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Application examples of participants of the manus® competition

Plastic plain bearings have made great progress over the past two decades. In this way they make solutions possible today that combine two opposites: technical improvement and cost reduction. The manus® competition is designed for bold applications with polymer plain bearings, which stand out due to technical and economic efficiency, creativity and surprising results. Here you can see some of the submitted applications.

Search from over 400 applications of our customers


In a wide range of industries, solutions are technically improved and costs saved by the use of plastic plain bearings.


More applications

Plain bearing applications from manus® competition of previous years

iglidur® plain bearing applications from manus® participants

Plain bearing for finger prosthesis

The bearings machined from iglidur J bar stock are corrosion-resistant and have a low wear rate.

Sanding machine for wooden barrels: durable guide rails for grinding head

In this grinding machine for wooden barrels, our lubrication-free linear guides and plain bearings guarantee a long service life.

Gritting unit

The screwconveyer of the gritting unit has to be mounted movable in order to compensate axial offset and dynamic movements in the screw.

Melting probe with iglidur® bar stock

A media-resistant bearing for small installation space was manufactured from iglidur bar stock.

Bearing technology for Mars robots

This robotic vehicle is designed for a very special environment: it will one day be driving on Mars.

iglidur plain bearings reduce friction in a folding trailer

The "Tyligo" folding trailer can be used to transport anything. It contains iglidur plain bearings and 16 iglidur thrust washers.

Maintenance-free shaft guides in doors of high-speed train

At a speed of more than 350 kilometres per hour, these trains will be racing through China as of 2012, connecting Beijing and Shanghai.

Bearing technology and energy chains for electric aircraft

To achieve the best flying conditions, all components must be lightweight and at the same time as durable as possible.

Plain bearing for seat ski carriage

This innovative sledge allows people to ski sitting down. The sledge is steered by the feet and tilted by the hands.

Electric wheelchair

The TopChair-S wheelchair can climb stairs. The iglidur plain bearings are used in the wheels, which easily cope with the high radial forces.

Plain bearing for all-terrain wheelchair

This manus® contribution also shows an exceptional off-road wheelchair, the "Quadrix".

Linear guide for medical body scanners

A compact and maintenance-free drylin T linear guide system is used in this medical body scanner.

Guide rings for knee joint prosthesis

In this prosthesis for pneumatic knee joints, iglidur® J piston rings replace the previously used PTFE guide bands.

Plain and spherical bearings in the prosthetic joint

This joint is a new development to be used in prostheses. iglidur® J plain bearings and igubal® spherical bearings are installed in it.

Linear technology for medication dispensers

This machine removes medications from the original packaging and re-packages them in smaller doses.

Linear guides for adjustment unit

A drylin® T-linear guide is used for adjustment. This easily copes with the cycle rate of 80 cycles per minute.

Linear guides for dental casting machine

The closing mechanism of the medical device is supported with a drylin W profile guide at high temperatures and dirt levels.

Guide rings for ice cream filling system

Wear minimised, piston jamming prevented: iglidur® plain bearings replace O-rings in the filling valve of Big Drum Engineering.

Ham cutter

Raw ham is processed in this machine. Since high hygiene standards apply here, self-lubricating iglidur plain bearings are used, which function reliably even after regular cleaning.

Lubrication-free linear and spherical bearings for baked goods gripper

This gripper picks up freshly baked goods from a conveyer belt and packs them in baskets.

Packing robot

Herb drying

This machine is used for preparing and drying kitchen herbs.

Breweries

Plain bearings are used, made of iglidur® A500, an FDA-compliant high-temperature material.

Plain and spherical plain bearings withstand strong vibrations in grain sorters

This machine cleans and sorts all types of grain. First the grain is separated from other material by an air current.

Plastic ball bearing for planetary gearbox on wind turbine

xiros ball bearings are used in this plastic planetary gearbox for wind turbines.

Spherical bearing for solar aeroplane

The prototype of the „Sunseeker Duo“ solar plane is the world‘s first solar-powered two-seater.

Plain bearing for parabolic trough system

This solar thermal power plant also obtains energy from the rays of the sun, without fossil fuels.
Further Applications (PDF)

Calibration cage in a blown film line

In conventional solutions, while cleaning, the lubricant on the bearings is washed away or the bearings are even rinsed to get rid of the dirt particles.

