Clean, safe, detectable: New igus tribo-polymers for food contact

Food compliant, grease-free, and detectable: With iglidur FC180 and igumid FC, igus has now developed two new materials for its plain and joint bearings. (Source: igus GmbH)

In metal detectors from Sesotec GmbH, even fragments weighing less than 0.02 g of the new detectable materials from igus were detected. (Source: igus GmbH)

Media Compatibility, Lubricant-Free and Corrosion Resistance: these requirements must be met by machine elements in the food industry today. To quickly identify small parts in the event of a system failure, igus has now developed two new visually and magnetically detectable materials for its sliding and joint bearings: iglidur FC180 and igumid FC. The materials are compliant with FDA and EU10/2011 regulations and are therefore ideally suited for use in the food sector.

Detecting foreign objects plays a significant role in the manufacturing and packaging of food products to ensure their impeccable quality and prevent contamination. Therefore, igus has now developed the tribologically optimized sliding bearing material iglidur FC 180 (FC = "Food Contact") specifically for contact with food. The new material is detectable both visually through its blue color and through the addition of suitable, food-compliant additives by metal detectors. This allows small parts to be quickly identified and removed in case of system damage. As a result, the purity of the product is maintained, and costly recall actions are prevented. The new material complies with FDA and EU Regulation 10/2011 and can therefore be used in direct contact with food. "Its low moisture absorption and lubricant-free properties are additional criteria that speak for the material's suitability in applications in food technology, beverage, and packaging industries," explains Lars Braun, Head of Industry Management Packaging Technology at igus.

Metal Detectability Also for igubal Joint Bearings

In the area of igubal joint bearings, the motion plastics specialist is now also relying on a new detectable material. With the housing material igumid FC combined with iglidur FC180 as the ball joint material, there are now self-aligning igubal bearings approved for direct contact with food for the first time. The excellent detectability of these materials was also confirmed by Sesotec GmbH, a specialist in foreign object detection and manufacturer of metal detectors for the food industry. Even the smallest fragments of 0.0139 g (iglidur FC180) or 0.0157 g (igumid FC) could still be identified when passing through the INTUITY metal detector on a conveyor belt. The new vibration-damping bearings are corrosion- and media-resistant due to their polymer base, allowing them to withstand cleaning with water and many cleaning agents. This enables plant manufacturers and operators in the food industry to quickly and easily equip their machines with a wide range of igus bearing solutions while saving costs. Because plastic plain bearings do not require maintenance and are significantly more affordable in comparison to sealed stainless steel solutions with food-compliant lubricants.