238 chainflex® cables certified for use in dry cleanrooms

igus becomes the first supplier to qualify halogen-free chainflex® TPE cables for IPA dry cleanroom classes 4 and 5

November 27, 2025 – The number of dry cleanrooms worldwide is growing, driven by the need for fast, cost-effective automation. To meet these demands, igus has successfully certified its halogen-free chainflex® TPE cables for dry cleanroom classes 4 and 5 through the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA). This certification ensures customers in highly automated battery production receive energy supply solutions with a guaranteed service life of up to four years.

In lithium-ion battery manufacturing, production purity is critical. Dust, particles, and moisture can compromise quality and shorten product life. Dry cleanrooms—where relative humidity is typically below one percent or just a few ppm—protect sensitive materials like electrolytes from chemical reactions. However, many machine components fail under such harsh conditions.

“Many components are susceptible to wear and tear due to the dry air, so they have to be replaced within a very short time,” says Kira Weller, Product Manager e-chains and cleanroom expert at igus. “To ensure that our cable routing systems meet the requirements of the dry environment, we are working together with Fraunhofer IPA to develop and certify our motion plastics for use in dry cleanrooms.”

This certification now covers 238 chainflex® cables. “These are our high-end TPE cables, which are specially developed and tested for use in the energy chain. The range includes control, bus, motor, robot, servo and measuring system cables, among others,” explains Rainer Rössel, Head of the chainflex® Cables division at igus. After extensive testing in igus’ 5,500-square-meter Cologne lab, the cables earned the two highest IPA dry cleanroom classes, 4 and 5. The certification guarantees low particle emissions under long-term stress and reliable material resistance—key for modern automation in battery production.

Joint Development with Fraunhofer IPA

“The cooperation with Fraunhofer IPA gives our customers the certainty that our solutions will function reliably even under the strictest conditions,” says Rössel. The halogen-free TPE sheathing ensures maximum purity and durability. igus backs all products with a four-year warranty and service life calculation.

These TPE cables are standard catalog items, available from stock in lengths starting at one meter—without cutting fees, small quantity surcharges, or packaging costs. igus also offers certified energy chains, including E6, e-skin® soft, e-skin® flat, and easy chain® E14 series, ideal for battery production, semiconductor manufacturing, and other sectors where cleanliness and durability are critical.

You can find more information about dry cleanrooms under Components for battery production