Application phase for 10th vector award is now open
The application phase of the igus vector award 2026 has begun. Now in its tenth year, a joint initiative is honouring designers worldwide who use high-performance plastic energy chains to create cable guides that set new technological standards, with winners to receive up to 5,000 euros in prize money.
The vector award has gained international recognition, with over 320 applications from 37 countries received in 2024 alone. “This impressive response reflects the diversity and innovative spirit of the international engineering community,” says Justin Leonard, e-chain director at igus in Northampton.
Applications vary, from the longest e-chain (670 metres long) installed in a bucket wheel excavator in an Indian power plant, weighing several hundred kilograms, to the shortest variations of the E2 micro series, measuring just a few centimetres in length used in modern industrial robots, medical devices and 3D printers.
“The vast amount of applications in recent years show that the demands on energy chains are constantly increasing,” emphasises Leonard.
The systems have to cope with higher payloads, increasing speeds and dynamic motion sequences in robotics. “Many of the projects are top technical achievements, but they rarely attract public attention, and we want to change this with the vector awards, which offers designers and companies an international stage for their applications with energy chain systems.”
The competition awards four trophies:
- Golden vector awarding 5,000 euros
- Silver vector awarding 2,500 euros
- Bronze vector awarding 1,000 euros
- Green vector for exceptionally sustainable solutions, also awarding 1,000 euros.
All design engineers using energy chains made of high-performance plastic or plastic hybrid solutions from igus are eligible to take part, but the projects must already have been successfully implemented. The closing date for entries is 30th January 2026. An independent jury of experts from research backgrounds, the specialist press and industry will then meet in Cologne on the 26th of February to select the winners, who will be announced in early April.
Visit the igus website for more information
