LINEAR MOTION
FEATURE
HYGIENIC LINEAR MODULE MEETS BEVERAGE INDUSTRY DEMANDS
growing, and global standards from authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are becoming stricter, meaning the demands on machine components are also increasing. To enable machine builders and operators to
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achieve hygienic, low-maintenance, and fail-safe production, igus has designed lubrication-free drylin linear and drive technology that includes a design study for a ready-to-install SHT linear unit. The design not only meets FDA and EU requirements but also the cleanliness guidelines of the European Hygienic Engineering Design Group (EHEDG).
DEMAND IS GROWING With stricter regulations, companies in the beverage industry must ensure that their systems for filling, labelling, packaging and inspecting bottles and cans are easy to clean. This also applies to machine components, such as linear technology used for adjusting and moving filling heads, label dispensers, and camera systems. “Demand for linear technology with hygienic design is increasing rapidly,” said Rob Dumayne, drytech director at igus UK. “Machine manufacturers are looking for ways to further reduce contamination risks in their systems and, at the same time, reduce the cleaning effort and operating costs that come with this.” To meet these requirements, igus presented
a large product portfolio at the beverage industry’s BrauBeviale 2024 Trade Fair that are developed to meet the guidelines of the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG). These require that components are either free from crevices and gaps design or be sealed appropriately.
moisture from entering the support unit. Additionally, igus has designed the
threaded nut on the dryspin screw to create generous gaps, preventing deposits and enabling efficient cleaning.
“Machine manufacturers are looking for ways to
further reduce contamination risks in their systems and, at the same time, reduce the cleaning effort and operating costs that come with this”
Innovations shown included the design study
of a ready-to-install SHT linear unit in a hygienic design, optimised for better cleaning and wash- down. The SHT unit can be used for filling stations to enable precise and hygienic movements for the positioning of bottles and cans. The linear module has stainless steel round shafts as guides and is driven by a dryspin thread from igus made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The support assembly consists of two housing halves sealed with an FDA- compliant silicone flat gasket and hygienic screws. Furthermore, specially designed wiper seals protect the shafts and prevent dirt and
“We are developing more and more
products that comply with the hygienic design guidelines and have now also joined the EHEDG to jointly enable certifications for igus moving parts,” added Dumayne.
HYGIENIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO Back in 2023, igus presented the world’s first slide for linear guides with an hygienic design. This is made from 100% food-compliant plastic with FDA and EU 10/2011 approval. Again, the design is completely open, making the system fully flushable, even with aggressive cleaning agents. The carriage is suitable for adjustment
in beverage filling systems to handle different bottle sizes without interchangeable parts. Thanks to solid lubricants integrated into the high-performance plastic, the carriage allows hygienic and low-maintenance dry running without external lubrication. The drylin Hygienic Design portfolio now includes individual bearings that are located separately on the guide rail and are assembled into linear slides by stainless steel plates of various sizes to allow for a more flexible design. This also includes the drylin ZLW timing belt linear unit made of stainless steel with bearing points, timing belts, and ball bearings made of FDA and EU 10/2011-compliant plastic. These components have already proven
themselves in a wide range of applications in the food, beverage, and packaging industries – from Krones AG’s inspection technology, to the robot kitchen from the start-up Cook-e, and the fully automatic pizza oven from BistroBox. “Thanks to its hygienic design and easy
cleaning, our linear and drive technology meets the strict requirements of the beverage and food industry, contributing to safety and efficiency in the production process,” concluded Dumayne.
igus
www.igus.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2025 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 39
rinks companies are increasingly under pressure to manufacture more hygienically. Consumer demands for product safety are
Lubrication-free drylin linear and drive
technology from igus, designed according to EHEDG guidelines, is helping companies in the beverage industry meet strict hygiene demands
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