ECOlogical: First sliding bearing program from igus made from regranulated tribo-polymers

The ECO sliding bearing program from igus relies on regranulated materials and, like all tribo-polymers from igus, is lubrication- and maintenance-free. (Source: igus GmbH)

Societal change, responsibility towards the environment, and the altered handling of plastics are also leaving their mark on the industry. For customers who prioritize a more sustainable design of their moving applications, igus now offers an interesting alternative: four new materials made from recycled plastics are available in the new iglidur ECO program.

At the main location in Cologne, the motion plastics specialist igus develops and tests tribologically optimized high-performance plastics for moving applications: sliding, linear, ball, or joint bearings, energy chains, cables, materials for 3D printing, or low-cost robotics based on plastics. The advantages of tribo-polymers are obvious. They are lightweight, low-maintenance, and do not require additional lubrication during their lifespan. A significant benefit, considering that in Germany alone, around one million tons of lubricating oil are sold each year, much of which ends up in the environment. By using iglidur plain bearing technology, this pollution can be reduced while simultaneously increasing the lifespan of the application. With the ECO materials in the plain bearing program, igus is now starting even earlier in the product lifecycle and uses regranulate to produce new plain bearings.

Four maintenance-free and lubrication-free iglidur ECO materials

The new series consists of 97 to 100 percent regranulated iglidur materials. For example, sprues used in manufacturing, a classic waste product in injection molding, are utilized. The new plain bearing program includes four materials that demonstrate their advantages in various applications: iglidur ECO H is particularly resistant to temperature and media, making it suitable for highly corrosive and hot environments. iglidur ECO P offers high mechanical strength with low moisture absorption, making it optimized for outdoor use. For cost-sensitive applications, the affordable material iglidur ECO A180 is suitable, while iglidur ECO G is extremely robust and versatile.

Less microplastic through abrasion-resistant plastics

All ECO materials, like the entire iglidur plain bearing range, are maintenance-free, and their lifespan can be calculated online. The new ECO series and the additional 58 iglidur materials demonstrate their wear- and abrasion-resistance in 15,000 tribological tests per year. Less abrasion means less pollution from microplastics and a significantly longer lifespan. This reduces the need for quick machine or component replacements. If these components are additionally "intelligent" and accurately predict their service life during real operation, maintenance and replacement intervals can be eliminated. The plain bearing is replaced exactly when necessary. This can also extend the lifespan of individual components in the application. As a result, no component needs to be routinely replaced if it is still functioning properly.