igus Receives New Cleanroom Certifications for e-chains Used in Battery Production

igus e-chains pass long-term tests for dry cleanroom use in battery and semiconductor manufacturing

24 April 2025 – To ensure the highest levels of cleanliness in battery and semiconductor production, igus has earned new dry cleanroom certifications for several of its e-chain® cable carrier systems. Following extensive testing by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), the E6, e-skin® flat, e-skin soft, and easy chain E14 have been certified for use in dry cleanroom environments over the long term.

The certification initiative builds on igus’ 2022 milestone when the company introduced the E6.29, the first e-chain certified for dry cleanroom applications. To further validate long-term suitability, igus commissioned Fraunhofer IPA to conduct rigorous testing on the aging behavior of its cleanroom-compatible e-chains. The findings confirmed that the tested systems emit minimal particles even under the extreme conditions of a dry cleanroom, making them suitable for high-precision environments such as lithium-ion battery and semiconductor manufacturing.

“In dry cleanrooms, components often degrade quickly due to low humidity levels, resulting in higher particle emissions and shorter service lives,” said Rob Mammone, Product Manager for e-chains at igus. “Because materials can become brittle under these conditions, it is crucial to validate that the systems can perform reliably over time.”

The newly issued certificates are divided into “Pre-aging” and “Aging behavior.” For the “Aging behavior” evaluation, the E6.J and e-skin flat systems were tested over a 10-month period in a dry cleanroom with relative humidity below 1% and a dew point of -40°C (-40°F).

During this time, the systems underwent more than 15 million cycles. The e-skin flat system maintained ISO Class 4 cleanliness throughout the test, with the highest classification possible in the test environment. The E6.J system also initially met ISO Class 4 but was ultimately classified as ISO Class 5 after sustained use, which remains an excellent result for battery manufacturing applications.

The “pre-aging” certificate was awarded to the e-skin soft and easy chain E14 systems, which also underwent 15 million cycles over 10 months. These systems achieved the best available rating of ISO Class 4, affirming their low particle emissions and long-term suitability in dry cleanroom conditions.

These new certifications from Fraunhofer IPA underscore igus’ commitment to quality and innovation in motion plastics technology. With verified performance under the stringent demands of dry cleanroom environments, the certified e-chains offer manufacturers in the microelectronics and battery industries increased confidence and extended service life for automated systems.

Further details on igus products tailored for battery production can be found at: https://www.www.hansarobotics.com/industry/microelectronics