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Energy chain and bearings for amusement rides
Safe movement, less maintenance
Whether it's a fast-paced ride on the elevated chain carousel, looping on the roller coaster or spooky fun on a ghost train, the technology used is subject to very high safety standards and therefore places the highest demands on all the components installed. Our energy chain systems and bearing technology are just right: absolutely reliable thanks to a predictable, long service life, low maintenance, robust and quiet. No minimum order quantity. And if, e. g. themed attractions with decorations and animatronics need to be completely customised, special parts made of high-performance polymers in 3D printing have comparable specifications and can be configured and ordered online with just a few clicks.
Ferris wheels
Our maintenance-free igutex heavy-duty bearings are the right choice for the suspension of Ferris wheel gondolas. Consisting of a robust fibreglass fabric and an inner layer optimised for sliding properties, they are our specialists for high loads. For the door mechanisms in the gondolas, we recommend iglidur J plain bearings, drylin ZLW linear drives and energy chains of the E2.1 series.
Vertical lifts
Water rides and roller coasters often have vertical lifts to transport the cars. E.4 series energy chains, for example the E4.56, are used to supply energy to the lift, together with the vertical flizz system with matching chainflex cables.
If the entire lift or part of the track for a switch rotates, cables must be guided here in the rotary movement. Our RBR systems, which enable uninterrupted cable guidance with rotation of up to 600 degrees, are suitable for this application.
Success story
e-chain circular module in water ride
At 100km/h and a drop height of 45 metres, the launch coaster "Power Splash" races through the water at the Belgian theme park Walibi. To ensure that passengers can board and disembark safely, the developers of the water ride from the company MACK Rides installed a pivoting gate, which made special demands on the energy supply. igus provided the right solution: a modular rotating energy supply, consisting of a double side-mounted energy chain in a guide rail.
White paper: 10 design tips for your rotating energy supply
In this white paper, you will find valuable information on choosing the right guide trough for circular modules if you want to design them yourself. Avoid mistakes that reduce your system's service life or even cause downtime.
Elevated rides
In the case of elevated rides, the cables for drives and lighting must be guided upwards to ensure unrestricted riding fun. This can be done safely and without interruption using our energy chains and a suitable trough. Just as with lifts in roller coasters, e-chains of the E.4 series such as the E4.56 and the vertical flizz system are ideal as guides with matching chainflex cables.
Cables for elevated rides
Amusement rides place the highest demands on each component: Continuous outdoor operation in all weather conditions, constant movements, as well as regular assembly and disassembly of the entire system.
Thanks to an extremely robust TPE outer jacket and special stranding, our cables are able to withstand the constant movement in the energy chain and defy even the most adverse environmental conditions over the long term.
Giant swings
Even in giant swings or in classic ship swings, a wide variety of media must be guided safely in the gondola. Our RBR systems are ideal for fun rides that do not roll over. The cables are guided here without interruption and there is no need for a fault-prone slip ring that requires maintenance. The SRM-V or PRM-V modules with the appropriate chainflex cables are used for vertical movement.
In the hydraulic cylinders that are used to get the ride upright and ready for use, there are numerous bearing points that are subjected to high loads. Our fibre composite bearings made of the materials igutex TX1 or TX3 as well as bearings made of iglidur Q3E are the right choice here.
Roller coaster switches and transfer tracks
Large roller coasters have transfer tracks to move the coaster trains to parking or maintenance positions. Our E4.1 or E4.Q series e-chains with matching trough systems and chainflex cables are suitable for energy supply on sliding tracks.
Success story
Six Flags roller coaster with maintenance-free bearings
The operator of the amusement park chain Six Flags relies on plain bearings made from the material iglidur Z, which has led to a significant cost reduction here. The reason: maintenance work could be completely dispensed with during the season. With the dry-operating plain bearings made of high-performance plastic, there is no need to check the mounts and shafts or to relubricate them. Another plus: the bearings save a lot of weight.
Coaster car
For the mounting of safety bars, plain bearings made of the material iglidur Z are ideal. It enables maximum service life under extreme conditions and is also a good choice for bearing points on the wheel mounts of roller coasters.
Entrance areas
In entrance areas of amusement rides, our lubrication-free plain bearings are used, for example, on automatic flaps of luggage storage lockers; iglidur G or iglidur J bearings are ideal here. Our igubal pillow block bearings are used on automatic gates.
Success story
Completely pre-assembled energy supply for gondola lift
The Trier-based lift manufacturer Baasch & Didong GmbH was looking for a solution that would reliably move all the cables in continuous operation - and that with a 180-degree rotation of the gondola when it was lifted. Further challenges for the material: absolute reliability under constant UV radiation, extreme heat, frost, rain and splash water. A strong solution for continuous use was found with an E4/4 energy chain. And as a completely pre-assembled readychain, quick and cost-effective installation and easy dismantling at a later date are guaranteed.
Simulators
Simulators can tilt in any direction and therefore require a three-dimensional flexible cable guidance. For this purpose, we offer our triflex energy chain systems with matching twistable cables. In electric or hydraulic cylinders, which ensure the tilting and pivoting of the ride, we recommend our plain bearings made of the materials iglidur QE3, Z or P. They score with a long service life under heavy loads and are cost-effective.
Our self-adjusting igubal spherical bearings and dryspin lead screw technology are used in joysticks.
Success stories
Our products are used in a wide variety of applications in the fun ride industry. Discover the applications in which we have already been able to improve movement
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