TECHNOLOGICALLY advanced materials have revolutionised many applications in the industrial environment with engineered plastics able to outperform and outlast steel in heavy-duty applications such as bearings, bushes and protective housings.
German manufacturer, Igus, introduces several hundred advanced plastic products and chainflex cables to the market every year. igus South Africa, local manufacturers and engineers products and materials that can dramatically improve equipment and processes.
igus South Africa managing director, Ian Hewat, says “Our e-chains allows direct continuous control with no slip rings or joints required for added reliability, while our specially developed chainflex cables are tailor-made to required applications. We have the widest variety of cables specifically for use with e-chains and dynamic applications. Different outer jackets and specially developed internal material have been developed for these applications and provide users with a three-year guarantee for added peace of mind.
“Having specially developed cables for different applications significantly improves the reliability of the cable systems and provides reduced maintenance and increased lifespans, which in turn increases a system’s mean-time-to-failure. Best of all we have solutions for almost all industries wherever there is moving and dynamic cables for measuring, fibre optics, power, servo cables, control, Bus and data systems,” says Ian.
Lubricant free
Simultaneously, advanced new materials in the manufacture of polymer plain bearings and bushes allow engineers to replace a wide variety of steel and other traditional bearings. igus polymer bearings make use of Tribology materials that include polymer, fibre and dry lubricants into the polymer.
Even in the heaviest and dirtiest of conditions these materials can perform flawlessly and can even run underwater with no contamination.
