Corporate culture - What we stand for
We are all on a first-name basis — and have been since 1990
"On my first day at igus, I found the way things were done somewhat unusual. Instead of closed office doors, there are only open spaces, organised with yellow pylons. Anyone can talk to anyone else. We are all on very familiar terms with each other. And the CEO is in the middle of it all. This ensures fast, easy decision-making channels. I had never experienced anything like it before, but I was immediately taken with it."Kristiina Arnold, Requirement Engineer Digital
The igus solar system
When large companies emerged with the start of the industrial revolution, their organisation was based on the military. Our organizational model looks different. In the igus solar system, which we have been living since the 90s, the customer is at the centre of our work. Like the sun, the customer gives us light and energy. Light in the form of ideas. Energy in the form of money. The igus teams organize themselves around the customer, sometimes spontaneously, in order to get new ideas and wishes off the ground quickly. Leadership sees itself as a satellite that picks up and passes on signals inside and outside the system, from employees, customers, suppliers and politics.As a company, it is our job to provide our colleagues with the means and atmosphere in which they enjoy working. "Away with the bosses. The customer comes first. Everyone is a manager." We are working towards ensuring that everyone at igus can achieve the best for our customers even without bosses.
Learn more about the solar system in the video
igus drivers
What we need as orientation for our work at igus fits on one page. Explained in 2:30 minutes in the videoDownload igus drivers as a PDF
Leadership
As universal as the basic colours: build up any form of organization with 3 principles. Explained in 3:15 min in the videoDownload igus Wheel as pdf
Openly & flexible — The igus factory
The architecture of our headquarters in Cologne even follows the guiding principle of the customer as the sun at the centre of our activities. From a distance, the sun-yellow pylons can be seen pointing up into the sky that support the factory building. For this reason, there are no walls at all, and it can be flexibly redesigned and extended.
Learn more now
Moving together — working at igus
Our innovative strength and rapid implementation of ideas are the basis of our success. And this is best done in flat hierarchies. With open communication at all levels in open workplaces. Everyone can address anyone and express criticism honestly, should develop freely and take responsibility. This encourages fresh ideas and helps us to stay in constant motion ourselves.Our diversity also moves us: At the main entrance to igus Cologne, we printed our solar system relief with flags of the 80 countries of birth, from which our colleagues come here. Every day, we see that diversity makes us better.
igus digital: work from home
Home office is an integral part of us. Chats and video conferences via MS Teams, creative work on whiteboards, access to our servers and data from home, or central data sources such as our intranet help make working from home as convenient and efficient as possible. We see remote working as an opportunity and a useful addition to the exchange on the igus campus.Learn more about working digitally and about our digital products and services
igus learning factory
The learning factory helps us place the right people with the right qualifications in the right spot in our production process. It does this as quickly and smoothly as possible, from the very first trial work to training to individual development and promotion. To achieve this, we have organised all the instruments – welcome day, learning units, tests, etc. – under the umbrella of the learning factory.
igus Academy
Further professional and personal training, lifelong learning: we offer our employees this opportunity with our igus Academy. Language courses, behavioral and sales training, lean management, design and marketing tools, IHK courses with certificate, leadership training and many other content are part of the programme. This is constantly being expanded to include new topics that our colleagues need or would like to see.
igus kidz
Seeing more of the world from a young age, getting to know other people and cultures in everyday working life: In our KIDZ program, the children of our employees can complete an internship lasting up to 6 weeks in one of our worldwide subsidiaries. Whether from Germany to the world or from another country to our headquarters in Cologne.
Apprentice program with own start-up
You're done with school and then? If you want to experience working at igus, you can do so in an internship. Or start directly in one of our apprenticeship professions or dual courses of study.With the start-up reguse , founded in 2021, our apprentices have the opportunity to run their own companies. The idea: Technology that is to be discarded is processed and sold to igus employees at reasonable prices. Not only can electronic waste be reduced in this way. The proceeds will also be donated to sustainable projects.
