Lubrication-free igus polymer plain bearings support the steering system maintenance-free

A team of Polish students in Wrocław is developing the transportation of the future. The autonomous speedboat called Solaris is powered exclusively with solar energy. So that the boat can drive easily and maintenance-free over rivers and lakes, the young engineers rely on igus plain bearings made of the high-performance polymer iglidur J in the steering system. The bearings offer the necessary stability, reduce the boat’s weight and ensure lubrication-free use.

Ecological vehicles that feature low operating costs and high efficiency are in greater demand than ever. A team of students in the Polish city of Wrocław, the city of a hundred bridges, has now developed a solar-powered speedboat. The Solaris I project is being implemented by the PWR Solar Boat Team under the auspices of the Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering. The young engineers are relying entirely on photovoltaic cells to ensure environmentally friendly propulsion. The project encompasses boat development, construction and implementation. One important part of this is the computerised steering system and enhancement of boat movement, much like the fly-by-wire system used in aviation. The design engineers were looking for plain bearings for this system. They had to be lubrication-free, resistant to seawater, mechanically robust and easy to assemble. The solution: iglidur plain bearings from igus.

Cruising on the water without lubricants

The double flange bearings made of iglidur J high-performance polymer are used in the yoke’s steering system. “igus bearings ensure long service life. They reduce overall system weight, eliminate lubricants and are easy to install”, says Dominika Dewor of the PWR Solar Boat Team. The team’s project was sponsored by the igus young engineers support (yes) programme. The university initiative supports school and university student projects with free samples, sponsorship and consultations.

Take a look at the boat in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRz5xyKJpvg