At IMTS 2026, igus showcased its broad portfolio of motion and automation technologies, emphasizing solutions that help manufacturers adopt automation more quickly and cost-effectively.

In a video from the company’s booth, Felix Brockmeyer, CEO of igus North America, said the company’s focus is on providing the components that enable movement within automated systems, from simple actuators to complete robotic solutions. Brockmeyer compared the company’s RBTX marketplace to “the Android of the cell phone world,” describing it as a platform that combines igus hardware with technologies from a range of automation partners.

Brockmeyer pointed to ongoing labor shortages and growing demand for automation as key drivers of market growth. To address those challenges, igus has expanded its RBTX marketplace, a platform that allows users to configure automation systems with transparent pricing and technology options.

Rather than developing every component itself, igus partners with a range of automation suppliers, integrating technologies such as robotic arms, machine vision and application-specific tools into a single ecosystem. Brockmeyer compared the approach to the Android operating system model, where a common platform brings together technologies from multiple providers.

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While automation-as-a-service and equipment rental models continue to gain traction across manufacturing, Brockmeyer said igus remains focused on its core mission: supplying and integrating the hardware needed to make automation systems move.

“There are many other [go-to-market solutions] out there, from private labeling the entire solution chain as well as trying to make all the products yourself,” Brockmeyer said. “We are not a software company, we don’t claim to be a software company, so that’s not the route we chose to go. We believe that somebody has to make the hardware and combine good hardware to solve problems.”

Brockmeyer said the market is seeing increased interest in flexible automation models, including subscription and rental programs that enable manufacturers to scale automation resources up or down as production demands change. While igus has chosen a different path, he noted that these are “all very viable solutions.”

The company’s IMTS 2026 exhibit highlighted that strategy, showcasing motion solutions designed to simplify automation deployment and help manufacturers address workforce and productivity challenges.

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