Save costs in purchasing! Goodbye over-engineering!

Marco Thull | 29. July 2020

Buy products with specifications that are not necessary at all: companies lose money this way and increase installation and maintenance costs. How it is possible, especially in Corona times, to remember the motto “Keep it simple” and save costs.

Do you know about over-engineering? The term describes products with features that cost time and money, but do not offer the user any added value. The term “just-enough engineering” is also often used. A prominent example: the Juicero Press – a device that pressed fruit and vegetable bags into juice. The device was launched in the market for $400 in 2016. Only then did it become clear that juice fans could squeeze out the bags with their hands just as quickly. Juicero discontinued its business operations. Ouch! This example makes it clear that a product that is perfect from the developer’s point of view does not necessarily also have to be suitable for customers. It can also be the perfect waste.

Take a close look at your applications and needs!

Pay for functions that do not play a role in everyday life: unfortunately, many B2B buyers also make this mistake. They buy components with specifications that are never used – true to the motto “Better too much than too little. ” What they don’t realise is they’re throwing money out the window. Not just once when purchasing. Products with many features also usually have a higher installation and maintenance effort. It is similarly absurd from an economic point of view to buy a sports car with 700hp for city driving. Therefore, first, take a close look at your application. What specifications must a product actually have? Keep it simple, or as we like to say: The most cost-effective energy chain that works is the best solution for our customers. Here are some tips for saving money when shopping.

Energy chains: save 40% costs for the same dimensions

An example: a buyer is looking for an energy chain to guide cables and hoses.  E4.1 from igus is the toughest and largest e-chain family in the product range, designed for high strength and modularity. But maybe the high strength is oversized for the customer – virtually 700HP, where 300HP were sufficient? This is why igus offers a slimmed-down version, the E4.1L. The e-chains are almost identical in size, but are designed to be lighter. The customer saves up to 40 per cent on acquisition costs and weight.

Components for robots: iglidur polymer holders save 50% of costs

Another example: a buyer is looking for a clamp to attach a protective hose to a cobot robot arm. Classically, these components are mostly made of metal. But does it have to be metal? Perhaps the tensile forces and accelerations are not so high after all. And then iglidur polymer holders from igus are an alternative. A counter solution that saves 50% of costs compared to the metal version. Goodbye over-sizing!

Control cables: save 64.7% costs by dispensing with PUR

Electrical cables also offer potential for saving costs. At igus  there are seven cable segments with mechanically different qualities. Does it absolutely have to be a PUR jacket? Or is a simpler PVC jacket sufficient? If the customer decides on the slim chainflex series CF130.UL with PVC jacket, he will save 64.7% costs compared to the series CF77.UL.D with PUR jacket – with the same core/cross section combination and without loss of electrical properties.

Save costs with readychain and Industry 4.0

readychain is another way to save costs. igus takes over the harnessing of e-chains. With the ready-to-connect systems from a single source, customers reduce the number of orders and suppliers by 75 per cent. Upon request, the e-chains can also be equipped with smart plastics, with networked radio sensors that monitor the wear status of the e-chain and enable predictive maintenance. With this Industry 4.0 equipment, downtime can be reduced and costs saved as well.

Please contact us. We will find the most cost-effective solution that definitely works!

Following the motto “Tech up, Cost down. It’s our job. “ we assist customers in finding the most cost-effective solution that works with certainty. Because only this solution is really the best! www.igus.eu/tucd