SPONSORED FEATURE
What long lead times? igus discusses its ways to keeping manufacturers stocked and ready for business
L
ong lead times caused by Covid-19, the semiconductor shortages and the war in Ukraine are still causing huge
supply chain problems, and forcing new buying patterns. Machine and equipment builders are suff ering from the longest waiting times in living memory for some critical parts. Delays for parts that need semiconductors, such as PLCs, drives and controls, are now unusually long – in some cases up to 50 weeks instead of the typical took two to four weeks. And while there are signs the semiconductor shortage is easing, there is a long waiting list for backlogged orders.
Manufacturing companies who use cables and connectors are also experiencing long delays, causing real headaches in production. Now, purchasing teams have two choices: 1. to fi nd suppliers they haven’t dealt with before and potentially paying more for unknown brands, or 2. to wait – both options add a degree of stress and risks of eroding customer relationships.
Shorter waiting times Many manufacturers have reached out to igus for cable and connector solutions, since we manufacture a vast range of cables and, importantly, cable/connector plug-and-play assemblies. We have factory capacity and buying power, ensuring more reliable supplies than smaller competitors
40 April 2023 | Automation
and distributors. We also have ample warehousing space, in the UK and in Germany, and, unlike many companies, we still stock cables and cable/connector sets in large volumes. This stock-in-case approach, while traditionally a business cost, has helped many igus customers source cables more quickly through these diffi cult times. Stock reliability for both popular and less common parts is one reason why igus UK recorded its best sales year in 2022 – revenues exceeded £1bn. As well as having over 1,300 individual cable types in stock, we also assemble cables with an array of connectors and build multi-cable assemblies into a ready- to-install e-chain – perfect for higher volume machine builders on quick takt times that just need the cable set to “fi t and forget”.
Just in ten days In one recent example, a company that manufactures meat-processing machines with cable assemblies it buys from its usual drive manufacturer, has been informed of lead times of 26 weeks. So, it turned to igus, who was able to supply the identical cables in just ten days, unblocking the production line. This problem is not limited to cables and assemblies, however, and many companies are also struggling to get their engineered plastic parts on time. Again, igus can help here. For example, a drinks
manufacturer that has been buying plastic rollers for its production line faced serious production downtime due to the lead time of replacement rollers – and igues helped with supplying the parts.
Reduced design times igus has created a digital parallel universe that prepares sales and engineering professionals for the metaverse – called “iguverse” – a virtual space in which all our products can be experienced as digital twins. Customers from all over the world can use iguverse to develop machines, systems and machines together with igus, partner with engineers and project managers and immerse themselves in the projects and applications – saving time and money. Soon, customers, engineers and material experts can come together as avatars in a digital space and carry out entire engineering projects, faster and with less friction than in the physical world.
In a further stage, igus is also considering expanding its iguverse with a B2B platform for other manufacturers. The companies can then present machines and systems in this virtual space, using igus components.
CONTACT:
igus
www.igus.co.uk
automationmagazine.co.uk
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