Günter Blase actually received an enquiry from Pierburg. The most complicated problem part was a valve cone for a carburettor. In 1965, no-one would have come up with the idea of using plastic to make this small metal component and, what's more, to do so with an injection-moulding machine. The manufacturing process was simply too complicated. For Günter Blase, this was no reason to lose heart. He went into his double garage and experimented until the first perfect plastic valve cone came out of the injection-moulding machine.

igus at a glance
 
Year of foundation
1964
 
Turnover
EUR 764 million
 
Employees (worldwide)
4,150
 
Investment in R+D & digitisation
EUR 51.7 million
 
Products
More than 234,000 items from stock:
energy chains, cables, plain bearings, linear technology, bar stock, 3D printing and Low Cost Automation

Source: Igus Gmbh