Artificial knee joint

Patient's welfare in focus - How polymer bearings improve an artificial joint.

Concrete pipe cutter

Concrete cutting machine in extremely heavy-duty operation since three years free of maintenance.

Convertible top

Automatic lock for a convertible top: By the use of the calibratable igus® flanged bearing, the maximum axial clearance could be lowered from 1.5 mm to 0.5 mm.

Locking unit

In the fulfilling of all requirements, the use of a pair of plastic bearings with elastic flange played the crucial role, which enabled the clearance-free installation of the locking hook.

Wheel mount handling

Wheel mount handling for automobiles: Since about a year in daily use, the wheel mount handling system gives no trouble to the customers.

Pivot arm in joining station

iglidur G flange bearings ensure continuous fluid movement in a pivot arm working in a joining station. No lubrication, no maintenance.

Plain bearing for filling valve in beverage bottling plant

The challenge: The operating temperature is maximum 140°C and the applied material must be resistant to all cleaning agents used in the beverages industry.

Plain bearing for resuscitation device

This resuscitation device enables optimal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. More than 30 iglidur bearings meet the high requirements for weight and size.

Cross member

Here an iglidur® polymer slewing ring bearing is used, which is distinguished by its low weight.

Bearing technology for ultra-light gyrocopters

iglidur® G is the problem solver in this rotor head The rotor blades rotate about 400 times per minute and thereby execute oscillating motion with maximum 30°.

Plain bearing for wing model

Here the challenge in the design was that the bearing of the group of components for the application in the measuring medium water had to be designed.

Bearing technology in sports leg prosthesis

Greater flexibility, less bearing clearance and less wear: iglidur plain bearings replace Teflon-coated metal bearings in the Blatchford leg prosthesis

Fully automatic tire fitting lines

No more expensive repairs

Thrust washers for thermal shakers

At up to 3,000 revolutions per minute and 99°C, the iglidur thrust washers prevent imbalances and vibrations and ensure high precision.

Linear guides with no stick-slip effect for a CNC-controlled laser cutting system

This laser cutting system for private households was built to be affordable and low-maintenance. drylin linear guides on the X- and Y-axes.

Plain bearing for solar water pump

Durable and cost-effective: this highly energy-efficient water pump for developing countries is equipped with robust iglidur plain bearings.

Bearing technology for helicopter drone

Light and free from play

Suspension fork Magura

With igus to victory: iglidur plain bearings in the suspension fork from Magura reduce weight and maintenance.

Bearing for quiet vehicle gear

This application serves on the one hand to improve the shifting comfort and on the other hand to reduce the vibration-induced noise in the driver's cab.

Bearing technology for belt conveyors

Efficient with little installation space: linear and pillow block bearings for automatic storage and retrieval units in high-bay warehouses

Adjustable biker's foot rest on motorbike

A drylin W double rail system is installed in this adjustment mechanism for a motorbike footrest, which enables maintenance-free operation even with aggressive media such as salts, dirt and water.

Lowering mechanism for hood ornament

Wear-resistant and secure

Bearing technology for electric motorised gliders

Robust and vibration-reducing


The terms "igus", "Apiro", "chainflex", "CFRIP", "conprotect", "CTD", "drylin", "dry-tech", "dryspin", "easy chain", "e-chain", "e-chain systems", "e-ketten", "e-kettensysteme", "e-skin", "e-spool", "flizz", "ibow", "igear", "iglidur", "igubal", "igutex", "kineKIT", "manus", "motion plastics", "pikchain", "readychain", "readycable", "ReBeL", "speedigus", "triflex", "robolink", "xirodur", and "xiros" are legally protected trademarks of the igus® GmbH/ Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany and where applicable in some foreign countries.

igus® GmbH points out that it does not sell any products of the companies Allen Bradley, B&R, Baumüller, Beckhoff, Lahr, Control Techniques, Danaher Motion, ELAU, FAGOR, FANUC, Festo, Heidenhain, Jetter, Lenze, LinMot, LTi DRiVES, Mitsubishi, NUM,Parker, Bosch Rexroth, SEW, Siemens, Stöber and all other drive manufacturers mention on this website. The products offered by igus® are those of igus® GmbH