Posted to News on 1st Mar 2011, 00:00
Plastic contaminants easily detected with standard tools
Igus has added detectable plastic variants to its Igubal bearings range to meet the needs of the food and drinks industry, where modern production lines can be quite complex and are increasingly automated. At each stage of the line sophisticated metal detectors and X-ray machines are installed to identify and reject all conductive metallic particle contaminants originating in the production environment or transport system.
Designed specifically for use in the food and drinks industry, polymer bearing expert Igus has developed a new variant of its Igubal range made of detectable plastic. When these special Igubal bearings are fitted to a machine, there is no possibility of any Igubal parts contaminating the end product when a metal detector is fitted. Even the smallest fraction of the bearings can be detected by standard line equipment. They are verified as foreign particles with all common parameters used in metal detection technology.
The new detectable plastic variants in the Igubal range are easy to install, adjust to all angle deviations and, in many applications, can replace traditional metallic components. Up to 80 percent in weight can be saved, allowing machines and systems to work more efficiently and cycle frequencies can be increased significantly.
The Igus detectable plastic bearings are suitable for dry use at application temperatures ranging from -30 to +80°C, can run in liquids as well as chemicals, and are corrosion-resistant - so are not adversely effected by regular washdowns. They are insensitive to dust and dirt, and are both maintenance- and lubricant-free. In comparison to traditional metallic bearings, the Igubal range offers better damping characteristics since the specially developed plastic material absorbs vibrations more effectively.
The self-adjusting bearing components are manufactured completely from tribo-optimised plastic. The range includes lubricant and maintenance-free rod end bearings and clevis joints, flange, pivoting and pillow block bearings. Both the housing and spherical balls are made of detectable plastic.
