisis: igus’ CEO shares lessons

By Paul Heney | April 6, 2020

Share

Frank Blase, CEO, igus GmbH

Thoughts from Frank Blase, CEO, igus GmbH, as the Cologne, Germany-based company deals with the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

The situation changes daily for us. My planning horizon is 5 minutes.

Two things are crucial: the health of our people, and keeping the plants open. Motion plastics are used in many areas of critical infrastructure: in the agricultural and food industry, water treatment and energy distribution. There are 200 such manufacturers in medical technology alone — established companies as well as start-ups that currently work flat out to develop new products — they use plain, linear and ball bearings or energy chains and cables from igus. They function in ventilators as well as in laboratory diagnostics or hospital beds.

At present, I can say that we are able to deliver 97% of all catalog parts from stock; worldwide local supply is ensured thanks to 14 of our factories worldwide — including in the USA. Our factory in Rhode Island has more than 20 million parts in stock and we deliver without delay. But this is a mere snapshot.

To keep it up, strong preventive measures have been implemented and are updated all the time. We started at the end of January, because we saw what had happened at igus China. I can count about 250 changes that we have made, both large and small. Some examples include: Fever measuring at the entrances, disinfectant dispensers everywhere, 1-hour cleaning cycles, changed shifts to spread people over the spaces, manufacturing of our own face masks, five new cafeterias built to give people space, face masks in productions after two weeks, 90% home office for all non-production colleagues (as of March 17), a “Daily Mail” sent to all colleagues for complete transparency, and hundreds of online trainings for the various tools and changes.

Our customers reach us via all channels, with the state-of-the-art new digital possibilities, such as virtual visits by smartphone, desktop sharing or online chat. We are paying a 25% hardship endurance to all of our manufacturing colleagues; all vacations can be deferred until end of 2021. Innovation goes on — we are just building our own “Hanover Messe.” We call it “The Home for Home Office Pioneers.” We open back up on April 20, the date that the Hanover Show would have opened.

* * *

An illustration of where motion plastics can be used in ventilators.

Blase mentioned that there is a daily detailed update on igus.eu for ALL countries at:

https://www.igus.eu/info/daily-status

And there are also regularly updated pages that list all preventive measures at:

https://www.igus.eu/info/precautions-cologne

 

 


Filed Under: Hack the Crisis: Engineering through COVID-19
Tagged With: igus
 

About The Author

Paul Heney

Paul J. Heney, the VP, Editorial Director for Design World magazine, has a BS in Engineering Science & Mechanics and minors in Technical Communications and Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He has written about fluid power, aerospace, robotics, medical, green engineering, and general manufacturing topics for nearly 25 years. He has won numerous regional and national awards for his writing from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.

Related Articles Read More >

Kawasaki Robotic PPE manufacturing cell allows harbor technologies to expand globally amidst shortage
Biden Administration to issue employer vaccination mandate
igus introduces 168 new motion plastics innovations
Hartland Chamber of Commerce names Dorner 2020 Manufacturer of the Year, citing COVID-19 efforts

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings