Rushing across the water on a motorised surfboard: the Jetsurf combines the thrill of jet-skiing with the feel of a motorbike. The engineers at Czech manufacturer MSR Engines rely on igus plain bearings made of high-performance plastic to ensure that the fun in salt water is not spoilt by technical failure. The polymer bearings make the sports equipment more efficient in many respects.
With a new compact version of its PRT-04 slewing ring bearing, igus offers a space-saving solution for precise rotary movements under medium loads. Due to lubrication-free high-performance plastics in the sliding elements, the bearing is maintenance-free and corrosion-resistant – ideal for modern machines with limited installation space.
Whether in food-vending machines, laboratory equipment or electric doors: whenever space is at a premium, designers often dispense with guides for individual moving cables – and thus risk cable damage and unnecessary maintenance costs. A new, one-piece, injection-moulded and particularly compact energy chain made of high-performance plastic from igus is designed to put things right. As this product is currently still a design study, the Cologne-based motion plastics specialist is now looking for interested companies that would like to use the energy supply systems in pilot projects and develop them further to series production.
Driving through the desert with solar power! The Sonnenwagen team from RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences demonstrates its viability. Students have built a solar car with lightweight and robust components made of lubrication-free high-performance plastics from igus and have thus taken on the ultimate challenge: the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2025, the toughest solar rally in the world. The team fought its way to fourth place on the 3,000-kilometre route across Australia. A triumph for German engineering and sustainable mobility.
Owning a car is becoming less and less important for many young people in cities. Studies show that the proportion of pedestrians and bicycles is increasing significantly, especially in urban areas. The car as a status symbol is losing its appeal – instead, the focus is shifting to sustainable, flexible and low-maintenance mobility solutions. JetBike GmbH from Braunschweig is embracing this change and presenting a pioneering solution with the JetBike: an innovative combination of e-bike and car. To fulfil the requirements regarding sustainability and ease of maintenance, the company relies on lubrication-free polymer bearings from igus.