On demand manufacturing solutions

What is on demand manufacturing?

On demand manufacturing allows for customers that require customisation of specific parts to have the flexibilty for this.This ensures specific requirements can be achieved for any application. Our manufacturing capabilites include, 3D printing (additive manufacturing, SLS, FDM, DLP, rapid tooling, multi-material printing), injection moulding, CNC machining, and bespoke pre-harnessed energy chain systems. Source custom parts to your exact specification with igus®.

Injection moulding

A vast majority of igus® catalogue products are manufactured through injection moulding.

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CNC machining

Hands adjust a sensor during CNC machine calibration under blue light.

Machining custom components from stock material. Customised parts made simple.

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3D printing

We provide 3D printing services and products in several wear-resistant materials. We offer various manufacturing methods to ensure we cater to your exact requirements.

Find out more Upload your 3d model

Energy supply systems

Cable bundles and connectors in an igus energy chain system.

Custom ready-to-install cable carrier systems manufactured to your application requirements and designed to be installed directly and ready to use.

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Our on demand manufacturing capabilities in more depth

3D printing

3D printing is a quick and easy method of manufacturing, which like CNC machining is ideal for small quantities. Using igus® filaments allows the 3D printed parts to be used as fully working wear parts. Thanks to the same technology used in the injection moulded granules and stock material, the 3D filaments offer the same long lasting, hard wearing elements as the other plastics. This is highly beneficial when tasked with recreating obsolete parts. We also offer print2mold which is a combination of 3d printing and injection moulding, 3d printed moulding tool which injection moulds the desired parts. This is a cost-effective way of injection moulding smaller batches than typically would be injection moulded and is not only cheaper but can produce injection moulded parts quicker.

To the gear service life configurator

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Complete harnessed systems

A readychain® is an igus® manufactured assembly consisting of both industrial energy chain systems and the services that are required to run through it, including flexible cables, pneumatics and hydraulic hoses. They are assembled to support a variety of automation, industry-based tehcnology including harnessed fibre-optics, bus systems and drive technology. readychain® is a problem-solving solution, uniquely designed and manufactured to specific customer requirements, ready to be installed directly. We can support highly complex requirements including additional metalwork and specialised delivery needs. We also provide on-site and remote support for design and specification.

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Injection moulding

The majority of the standard components that we sell are injection moulded. These are ideal for high volume production batches hence the reason this is the main production source for igus® components. At our head office we have over 800 of injection moulded machines manufacturing parts designed for movement. We have been developing specialist materials which complement our “motion plastics” notion for nearly 60 years and now use these materials to create millions of components every year. All we need for any of these methods is a drawing, an idea of the application. This allows us to establish the best material for the part. We need an idea of quantity, prototype or production, this will also help us decide on the correct method of manufacturing.

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Gantry robots on an injection moulding line in an in-house automation factory, with one worker walking between machines.

CNC machining

Our CNC machining capabilities make the non-standard possible. From
turned, milled, routed or drilled components, we are able to offer a wide
range of machining options to bring your design to life. These methods of
machining components are ideal for low volumes such as prototypes or samples and thanks to the variation of sizes, materials and material types, machining bespoke components is simple.

For automatic price calculation and quick processing of your request, please
use our CNC tool.

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Application examples

Pre-assembled energy chains save space and weight in this machine tool series
A universal machine for the workshop has always been the goal towards which DVS Universal Grinding GmbH has striven. The UGrind allows workpieces to be turned and ground simply, quickly and cost-effectively. The company offers user-friendly machine tools for manufacturing everything from high-precision rotor shafts for electric drives to tools to hard-coated brake disks for sports cars.

UGrind 800 grinding machine with control panel and connected e-chains and accessories for workpiece feeding.

3D printed functional mounting bracket
In order to be able to safely guide the cables for temperature sensors, heating elements and stepper motors for the print heads of the large-volume 3D printer while it is printing, two individual mounting brackets were required for the energy chain.

Custom plain bearing in ice melting probe
In this application, plain bearings must function under extreme conditions. In addition to dust and dirt, there are also low temperatures.
With a specially manufactured plain bearing made of iglidur A180 a media-resistant and robust solution was found.

Melting probe with a dirty tip and an inserted metal screw.

Minutes instead of days: readychain® solution from igus® reduces the assembly time of machining centres
In its robotic machining centres, Taiwanese tool manufacturer Hartford uses fully harnessed energy chain systems from igus. This cuts out many process steps for the manufacturer, reducing assembly time from several weeks to just half a day. At the same time, customers can always depend on receiving a safe and reliable solution from a single source when they order readychains from igus.

Two workers install a cable carrier system in the machine room.

Useful links

Frequently asked questions

On demand manufacturing is where manufacturers produce a product based specifically to the customers requirements. There are multiple services igus® provide to support on demand manufacturing solutions. These include;

3D printing service and materials
Injection moulding
CNC machining
Ready-to-install cable carrier systems

Bespoke manufacturing is when an organisation manufacture a customised product based on a customer’s specification. igus® offer several services applicable to custom manufacturing, including 3D printing, CNC machining, injection moulding and harnessed systems.

CNC machining is a method of manufacturing parts using specialised computer software within a machine. These CNC machines can produce turned, milled, routed or lasered custom components as individual quantities or large production parts. The program is set by an operator based on the drawing and the machine does the rest. Because of the set-up cost, smaller quantities can be costly and in these situations, 3D printed parts might be a more cost-effective method of manufacturing.

Your printer should come with software that allows you to set the parameters for printing with any materials, including the igus® materials. To avoid worrying about software, you can get igus® to print it for you. Simply drag and drop your drawing into the online tool.

Contact us

Contact details

Matthew Aldridge

Managing Director

01604 677240 Contact us

Opening hours

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Monday to Friday from 8 am - 8 pm.

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