Application studies of the entries into the manus North American Plastic Bearing Design Contest available online
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – September 27, 2004 – igus® Inc. today announced the opportunity to check out more than 40 of the applications submitted to the manus North American Plastic Bearing Design Contest, held earlier this year.
Visit www.manus.igus.com to peruse one of the largest compilations of plastic bearing applications ever available. These application studies cross the entire spectrum of plastic bearing possibilities.
From sports equipment and theme park attractions to printing presses, cranes and actuators, there is a plastic bearing story to tell. Entries into the contest were required to be either in production or to supply proof of a working prototype, so most of the applications are accompanied by photographs and drawings as well. Manus represents courage and initiative to tread new paths in the field of bearing technology and was designed to uncover ingenious and challenging plastic bearing applications. Manus contest submissions were reviewed by a panel of experts in science and engineering based on creativity, technical advancement and economic impact.
The winner of the contest, Six Flags Them Parks in Valencia, California used an igus iglide® Z plastic bearing on the world’s first fourth dimensional roller coaster. Six Flags needed a bearing that was maintenance-free and lubrication-free because accessing the component after installation would be difficult. It also needed to be highly flexible in order to provide the level of vibration dampening essential for optimal performance. The company was able to reduce maintenance by 95 percent and the annual cost of replacement parts by at least 54 percent.
About igus
Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide.
Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide® self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information contact igus at (888) 803-1895 or visit www.igus.com .