Roller energy chain in double lock

• What was needed: Roller energy chain type 4040CR, chainflex®-cable, trough system, floating moving end
• Requirements: continuous operation in the plant
• Industry: Locks/docks
• Success for the customer: reliable energy supply, minimal maintenance

The sea lock in Krammersluis near Zeeland in the Netherlands is a double lock with a length of 280 metres and a width of 24 metres. It regulates through shipping traffic 24 hours a day and can therefore be described as a critical point in the infrastructure on site. The operators of the facility must therefore be able to trust that the lock will operate reliably and continuously. Of course, this also includes the energy supply system, which is a critical element of the system that makes orderly operation possible in the first place and supplies the pumps, locking system and lighting with power.
In the past, a tender system was used here, which could no longer fulfil the high performance requirements of the system over time. In concrete terms, the cables proved to be permanently unstable, as evidenced by twisted and broken cables. This finally forced the operator to rethink.

A search that paid off. Because after igus® was able to convince the operators of the double airlock of its products, a reliable energy chain system inclsive chainflex® -cable from the igus® range was installed in 2009. More precisely, a roller energy chain of type 4040CR is used today. This runs in an igus® trough system, which guides the chain securely. Finally, floating moving ends round off the system. They are used to compensate for any differences in the energy supply system.
The trade show stand today speaks in favour of the new solution from igus® and convinces the customer: Unlike before, maintenance is minimal; in practice, a visual inspection of the roller energy chain and the cables is only carried out once a year.