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Quick, clean and green: New igus slewing ring bearing for food contact
A hygienically-designed rotary bearing in the iglidur PRT series enables cleaning without disassembly for hygiene- intensive industries
H
ygienic design slewing ring bearings have typically been in short supply in the food industry. Manufacturers of
machinery for hygiene-sensitive areas have therefore often had to design additional protection covers. But, now, igus is reshuffl ing the cards, with a hygienic-type iglidur PRT slewing ring bearing that enables fast and residue- free cleaning. This means the slewing ring bearings can remain permanently installed in an application with food contact, avoiding the need to develop a separate cover. Manufacturers of special machines for hygienic areas in the food, medical and pharmaceutical industries are familiar with the problem: slewing ring bearings for rotating components, for example in a bottle fi lling plant, are rarely available on the market in hygienic, food-contact compliant designs. Classic bearing designs present bacteria with a lot of “attack surface” and are usually not easy to clean thoroughly, sometimes requiring more development work for a hygienic cover, which means more time and costs. “We wanted to off er a simpler solution and have hence developed a hygienic version of our iglidur PRT slewing ring bearing,” says Rob Dumayne, drytech director at igus UK. “It is made of stainless steel and FDA-compliant wear-resistant polymer, designed in such a way that it can be cleaned without residue and, importantly, without having to be removed from the machine. This eliminates the need for additional protective covers.”
New design means easy cleaning During the design and manufacture of the new bearing, igus engineers were guided by the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) guidelines –
38 March 2023 | Automation
an association of research institutes, public health institutions, food processors and suppliers for food production. The goal is to off er bacteria as little attack surface as possible, employing several innovate design features. There are no 90o
corners,
welds and edges – all components of the slewing ring bearing are rounded. All levels have a gradient of at least
three degrees, so that water runs off completely and does not collect. Wherever metal meets metal, FDA-compliant seals are installed, preventing dead spaces where screws connect.
“Thanks to these special design
features, so-called clean-in-place cleaning is possible,” says Dumayne. “Full disassembly is not necessary for cleaning – users can simply rinse the bearing with detergents and thus reliably remove all residues.”
New slewing ring from igus The hygienic design version of the PRT slewing ring bearing came from a market
research study. Dumayne says: “The food and packaging industry is developing rapidly and more and more specialist machines are in demand. In most cases manufacturers need special or customised components. We therefore off er them the opportunity to produce this new bearing in hygienic design to match their individual needs.” Here, too, users benefi t from the usual advantages of igus products: The stainless steel rings move on sliding elements made of iglidur, a high-performance plastic in which solid lubricants are integrated. These enable low-friction, dry running, and protect the environment, requiring no oil or lubricant. The slewing rings are delivered ready for installation and, thanks to the self-lubricating eff ect, work maintenance-free for years.
CONTACT:
igus
www.igus.co.uk
automationmagazine.co.uk
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