Reliable linear technology for Christmas magic without failures

The facade of the French luxury fashion house Dior enchants hundreds of thousands of people every year. What they don't see: For this winter magic, designers have to overcome several challenges, such as finding electric adjustment systems for the moving figures that function even in freezing temperatures. Weatherproof and lubrication-free linear modules from Igus ensure uninterrupted Christmas magic.

Christmas window displays have a long tradition. Generations of children have pressed their noses against the windows, admiring winter scenes with trains and waving teddy bears. Among the most impressive installations is the Christmas facade of the French luxury fashion house Dior. At 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, creative agencies come up with something new every year to enchant children and adults alike. This year, it's a sparkling XXL star. In 2024, it was a fairytale scene with miniature Eiffel Towers stretching across several floors, large stars, and floating handbags, illuminated in white, blue, and gold.

The mechanics of the Christmas facade must withstand rain, frost, and wind.

But the magic is only the visible side. Every year, the designers face a challenge: they must build the Christmas display so that it functions independently for weeks without any maintenance, even in rain, frost, and wind. When thousands of people are doing their Christmas shopping in December, it's virtually impossible to carry out repairs on the facade with a crane. Therefore, thousands of robust and low-maintenance components are needed, which are not always easy to find.

For example, the 2024 installation included large, illuminated stars with hinged doors. These opened automatically, allowing a female figure wearing a skirt, hat, and handbag to slide forward and become visible. For this adjustment mechanism, the designers at the Italian creative studio Mammafotogramma sought an electrically driven guide that was not only weatherproof but also as quiet as possible. After all, squeaking would spoil the Christmas magic. "Ball screws were out of the question because moisture, dirt, dust, and frost can impair their function and smooth operation," says Gianluca Lo Presti, Technical Director at Mammafotogramma.

Lubrication-free linear modules from igus support the Christmas magic

The solution: an SLW series linear module with an electric spindle drive from igus. "Thanks to these weatherproof modules, the figures in the installation were able to move hundreds of times a day throughout the entire Christmas season without any breakdowns," says Gianluca Lo Presti. The guide rail is made of corrosion-resistant aluminum. The figure holder is mounted on a carriage. When the hinged door opens, a motor rotates a spindle with the figure holder forward.

The unique feature: The carriage moves along the rail on four sliding bushings made not of metal, but of high-performance plastic. A solid lubricant is integrated into this material, keeping the surface of the bushings permanently slippery. This allows the carriage to move along the rail without a single drop of grease. "Unlike many oil-lubricated bearings, there is no risk of dust and dirt being attracted and disrupting the movement," says Michael Hornung, Product Manager for Drylin Linear and Drive Technology at Igus. "Furthermore, the polymer bearings function reliably even in sub-zero winter temperatures without freezing or seizing up." Last but not least, according to Lo Presti, the sliding movement of the linear modules is virtually silent. "The technology has thus blended seamlessly into the installation without disrupting the Christmas magic."