To celebrate 30 years of iglidur materials and the 50th birthday of the company, igus has retrofitted a car's conventional bearings with iglidur plain bearings and circumnavigated the globe, thus demonstrating the durable and robust nature of iglidur materials in some harsh environments, from dirt tracks to wet and humid locations. In total, 56 bearing points were replaced with iglidur components - in applications such as the windscreen wipers, brake pedal, seat adjusters and throttle valves - of which none have failed or been replaced.
Matthew Aldridge, Managing Director, igussays:"50 per cent of igus bearings produced are now used in cars. The iglidur car is a great testament to how igus parts are already being used in different bearing points throughout a vehicle. With 40 standard iglidur materials, ranging from iglidur X for corrosive environments to iglidur J260 for plastic shafts, we offer the world's broadest range of friction-optimised polymer plain bearings."
The self-lubricating iglidur bearings provide a more efficient option for car designers looking for dirt and chemical-resistant bearings that operate more quietly than their metallic counterparts. Car seat applications are a good example where there has been a migration from metal on metal to metal on plastic to fully plastic; the noise damping and quiet running properties of iglidur bearings, which take a high static load, are beneficial to the driver's comfort. In addition, iglidur bearings are up to seven times lighter than metal counterparts, thus reducing the overall weight of the car and helping save fuel.
During its travels, the iglidur car has been driven through India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Brazil, Canada and the USA visiting customers, as well as doing a bit of sightseeing. The iglidur car will now be traveling the length of the UK seeing Edinburgh Castle, The Angel of the North and Buckingham Palace.
Matthew continues:"Importantly, for every kilometre travelled, igus is donating EUR1 to charities in communities where the iglidur car passes through. We have chosen the Gosset Ward at Northampton General Hospital - an intensive care unit for new-born children which is close to our UK headquarters."
For more information about iglidur materials and bearings, please visit the website at www.igus.co.uk.
51A Caswell Road
Brackmills
Northampton
NN4 7PW
UNITED KINGDOM
+44 (0)1604 677240
