igus expands iglidur coating with plates, mesh and the first PTFE-free powder – for longer running times and rapid modernisation of existing conveyor systems

In many conveyor systems, worn coatings cause unnecessary failures – whether in the food and beverage industry or in material handling. For this purpose, igus offers powder coatings made of high-performance polymers called iglidur coating, which make surfaces significantly more wear-resistant and durable. To make it easier for users to retrofit existing systems, the company now also offers coated plates and wire mesh that can be flexibly cut to size and installed. The range is complemented by IC-05PF, the first PTFE‑free coating, which is intended in particular for applications with high hygiene requirements. The new coating solutions ensure greater process reliability and longer running times in conveyor technology.

Trouble in a drinks bottling line: Bottles no longer slide cleanly over the conveyor plate, get stuck or slow down the cycle. An employee must intervene to restore the material flow. This scenario is not an isolated case. Automated material handling systems are also slowed down by worn parcel chutes, for example. Often for a trivial reason: The coating, usually made of PTFE, wears off quickly, increasing the coefficient of friction. The solution from igus: iglidur coating. The powder coatings made of high-performance polymers offer reliable sliding and wear properties for components made of metal, plastic and stainless steel. “Tests in our test laboratory have shown that objects, including electrostatically charged plastic bags, glide excellently on the coating,” says Marc Trenkler, iglidur coating Product Manager at igus. “Our polymer coatings are up to 10 times more wear-resistant than conventional PTFE coatings.” This ensures durable and resilient surfaces that impress even under difficult conditions and optimise the function of systems.
Versatile – now also PTFE-free
The coatings are suitable for various conveyor systems that are exposed to heavy loads in daily operation. igus has developed the FDA- and EU10/2011-compliant IC-05 powder coating especially for high-cycle and hygiene-sensitive applications such as vibratory bowl feeders or metal sheets that position beverage bottles for a packaging system, for example. This is now also available as a PTFE-free variant, IC-05PF. “We are therefore already offering users a safe material alternative in the course of the discussion about possible PFAS bans,” explains Marc Trenkler. This means that products such as drinks crates, individual bottles or other hygiene-sensitive goods can also be transported safely and reliably over the coated chutes.

Fast optimisation and individual coating solutions

In order to retrofit systems without great effort, igus now also offers steel plates and stainless steel mesh with iglidur powder coating. “The plates and meshes can be easily installed in existing systems to reduce wear and coefficients of friction,” explains Marc Trenkler. Thanks to their higher layer thickness, the plates offer particularly robust wear protection. The wire mesh, on the other hand, can be flexibly cut and bent. The small contact surface further reduces friction. However, if customers want to coat their components directly, igus also offers a coating service for all electrically conductive components made of metals such as steel, bronze or aluminium. Using the iglidur coating designer, users can upload a CAD model of their component, compare the different coating powders with each other and select the desired coating thickness. The tool calculates the price and delivery time automatically – for a quick and transparent selection of the right solution. Alternatively, customers have the choice: They can send their component to igus and have the coating carried out as a service or purchase the desired coating powder directly from the shop and carry out the coating themselves.