igubal innovations

The new igubal heavy-duty spherical bearings have been developed for applications with high surface pressure. The bearings, which are based on the igutex TXH fibre composite material, are available with inner diameters of 30, 40, 50 and 60mm . In addition to a dynamic load capacity of up to 80MPa, they offer high resistance to wear and are free from corrosion and lubrication, which reduce maintenance and operating costs. Thanks to their vibration-dampening specifications and negative tests for the most harmful PFAS substances, the heavy-duty spherical bearings are an economical and long-lasting alternative to metallic high-load spherical bearings.

With steel as a new housing material option, our metal rod ends are more resilient than ever before. Four iglidur materials, all common thread types and shaft diameters from 5-25mm: The combination of robust metal housing and lubrication-free plastic inner ring enables long-lasting, maintenance-free solutions - without any lubrication.

With the igubal ESQM-2.0-100 and the ESQM-2.0-150 we are expanding our pillow block bearing series for solar trackers with new versions for 100 and 150mm square profiles and are also introducing a cost-optimised lean version. The bearings were specially developed for tracking solar modules in large-area ground-mounted systems and their spherical bearing position enables angular compensation of up to 14°. The most important further developments of the second generation include a new material with significantly increased UV resistance for long-term outdoor use. At the same time, the profile holder has been changed from V to U alignment, which makes assembly easier. A galvanised sheet metal extender crossbar also reduces the installation height of the upper component by up to 36mm. Additional cut-outs on the dome also allow for neat cable guidance along the profile. In addition to the standard version, the ESQM-2.0-LEAN is a cost-optimised version for projects with defined service life requirements.

In many applications, high static loads are still covered by lubricated metal spherical plain bearings. With our igubal heavy-duty study, we are investigating how applications can be reliably realised with lubrication-free and environmentally friendly polymer spherical plain bearings. The basis is a tribologically optimised interaction of material, geometry and contact surface, which distributes load peaks in a controlled manner and enables strong coefficient of friction. The absence of lubricants prevents dirt particles from adhering and ensures smooth running even under high loads. Applications that have already been realised show that this approach works. In customer projects, lubricated bearing points have been successfully replaced and load capacities of 70kN have been achieved - with reduced maintenance requirements and lower operating costs. Precisely because heavy-duty applications are so individual, we invite users to work with us to develop project-specific solutions - for high static loads, strong impacts and demanding environments.

With the new 25mm version, we are expanding the application possibilities of our iglidur H3 spherical insert bearings in conveyor technology and mechanical engineering. Belt speeds of up to 200rpm can be reliably realised, while the low-wear, durable design reduces downtimes and the bearings remain maintenance-free.

The spherical insert bearings were tested both in long-term tests at customers' premises and under controlled load tests in the laboratory. The high load-bearing capacity and low wear are also evident over several years. At the same time, there is no need for lubricants, which reduces operating costs and increases cleanliness in the system.