In the food processing industry, machine components have to meet very high hygiene requirements so as not to pose a safety risk. Since 2019, the motion plastics specialist igus has been offering igubal Food Contact (FC), a special spherical bearing system made from high-performance polymers that comply with FDA and EU 10/2011 for direct contact with food.
The company is now expanding this product range with a new double joint. Interested parties who would like to see the advantages and quality of the igubal FC series for themselves in advance can now order a new free sample box.
Main challenge faced by food manufacturers
Food manufacturers are faced with the challenge of constantly improving the reliability of their systems. Ability to detect the smallest impurities is a particularly vital factor in guaranteeing the purity of the products. By integrating detectable and at the same time food-compliant additives into its high-performance plastics, the motion plastics specialist igus has managed to develop a spherical plain bearing series, igubal Food Contact (FC) for direct food contact.
By using FC, it is possible to significantly minimise the risk of a costly recall as detectors recognise even the smallest parts of the components, which makes the work for quality assurance easier. Furthermore, the materials are also coloured blue to improve optical detectability.
More design freedom with the new double joint
Dennis Steffen, Product Manager for igubal Spherical Bearings at igus said, “To give users even more design freedom in such a hygiene-sensitive area, we are now adding another component to our proven igubal FC series. In addition to pillow block and fixed flange bearings, rod ends and clevis joints, the product range now also includes a double joint.”
Like all igubal FC products, it contains an optically and magnetically detectable housing made of FDA-compliant igumid FC material. Thanks to the high-performance polymers used, the new spherical bearing is also lubrication-free and maintenance-free, vibration-dampening, corrosion-free and, in combination with a spherical ball, suitable for compensating for misalignments. ‘When selecting the right spherical ball, customers can choose between several materials, depending on their needs,’ added Steffen. “The insert made of the material iglidur A181 can be used to comply with the strict FDA guidelines. The material iglidur FC180 guarantees 100% detectability. Both also meet the EU 10/2011 standard for direct food contact. If a higher tightening torque is required due to the spherical ball, customers can also choose a stainless-steel version.” As with all igus products, they work without external lubricants, which rules out contamination. In addition, cleaning processes can be carried out regardless of the bearings.
Get your free new igubal Food Contact sample box
If you want to hold the igubal FC spherical bearings in your hands before you buy them and would like to convince yourself of the materials’ quality and advantages – such as magnetic detectability – you can order a free sample box. The new box contains samples from all product areas: pillow block bearings, fixed flange bearings, rod ends, clevis joints and double joints. The entire spherical bearing system is characterised by a long service life and chemical resistance. This was proven by numerous tests in our own test laboratory – the largest in the industry for tribopolymers. The igubal FC also beats the conventional spherical plain bearings made of stainless steel in terms of costs. A cost advantage of up to 85% can be achieved compared to stainless-steel solutions. The igus product also requires less maintenance due to the self-lubricating specifications of the bearing material.
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igus Singapore Pte Ltd
