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Lubrication-free plain bearings in lift tables ensure fewer failures

Switching from metal to plastic saves costs and time for manufacturers and end users

The Brazilian company EMCM Equipamentos relies on dry-operating iglidur G polymer plain bearings in its scissor lift tables. They ensure low-wear and maintenance-free operation, which not only extends the service life of the machines, but also reduces the manufacturing and maintenance costs as well as the CO₂ footprint.

Yellow scissor lift tables with hydraulic cylinders in a workshop.

Profile

What was needed: Plain bearings and thrust washers on the movable joints of scissor lift tables

Requirements: High load capacity, long service life and resistance to dirt and environmental influences, lubrication-free and maintenance-free

Industry: Material handling, lifting tables

Success for the customer: With robust iglidur G bearings and thrust washers in the joints, the costs could be reduced by 2% compared to lubricated metal bearings and 0.5% CO₂ emission could be saved. The end customer also benefits, as they do not need to worry about issues such as inadequate lubrication, contamination and wear. This saves time, money and stress.

Products used

iglidur G plain bearing in cylindrical form.
iglidur G plain bearings
iglidur G T washer with hole and large center opening, cut out.
iglidur G thrust washers

Problem

The Brazilian company EMCM Equipamentos is a provider of solutions for load handling and conveyor technology. It develops and sells lift tables, manual and semi-electric stackers, drum turners and other equipment for logistical and industrial applications.

To ensure that their scissor lift tables remain mobile in dusty or harsh environments, the designers needed suitable bearings and thrust washers for all the pivot points: the centre cross point, the ends of the scissor arms and the hydraulic cylinder pivot points.

Previous solutions such as conventional bronze or steel bearings required regular lubrication and were susceptible to dirt and dust. This often resulted in increased maintenance requirements, costly downtime and rising operating costs, which were unacceptable for both EMCM and the end customer.

Solution

The use of iglidur G plain bearings and thrust washers brought the decisive turning point. In contrast to lubricated, PTFE-coated metal bushings, the solid lubricants in iglidur plastic bearings are distributed over the entire cross-section, whereby coefficient of friction and wear rates remain constant over the entire life cycle. Because the bearings do not require any external lubrication, the problem of adhering dirt or dust leading to functional losses and rapid wear is eliminated. The iglidur G material is a cost-effective all-rounder for medium to high loads and is particularly suitable for pivoting and rotational movements.

The elimination of lubrication not only results in material and labour cost savings for the manufacturer, end customers also benefit and save a whole 12% working hours. EMCM was also able to reduce the carbon footprint per device by 0.5%. Both sides, and not least the igus team, can be pleased when the lift tables with the new bearings ensure higher overall productivity and less downtime in logistics processes.

Yellow steel frames wrapped in film on a pallet in a warehouse.

The still unconnected scissor arms: iglidur plain bearings and thrust washers are used in the outer and centre pivot points and in the clevis pin mount of the hydraulic cylinder.

Yellow metal frame with bolts and bearings in an industrial machine.

Thanks to the solid lubricants embedded in the plastic, the bearings do not require any external lubrication. As a result, they work reliably over the long term without dirt and insufficient lubrication becoming a problem over time.