IGUS

A Field Trip to IGUS

We visited IGUS as field trip on 28^th May, 2025.

 

IGUS stands for “Industriespritzguss”. The german word ‘Spritzguss’ means injection molding which is one of the most popular manufacturing methods for making plastic products in large quantities.

This company specializes in engineering plastic and manufacturing high-performance technical polymers for motion. The main objective of IGUS is to “improve what moves” and develop innovative products made of plastics that are lubrication-fee, highly stable and durable.
 

  Some of the key goals include the following. IGUS wants to improve technology but at the same time reduce its costs in production. IGUS strives to become the easiest company to deal with, allowing customers to decide how to approach IGUS through diverse channels. IGUS also desires to operate so that it can become CO2 neutral and cause zero plastic waste by improving recyclability of its products.

Products of IGUS include mechanical components such as energy chains, semi-finished products, low cost automation including robotic arms, electronic components, injection molded impellers and frames, and EVEN bicycle components. The main advantages that IGUS has on these products is that they are, as aforementioned, lubrication-free, maintenance-free and sustainable.

IGUS has over 188,000 customers worldwide and has managed to penetrate into numerous industries such as rail, agriculture, aerospace, 3D printers, and EVEN vending machines. IGUS also contributes to producing prostheses, furniture and surprisingly gaming chairs.

IGUS has the biggest test lab in the industry, which makes the fact that IGUS products have up to 4 years of guarantee highly plausible. Proven use of its products in customer applications include tunnel-boring machines by Herrenknecht AG and conveyor belts by Heineken Brasil. IGUS also has interests in designing an all plastic bike named RCYL.

The German company also has a thing to say about its work culture. Buildings of IGUS commonly have yellow pillars at the center. This yellow pillar is a symbol of sun rays. And IGUS thinks of customers as the sun. Thus, IGUS goes around its customers. “IGUS Solar System” is an organizational chart where when customers are at the center, IGUS surrounds it and try to innovate to find the best solutions for customer requirements. There is actually no single office and almost no doors in IGUS buildings. Furthermore, IGUS leadership values truth, performance and love. Also, IGUS priorities diversity, boasting colleagues from over 80 countries. IGUS encourages colleagues to learn and have an open communication at all levels.    

Most of us could feel that IGUS cared about this field trip a lot. They prepared for contents for us. They didn’t want to just tell us, but they wanted to give us their messages through activities. Even though it’s small things, we could feel how it would be like to work in IGUS and what kind of vision they have. Since young generation values work-and-balance and environment, IGUS is attractive to us.

 

 

성재기, 탁은우, 홍은범

Seong Jaegi, Tak Eunu,  Hong Eunbeom, 

Field trip report – European Trade : IGUS

IGUS : The Revolution of Plastic

On May 28, we had the opportunity to visit the Korean branch of IGUS in Songdo as part of a field trip for our course, European Trade. IGUS is a company specializing in high-performance plastics, known as motion plastics, that offer innovative solutions by replacing traditional metal parts with wear-resistant, self-lubricating polymer materials. Backed by decades of accumulated research and expertise, IGUS is able to accurately calculate the lifespan of its polymer bearings, giving designers confidence in their long-term performance and helping them realize the long-sought goal of maintenance-free operation. Their signature product, iglidur® bearings operate without lubricants, helping reduce environmental pollution. Their lightweight nature contributes to lowering fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions in applications like automobiles and aircraft, supporting the ESG initiatives of other companies as well.

IGUS plays a crucial role in industrial automation, offering optimized products for smart factories and robotics including energy chains, cables, bearings, and robot parts. The company operates the world’s largest tribology lab (focused on friction, wear, and lubrication), ensuring rigorous testing and reliable performance for customers.

The core values that IGUS pursues are innovation, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, customization, and transparency. Some of their representative slogans include:

•        motion plastics: moving the world without metal

•        plastics for longer life

•        igus – tech up, cost down

What personally impressed me the most about igus was the idea that plastic, often considered harmful to the environment, could actually replace metal and contribute to environmental protection. It changed the way I think about plastics. I also felt that igus has a truly unique identity. The phrase motion plastics captures the company’s philosophy so intuitively, and it seems like even a single word reflects their technology and pride.

Furthermore, I found their simultaneous pursuit of technical advancement and cost reduction to be both practical and future-oriented, reinforcing the idea that igus is a highly sustainable company. Their emphasis on customer-specific solutions also showed that they go beyond simply being a manufacturer—they are problem solvers, which left a deep impression on me.

Workplace Culture Fit for the 21st Century

Another thing that stood out to me about IGUS is how the company has grown remarkably by embracing one of the biggest challenges modern businesses face: creating a flat and autonomous workplace culture. Instead of relying on a traditional top-down hierarchy, at IGUS, all employees work together in an open office environment—without any team divisions and regardless of rank or position. This allows for faster, more flexible feedback—whether in product development or customer service—and helps the company move closer to its core goal: fully meeting customer needs.

One detail I found especially memorable during my visit was that most of the workspaces and hallways are designed with transparent glass walls. This open layout not only symbolises IGUS’s commitment to transparency and openness within the organisation, but also encourages natural communication among employees. It helps create an environment where people can see and understand each other’s work in progress, promoting a culture of sharing, collaboration, and mutual awareness.

Throughout the presentation, the presenter tried his best to show us the actual product that was being discussed, and this allowed us to vividly observe and touch the quality, design, and shape of the plastic products manufactured directly at the facility.

Right before the factory tour they organized an amusing team activity for us—a mini-game where the goal was to build the tallest tower using only spaghetti noodles, a one-meter strip of tape, and a piece of string. Through this enjoyable activity, the presenter from IGUS emphasized the importance of initial design and time allocation, and we were able to take away a valuable lesson from the experience.

At the end of the field trip, we toured the factory and gained a general understanding of how the plastic components are stored and transported to client companies. We also had a chance to try out a special bicycle invented by IGUS, which notably does not require chain oil. It was quite interesting. Although the product has not yet been commercialized, IGUS’ willingness to take risks and create new value—despite the risk of failure—left a deep impression on us. This philosophy challenged the more bureaucratic mindset we are accustomed to in Asia, giving us much to reflect on.

장동준, 이수민, 백주현  Jang Dongjun, Lee Sumin, Baek Juhan