Low maintenance and durable: Flexible control concept allows unobstructed view in construction machinery

In Gessmann's shifting system, maintenance-free igus linear technology ensures that dust and dirt do not adhere. (Source: igus GmbH)

Construction sites can sometimes be quite confusing with all the machines, materials, and people. Keeping an overview is challenging. A new flexible control concept for driver cabins from Gessmann helps ensure that operators always have an optimal view. And this reliably over a long period because the Tribo- plastics used by igus are maintenance-free and require no lubrication.

Since traffic regulations do not apply on construction sites, it is all the more important for construction machine operators to have good all-around visibility. This is not always easy, especially with particularly wide excavators or wheel loaders, where the field of view is very limited. To fully see the surroundings, the vehicle must be stopped, and the driver must leave their seat. Gessmann's control concept relies on providing the driver with maximum flexibility through the shifting of their control station, and with the use of igus linear technology, it is completely maintenance-free and requires no lubrication.

Durable solution for a variety of machines

The objectives of W. Gessmann GmbH in development were clear: the driver's seat should be rotatable around its own axis and also shift sideways relative to the direction of travel. The operator should be able to change the position within seconds to quickly regain full visibility of the machine's environment. In addition to high flexibility, the control concept must also withstand the harsh conditions on construction sites and be extremely low-maintenance. Therefore, the designers chose igus' drylin linear technology. The tribologically optimized high-performance plastics are lightweight and corrosion-free and do not require external lubrication. This increases the lifespan in moving applications because no adhering dirt affects the bearing points. After initial tests, Gessmann developers also confirmed this. Originally, the design was to be guided by ball spline bushings and a stainless steel guide shaft. However, due to the hardened steel balls rolling over the ground polished stainless steel guide, this system was not optimal for the planned use. Construction machinery vibrates heavily, which can lead to damage to the steel balls and the stainless steel shaft, increasing the shifting force and significantly reducing lifespan. Therefore, the designers opted for a considerably more cost-effective drylin W guide rail and drylin hybrid double roller bearings. The compact design of the drylin W series allows the guide system to be mounted beneath the machine floor. This protects the system from weather and heavy dirt contamination.

Wide igus range for construction machinery

Thanks to these advantages, motion plastics are already successfully used by over 20,000 customers worldwide in the construction machinery sector. Wear-resistant sliding bearings for high-load applications are found in excavators, wheel loaders, and telescopic handlers. They are available directly from stock or as custom-made solutions. For example, igus introduced the new iglidur TX2 plain bearings this year for use in heavily loaded bearing points. The high-strength wound design, combined with embedded solid lubricants, ensures low-friction and maintenance-free operation. And by eliminating external lubrication, no lubricants enter the environment. In addition to bearing technology, energy chains such as the E4.1 provide protection and guidance for cables, for example in material handling excavators, telescopic loaders, and drills. igus also offers UV- and temperature-resistant cables for dynamic continuous movements. The lifespan of all components is predictable, with free online tools available on the igus website. They are accessible without registration.