Thanks to the lubrication-free high-performance plastic iglidur A351 it is possible to design BPA-free components in accordance with EU Regulation 2024/3190

EU Regulation 2024/3190 is forcing manufacturers of machinery for the food industry to rethink. Starting in July 2026, components with product contact may no longer use parts that contain the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A. The ban applies to all machines that are new introductions to the market. For existing product lines, the deadline is January 2028. Many design engineers are already looking for alternatives. At Hannover Messe 2026, igus will be presenting the bisphenol-free plain bearing material iglidur A351, which design engineers can switch to without any technical losses or additional adjustments.

Among other things, iglidur A351 can be used to manufacture plain bearings for conveyor systems, gears for packaging machines and components with direct product contact such as guides or spacers in filling and packaging systems. igus produces the material for this in several manufacturing forms: as plastic granules for injection moulding, as bar stock for CNC machining and as filament for 3D printing. “Design engineers can continue to work with iglidur A351 in accordance with standards in the future. The material is not only FDA-compliant, but also free from bisphenol A and bisphenol S,” explains Lars Butenschön, Head of Business Unit iglidur Plain Bearings at igus. “We want to make the changeover easier for design engineers. Many are telling us that the new EU Regulation 2024/3190 is causing major challenges in the procurement of suitable components.”

High stability, low weight

iglidur A351 fulfils the high requirements of the food industry thanks to a combination of several specifications. The material has a density of around 1.42g/cm3. This achieves a high level of stability with a low weight compared to metal solutions. At the same time, the material achieves a compressive strength of around 78MPa, which means that components can work reliably even under higher surface pressures. Another advantage is the low moisture absorption of around 0.6%. This ensures dimensional accuracy and functional reliability even in damp production environments. In addition, iglidur A351 is designed for continuous temperatures from -100°C to +180°C. The material can therefore withstand high process temperatures in the food industry and intensive cleaning cycles.

Self-lubricating effect for more economical machines

“As part of the iglidur product family, iglidur A351 also relies on integrated solid lubricants. Unlike metal bearings, they allow for hygienic dry operation without external lubricants. “This self-lubricating effect significantly reduces maintenance work, making machines both more economical and more fail-safe,” says Lars Butenschön. Another characteristic is the blue colour of the material. In the food industry, it increases detectability via optical systems and thus product safety. Like all igus materials, the new material iglidur A351 has also been tested in the company’s own 5,500m2 laboratory in Cologne.