Plain bearing
What do dental floss, skis, a frying pan and plain bearings have in common? They are all based on organic fluorine compounds, also known as PFAS. What makes them special: PFAS are insensitive to water, heat and dirt. They help plain bearings achieve wear-resistant and lubrication-free dry operation. However, as the chemicals can only degrade very slowly, they have a negative reputation. If they get into the environment, this can harm both people and nature. igus is therefore developing plain-bearing materials such as the new iglidur JPF, which dispense entirely with PFAS such as PTFE.
The time has come again: engineers from all over the world are invited to apply for the 12th manus award 2025. For 21 years, igus has been honouring applications that are characterised by the creative, bold and sustainable use of plastic plain bearings. The winners will receive prize money of up to €5,000.
The renowned Belgian brewery Chimay, known for its traditional Trappist beer, relies on maintenance-free spherical bearings from igus in its bottling plant. By replacing rusty, seized ball bearings with lubrication-free igubal H3 bearing inserts, the brewery was able to increase efficiency and reduce maintenance.
Summertime is holiday time. People lying on the beach often look out over the sea, which is lined with boats and yachts. To ensure that they remain corrosion-free and require as little maintenance as possible, components that can withstand severe weather conditions are required. Parts such as plain bearings, linear and drive technology from the plastics specialist igus have been proving their worth for years in the rough conditions prevailing in sea air and salt water.
Handling containers around the clock under extreme conditions – this is the daily routine of STS, RMG and RTG cranes in ports around the world. However, premature wear and breakdowns of the wheel and axis units, the bogies, place an enormous burden on operators. In Rotterdam, igus will be presenting a solution at TOC Europe from 11th to 13th June 2024: wound, lubrication-free and corrosion-resistant polymer bearings from the igutex series for heavy-duty applications.
With the new slewing ring bearing made of WPC (wood-plastic composite), igus is taking another step forward in the integration of renewable raw materials in industrial production. By using 50 per cent wood and 50 per cent high-performance plastics, customers receive a cost-effective and lubrication-free slewing ring bearing. It strikes a good balance between strength, durability and environmental friendliness with a proven low CO2 footprint.
3D-printed polymer components will be able to resist much higher temperatures in future – in the engine compartment of a car, for example. While commercially available SLS printing materials threaten to deform at over 80°C, the new powdery material iglidur i230 from igus can withstand a long-term application temperature of 110°C. Furthermore, it is free of PTFE and around 80% more wear-resistant than the classic PA12.
Enter dimensions, determine application parameters, find plain bearings – simple! This is how the new igus online shop for polymer plain bearings now works. Whether catalogue part or special bearing, customers receive a transparent overview of all plain bearings that are suitable for their application. Convenient filters such as price, delivery time and service life help with the selection. Technical drawings and CAD data are available as a free download.
Expensive machine and vehicle breakdowns due to undetected faults in heavy-duty fixed flange bearings: these will soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new generation of two- and four-hole fixed flange bearings. Their special feature is that the bearings, which are made of lubrication-free high-performance plastic, are equipped with miniature wireless sensors, enabling condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.
From microdrives to microscopes to precision engineering, engineers around the world are building increasingly compact products. igus now produces microgears for them with modules as small as 0.2. Tooth dimensions are very close to those of a human hair. Thanks to high-performance plastics, the teeth still allow precise, low-wear movement for high-quality products.