In the modern industrial setup, where work is conducted at machine-paced speeds and automation is prevalent, effective cable management is an absolute necessity. One of the great inventions that enables dynamic applications to operate in motion is the drag chain, a cable that is specially designed to be used in conditions of harsh physical stress and constant movement. These drag chain cables may not receive the appreciation that they deserve, but they certainly enable the flawless functioning of machines. In the following sections, we will analyse the characteristics and purpose of drag chain cables and why igus® is an industry leader when it comes to high-performance solutions.

What Are Drag Chain Cables?

Drag chain cables, or energy chain cables, are designed and built to sustain flex, motion, bending, and even torsion continuously. They are mounted in special cable carriers (also referred to as drag chains) which protect and guide  **flexible cable solutions** and hoses that traverse along the moving parts of a piece of equipment. These cables find widespread applications in CNC machining systems, robotics, packaging machinery, automotive assembly lines, etc.

Unlike standard cables, drag chain cables must endure:

• High acceleration and deceleration forces
• Tight bending radii
• Tens of millions of bending cycles
• Exposure to dust, oil, temperature extremes, and vibrations

Therefore, protection from harsh external conditions and machinery, along with flexibility, adaptability, and long-lasting resale value, becomes crucial.

Why Are They So Important?

If cabling systems are not properly designed and selected, they can cause:

• Cabling jacketing to crack or break
• Core fractures
• Downtime and productivity lags
• Higher maintenance and replacement expenditures

Drag chain cables are specifically designed to eliminate these issues. They minimise failure, maximise machine uptime, and greatly enhance the operational life of automation systems. A smoother operation can always be achieved with better cables.

igus® drag chain cables: Engineered for Motion

With a broad portfolio of igus cable management**,** chainflex® is designed for use in energy chains. igus® is a motion plastics industry leader. Heavily utilised in energy chains, chainflex® cables undergo stress in the largest moving cables test lab in the world, providing exceptional performance and durability-tested reliability, unmatched in the industry.

Here’s why chainflex® from igus® stands out:

Tested for millions of cycles: Each of these cable carriers has been independently verified for undergoing extensive testing under moving conditions.