The collaboration with igus® began a good two years ago. As a first step, the cable chainflex® CF98, which was specially developed for such applications, was inserted into the existing igus® energy supply system in electric swinging and sliding doors of the low-floor railway as part of due maintenance work. This cable family is designed for very fast applications with a very high number of cycles with a small bend radius and limited installation space. After more than two years of daily practical testing, this has confirmed what has been standard in other transport companies in Germany for years. The cable functions absolutely smoothly, ensuring the doors close and open reliably. "It has defied all adverse conditions and has not failed in heat, cold, snow or ice!" says Hans Bennerscheid succinctly

Many years of testing have shown no wear on the conductors, even with radii of <3xd and over 60 million strokes. "For over two and a half years, we carried out extensive material research in our laboratory in Cologne in order to be able to offer a suitable cable for users of very small energy chains and the tight bend radius and high stroke rates usually associated with them," reports Rainer Rössel. "And at the end of the trade show was the classic problem solution. With minimal installation space and a tight bend radius, in this case 18 mm, we can provide a functionally reliable cable series with the CF98/CF99."

Of the 24 low-floor trams, 21 are permanently in operation in Bonn. "We can't afford any downtime," says Alexander Wingen, summarising the requirements. "The technical and therefore also economic advantages of the CF98/CF99 cable convinced us right from the start." And his colleague Oliver Walbröhl adds: "We have joined forces with cities including Dresden, Erfurt, Mülheim and Brandenburg. Not only is the same vehicle series used here, but spare parts are also ordered jointly. At the regular meetings, the focus is not only on operating costs, but there is also a lively exchange of experiences. We are happy to pass on our experience with the control cable for reliable doors."