Fortnite is a computer game that enables people to participate in social events in a 3D simulation and demonstrates the power of a parallel digital universe which has similar importance for industry and commerce. In April 2020, 12.3 million players gathered in a virtual space for a digital concert by Travis Scott. "We are pursuing the vision of the iguverse, a virtual space in which all of our products can be experienced as digital twins, but that is not all," says igus, CEO, Frank Blase.
He further added, "Customers from all over the world will have the opportunity to work with engineers and project managers in iguverse to develop machines, systems and vehicles and to immerse themselves in projects and applications. This will save time and money. Customers are up to nine times as likely to remember experiences in virtual reality."
Sales in Virtual Space:
Visitors to the IAA Transportation 2022 trade show in Hannover could take the first look at the igus metaverse beginnings by putting on virtual reality glasses at the igus stand. In future, they will look at 3D product models from all sides in a 360-degree panoramic view, experiencing the igus infrastructure virtually along with discovering different applications for which igus components are used. For instance, such applications range from a plastic bicycle to a futuristic minivan with iglidur plain bearings, drylin linear guides and e-chains to an oil platform that uses the modular e-loop energy chain system.
Engineering in Virtual Reality:
Products and infrastructure form the first expanding stage into the iguverse. In future, customers, engineers, and material experts will carry out engineering projects in the digital space as avatars. Eventually, igus will expand iguverse by including a B2B platform for other manufacturers who can later present machines and systems in virtual space, provided they use igus components. This is a megatrend according to Gartner, a US market research firm. They think that digital channels will represent 80 per cent of B2B sales interactions between suppliers and buyers by 2025. igus, however, will use the B2B platform to create a growing reference database for motion plastics, virtually accessible.
Selling Digitally With Augmented Reality
igus is also using a new form of digital sales and presentation with augmented reality such as the triflex TRX energy chain series. If employees activate the software on their smartphones using a QR code on the e-chain, the application overlays the product on the screen with an animated virtual twin, enabling an X-ray view of the mechanism inside the chain, and providing a clear product explanation.
