The researchers from Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the University of Lisbon have won the golden vector award 2024 for their MOONS spectrograph. Every two years, igus honours the most spectacular energy chain applications with this award - this year among 328 entries from 37 countries. The silver vector was awarded to company TDK RF Solutions, which has developed a test rig for driver assistance systems, the bronze vector to MECAoctet for their movable nightclub ceiling. Bear Machines GmbH received the green vector for particularly sustainable energy chain applications for a machine that automatically recuts tyres.
How were galaxies formed? Where do exoplanets with life-friendly conditions exist? Answers are provided by the Very Large Telescope (VLT), one of the world's most advanced telescope arrays in the mountains of the Atacama Desert in Chile. It could look even more closely into space in the future. With the help of MOONS, a so-called multi-object and near-infrared spectrograph developed of the MOONS Consortium, where the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the University of Lisbon is part of.
The spectrograph has a field of view the size of the moon and can simultaneously observe over 1,000 objects in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range. It is the result of a long development process with various design challenges. One of them was the safe guidance of the sensitive optical fibres that transport the light from a rotating front end to the spectrograph. Here, the engineers used energy chains made of high-performance plastic from the triflex series from igus. They ensure that the fibres are not exposed to any stress during movement that could jeopardise the scientific observations.
According to the engineers, the energy chains fulfil this important task reliably even at an altitude of 2,670 metres and when exposed to high ozone levels. The independent jury of the vector award 2024 was therefore convinced that the spectrograph from Portugal is the most spectacular energy chain application of the last two years. The Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences at the University of Lisbon therefore received the golden vector award 2024 and prize money of €5,000.
US company TDK RF Solutions bags Silver vector
TDK RF Solutions does not dedicate its engineering skills to gazing into the stars, but to vehicles with driver assistance systems. To test their electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), the US company is developing a test rig for vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) tests. To enable the vehicle to drive as if it were on a road, the designers have realised a turntable with rollers. It is surrounded by a series of test antennas that radiate the vehicle with high electric field strengths. Five axes of movement allow each antenna assembly to be positioned freely. To guide control cables and compressed-air hoses along these axes, the engineers rely on energy chains from igus's 1400 series, which they wind into spring cable reels from the e-spool series. Thanks to the elimination of slip rings, the company has been able to significantly reduce maintenance times. A skilful application that convinced the jury. TDK RF Solutions therefore received the silver vector award and prize money of €2,500.
Bronze vector goes to French company MECAoctet
Hot party nights guaranteed: the French company MECAoctet has realised a movable ceiling for a nightclub in the Accor Arena in Paris. The ceiling consists of a fragmented mirror measuring 16 x 15 metres, which is divided into 32 triangular elements, 16 of which are movable. Each of these triangles has two mirror surfaces, one at the top and one at the bottom, with the edge consisting of an SRU LED strip. In combination with spotlights, this creates a breath-taking light show. The design challenge was to set the triangles in motion and supply the LED strips with power. To achieve this, the engineers relied on three motorised winches at each corner of the triangles. For the power supply, the experts used slip-ring-free spring cable reels from igus's e-spool series, fitted with hybrid cables and connected to the triangles' centres of gravity. According to MECAoctet, the igus solution made it possible to avoid complex coils with rotating collectors, which would have been very expensive and unreliable. Compared to a slider system with cable loops, the solution is also more aesthetic. The jury agrees. The bronze vector 2024 and prize money of €1,000 therefore went to MECAoctet.
Bear Machines GmbH bestowed with Green vector
With the green vector, the jury honours the special commitment to a greener and more sustainable future. This year's prize went to Bear Machines GmbH. The Heek based company has developed a semi-automatic machine called Bear-Cut, which recuts tyres on cars and truck. During the construction of the machine, Bear Machines faced the challenge of finding bendable and flexible cables for the motors. Conventional cables proved to be inadequate and could not fulfil the necessary requirements. The engineers therefore switched to robust yet flexible cables from igus's chainflex range, which move in e-chains from the E2 series.