Lubrication-free joint heads: Plastic-metal hybrid for higher loads in the food industry

The low-friction and maintenance-free igubal joint head for higher load applications in the food industry consists of a housing and a spherical cap made of stainless steel, as well as an inner ring made of the high-performance plastic iglidur A160, compliant with FDA and EU 10/2011 standards. (Source: igus GmbH)

Constant re-lubrication of metallic bearing points in the food industry costs time, money, and increases contamination risk. An economical and safe alternative are maintenance-free igubal joint bearings from igus. Now, the motion plastics specialist is introducing a new variant for higher loads. It is equipped with a stainless steel housing, a self-lubricating polymer inner ring, and a stainless steel ball calotte. This allows for upgrading heavily loaded applications to future-proof tribo-technology.

Joint heads are indispensable in machinery and plant engineering for the food industry. They are used everywhere, from filling machines to meat processing equipment to packaging systems, transmitting dynamic forces in pivoting, tilting, and rotating movements. These heads need to be re-lubricated to ensure low-friction movement between the sliding ring and the ball calotte. This task is not only labor-intensive but also increases the risk of contamination. Dirt and dust easily form sticky deposits and solid clumps. “To relieve food processing companies and simultaneously improve hygiene in their moving applications, we have expanded our range of igubal joint heads,” explains igus product manager Thomas Preißner. “The new plastic-metal hybrid consists of a housing and a ball calotte made of steel, as well as an inner ring made of the FDA- and EU 10/2011-compliant high-performance plastic iglidur A160.”

Hygienic dry running thanks to microscopic solid lubricants

As with all iglidur plastics, iglidur A160 contains a solid lubricant that releases in microscopic amounts over time. It ensures low-friction dry running between the inner ring and the stainless steel calotte. The self-lubricating property also significantly speeds up the cleaning of the joint heads. Without grease, dirt and dust have little chance to accumulate. To further enhance food safety, the high-performance plastic iglidur A160 is produced in blue. This color allows quick identification of food residues and mold spores during cleaning inspections. Additionally, the color is visually detectable. “This high level of hygiene is also confirmed by the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which enforces one of the strictest hygiene standards in the world,” says Preißner. “It also complies with EU Directive 10/2011.”

Not only clean but also robust

The new igubal products are not only hygienic but also robust, even in outdoor applications. They have higher breaking strength and stiffness compared to plastic joint heads. Furthermore, they are resistant to moisture, acids, alkalis, and UV rays, and suitable for temperatures between -40 °C and +90 °C. The wear resistance of iglidur A160 is also ten times better than that of polyamide, according to tests in the igus test laboratory—even during rapid rotational movements of the mounted shaft. Thomas Preißner states: “Users can significantly increase the reliability of their systems with minimal investment.” The new joint heads are available in sizes M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, and M20.