Following the success of the inaugural Manufacturing and Engineering North East (MENE) event last year, igus will be returning to the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on the 6th and 7th July. Dedicated to meeting the growing needs of manufacturers and engineers, igus offers a huge range of plastic bearing and cable management solutions for a variety of applications. One of the companies that igus met during last year’s event is OpenWorks Engineering, a Northumberland-based product development company that has created a man portable, reusable drone defence system. Called SkyWall10, it uses compressed air to launch a projectile containing a net and optional parachute to capture a drone, thus keeping it intact without risk of damage to the drone itself or the surrounding area. At the heart of the system is the easy-to-use SmartScope allowing engagement of static and moving targets using predictive algorithms. When a target is acquired the SmartScope adjusts its bearings to redirect the aim of the operator to compensate for gravity and drone movement. Here iglidur J plain bearings are used for the pivots in the SmartScope because of their low maintenance and low weight when compared to conventional metal roller bearings. For visitors wishing to make the most of the workshop sessions during the show, Liam Kinnally, product manager for chainflex cables at igus, will be presenting: Selecting the right cable for dynamic applications. Kinnally will be exploring the issues around this subject, explaining why it is so often overlooked with costly results and how to ensure cables chosen keep machines running smoothly for millions of cycles. Throughout the show, members of the igus team will be available on the stand to take visitors through the benefits and potential applications of their bearing products and cable management systems, as well as provide insight into the full range of igus products suitable for a diverse range of applications.