Clean matter

Hygienically designed slewing ring bearings have been in short supply on the market up to now. Manufacturers of special machines for hygiene-sensitive areas therefore often have to design additional covers. But now Igus is reshuffling the cards - with an Iglidur PRT slewing ring bearing in hygienic design that enables fast and residue-free cleaning in the application. This means that the slewing ring bearing can remain permanently installed in an application with food contact and saves users development work for a suitable cover.

Manufacturers of special machines for hygienic areas in the food, medical and pharmaceutical industries know the problem: slewing ring bearings for rotating components, for example in a bottling line, are hardly available on the market in hygienic design. Classic models offer a large surface area for bacteria to attack and usually cannot be cleaned thoroughly enough. Therefore, additional development work is usually required for a hygienic cover. And that means more time and money. "We want to offer a simpler solution and have therefore developed a hygienic version of our Iglidur PRT slewing ring bearing," says Fabian Wieking, product manager PRT slewing ring bearings at Igus. "This is made of stainless steel and FDA-compliant plastics and is designed so that it can be cleaned without leaving any residue without having to be removed from the machine. This eliminates the need for an additional cover."“

Easy cleaning in use thanks to new design

The engineers at Igus based the construction of the new slewing ring bearing on the guidelines of the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) - an association of research institutes, public health institutions, food processors, and food manufacturing equipment suppliers. The ultimate goal: to provide as little surface for bacteria to attack as possible. The user therefore looks in vain for 90-degree corners, weld seams and edges. All components of the slewing ring bearing are rounded. All levels also have a slope of at least three degrees to ensure that water runs off completely. FDA-compliant seals are installed wherever metal meets metal. This prevents dead spaces in screw connections, for example. "Thanks to these design features, so-called clean-in-place cleaning is possible," says Wieking. "Disassembly is not required for cleaning. Users can simply rinse the bearing with cleaning agents to reliably remove all residues."

Igus manufactures new slewing ring bearing on demand as special component

The Hygienic Design version of the PRT slewing ring bearing is a market-ready study. "We see that the food and packaging industry is developing rapidly and more and more special machines are in demand," Wieking said. "However, in most cases, manufacturers require special components. We therefore offer them to manufacture the new slewing ring bearing in Hygienic Design according to their individual requirements." Here, too, users benefit 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. They enable low-friction dry running and thus protect the environment at the same time. The slewing rings are supplied ready for installation and, thanks to the self-lubricating effect, operate maintenance-free for years.