MedTech Robotics: Motion Plastics Transforming Automation & Cleanroom Design
Key Highlights:
- The ReBel 6DOF cobot from igus offers a lightweight design with a 2 kg payload, suitable for pick-and-place, inspection and automation tasks.
- Fairino FR3 is a compact, high-precision cobot with a 3 kg payload, supporting multiple programming languages and industrial protocols.
- igus's e-skin flat system provides a cleanroom-rated cable management solution with quick-access chambers.
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Machine Design connected with Josh Lewis, national sales manager for igus Inc. North America, on the MD&M West 2026 show floor to discuss technologies the motion plastics specialist was spotlighting.
Lewis elected to highlight two robotic arm systems for their versatility across industrial applications.
“As you can see next to me, we’ve got a couple of our different robotic arms, one of them being the igus ReBel and then another one we represent, the Fairino robot arm,” Lewis said.
The ReBel 6DOF is a lightweight, 6-axis cobot offering a 2 kg payload, 664 mm reach and ±1 mm repeatability. Suitable for pick-and-place, inspection tasks, lab automation and light assembly, it is compatible with Modbus TCP and TCP/IP, and is ROS compatible. Along with igus robot control (iRC) software, the ReBel enters the market as an affordable cobot option ($7,499) that is easy to integrate into automation systems.
READ MORE: MD&M West 2026 Booth Briefing—SME Insights on Motion Solutions for Surgical Robotics
The Fairino FR3 is a compact 6-axis cobot with a 3kg payload, 622 mm reach and ±0.02 mm repeatability. An explosion-proof version is available for specialized environments. The Fairino supports a range of industrial protocols, such as TCP/IP snd Modbus TCP/RTU, as well as optional protocols such as Profinet, EtherCAT and Ethernet/IP. It can be programmed in C#, C++, Python and ROS/ROS2.
Both systems were designed to handle a range of motion-control applications, and Lewis noted that igus supplies robotic subsystems in addition to complete systems such as arms. Robotic subsystems could be as simple as plane bearings or lead screw products and as complex as full end-of-arm tooling and vacuum gripping.
Lewis explained that igus can adapt its offerings to meet a variety of customer requirements.
Purpose-Built Medical Design Products at the Exhibit
MD&M West is a comprehensive annual manufacturing trade show that takes place in Anaheim, Calif. The show brings together five sectors: MedTech, Automation, Design & Manufacturing, Plastics and Packaging.
igus manufactures plastic components and solutions for applications across these sectors. At MD&M West 2026 (Feb. 4-6, 2026), the company highlighted subsystems and components designed for medical technology and cleanroom environments.
One featured solution Lewis discussed was the e-skin flat, which is a cleanroom-rated cable-management system engineered for a robot, a gantry system or other moving equipment. The system was developed to route and protect cables, fluid lines and air lines, particularly in environments that call for strict contamination control.
In cleanroom environments, particles as small as 0.0001 mm can have damaging effects on product and the processes creating them, according to igus. The e-skin flat system features chambers that can be opened, so that the internal stranding elements can be exchanged in a matter of minutes.
READ MORE: AI Drives Manufacturing Technology Discussion at MD&M West
Along a similar vein, Lewis pointed out igus stainless steel iglide PRT (Polymer Rotation Table) slewing ring bearings. These self-lubricating, dry-running bearings use polymer sliding elements instead of traditional ball or needle bearings and can be fitted with different liners to provide chemical resistance and accommodate wash‑down requirements. “They have different liners for media resistance and washdown capabilities,” he explained.
Finally, Lewis spoke about a strategic expansion in North America, which includes a line of lead screws and lead‑screw nut materials. To support this effort, igus is opening a manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, he said, where the company will begin rolling its own lead screws, including ACME, trapezoidal and its proprietary high-helix dryspin patterns.
Cleanroom‑Qualified TPE Cables for High‑Purity Battery Plants
Separately, the parent company, igus GmbH, recently announced that it is the first supplier to qualify halogen-free 238 chainflex TPE cables for IPA dry cleanroom classes 4 and 5. The certification, achieved through the Fraynhofer Institute of Manufacturing, is geared towards automated battery production, an environment where production purity is critic
Lithium-ion battery production demands low-humidity environments. Common machine components often are not suitable for harsh conditions. Therefore, the TPE cables were developed and tested for use in energy chain. According to an igus press note, the range includes control, bus, motor, robot, servo and measuring system cables.
The Cologne-based motion plastics company noted that the certification confirms low particle emissions under long-term use.
About the Author
Rehana Begg
Editor-in-Chief, Machine Design
As Machine Design’s content lead, Rehana Begg is tasked with elevating the voice of the design and multi-disciplinary engineer in the face of digital transformation and engineering innovation. Begg has more than 24 years of editorial experience and has spent the past decade in the trenches of industrial manufacturing, focusing on new technologies, manufacturing innovation and business. Her B2B career has taken her from corporate boardrooms to plant floors and underground mining stopes, covering everything from automation & IIoT, robotics, mechanical design and additive manufacturing to plant operations, maintenance, reliability and continuous improvement. Begg holds an MBA, a Master of Journalism degree, and a BA (Hons.) in Political Science. She is committed to lifelong learning and feeds her passion for innovation in publishing, transparent science and clear communication by attending relevant conferences and seminars/workshops.
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