Discover the railway technology sample box

motion plastic for use in rail-bound traffic and transport vehicles

What is in your sample box?

Your sample box contains a range of specially selected high-performance polymers and cables from our broad product portfolio that are ideally suited to the requirements of railway technology. These include:

Railway technology sample box with igus plain bearings, rollers and guide elements.

1. dryspin® lead screws

Thanks to their lead screw nut made of self-lubricating high-performance polymers,dryspin® thread systems eliminate the need for additional lubrication, thereby reducing maintenance and cleaning costs. The systems are used in the entrance area (in the disc step and door) and in various railway infrastructure applications.

Four Dryspin threaded spindles with different sliding nuts on a light background.

Spindle nuts iglidur® J350

Conformity to the fire protection standard DIN EN 45545 applies above all to the thread systems in the interior. iglidur ® J350 spindle nuts, which fulfil the requirements for railway interiors, can be found in the broad portfolio of materials from lead screw technology.

In trapezoidal and steep thread, cylindrical type or as flange variants
Low-noise, vibration-free running

lead screw technology

Train doors with windows in a railway or transport illustration.

Failure-free entry systems with a long service life

chainflex® cable, dryspin® lead screw technology and energy supply are used to make boarding systems maintenance-free and, above all, durable. Defective doors can put passengers in danger in emergency situations and are an obstacle to swift passenger transfers in everyday life.

Make entry systems and emergency exits fail-safe

dryspin spindle in the sliding step for railway technology with a magnified detail.

Lead screws in gap bridging in trains

The central components of a new development from Knorr-Bremse GmbH, Division IFE are lubricant-free and therefore maintenance-free dryspin® high helix lead screw and lead screw nut from igus®. They are resistant to corrosion and media and ensure a long service life - at significantly reduced costs.

Sliding steps on trains

2. iglidur® and igutex® plain bearings

Bearings can be found in a wide variety of applications. The bearings iglidur® Q3E and igutex ® TX1 are particularly suitable for high-load applications and guarantee high load-bearing capacity. For indoor applications, the iglidur ® RW370 bearings not only offer convenient and low-noise adjustment options, they also fulfil the fire protection standard DIN EN 45545 HL3, R22/R23.

Three iglidur plain bearings for railway bearings in different colors.

iglidur® RW370, TX1, Q3E

Our plain bearings are self-lubricating and maintenance-free, which minimises maintenance costs. They are cost-effective and robust, ideal for high loads. With our online tool you can calculate the service life. Availability? Worldwide and within 24 hours! They are also resistant to chemicals.

iglidur polymer bearings

Modular seat row for train interiors with fold-up modules on the wall.

High comfort in the passenger compartment

Experience comfort with iglidur® plain bearings! They enable low-noise and clean adjustments of armrests, folding tables and seats in the passenger compartment. They are robust, maintenance-free and easy to clean.

Maintenance-free and clean bearings in train seats

Plain bearing for railway technology shown in cross-section.

Reliable and lubricant-free coupling

Railway couplings benefit from the high reliability of the iglidur® plain bearings and thrust discs. In Scharfenberg couplings, for example, they are used on the main pin so that the hook disc can rotate during coupling. the plain bearings require no additional lubricants and are therefore maintenance-free.

Coupling made maintenance-free with iglidur plain bearings

3. drylin® W linear guide

drylin® W linear guides are versatile, whether as an installation system or a modular construction kit. With over 50 different profiles and a wide range of linear plain bearings and linear carriages, they can be combined to suit individual requirements. They can be used for a wide range of applications. All parts, including rails, can be ordered online in the required length. We also offer other linear systems for any linear motion or drive requirements.

Linear actuator with two guide rods and a mounting plate.

Linear systems for every application

The linear rail systems we offer achieve precision and friction values similar to recirculating ball bearing guides or track roller guides and are also characterised by being maintenance-free, lubricant-free, smooth running and easy to install. These advantages result from the iglidur® plastic specially developed for the drylin® sliding foils and sliding surfaces.

Linear systems

Seat with guides and e-chain in a railway technology application.

Maintenance-free and clean in the passenger compartment

iglidur® plain bearings and drylin® linear technology ensure clean adjustment, low coefficient of friction and low-noise movements without additional lubricants. This is due to the incorporated dry lubricants contained in the igus® materials. If the components must comply with DIN EN 45545, iglidur® RW370 can be used.

Maintenance-free and clean bearings in train seats

Track gauge measuring tool measures the distance between two rails.

Distance gauges for tracks

drylin® linear guides are used in distance meters for arrow height and track gauge measurements. The smallest linear guides in the 4-series of drylin® N and drylin® T are the preferred choice here. These are particularly space and weight saving. Dirt and rain are no problem for drylin® linear guides, as they do not require additional lubricants. This makes them ideal for outdoor use.

4. igubal® flange bearing

igubal® 2 and four hole flange bearings are corrosion and chemical resistant, lubrication-free and lighter than metal versions. They offer significant cost savings through reduced maintenance, no lubricant costs and lower acquisition costs compared to metal alternatives.

Overview of various igus flange bearings in different designs.

Self-adjusting bearing elements

igubal® Spherical plain bearings are self-adjusting, maintenance-free bearing elements made entirely of plastic. They can be used up to +200 °C depending on the choice of material. The entire igubal® joint system is insensitive to dust and dirt and is corrosion-free.

Spherical bearings

Pantograph for railway technology with power connection to the overhead line.

Insulating high-performance polymers in pantographs

Since iglidur® bearings consist of non-conductive high-performance polymers, they can be used as insulating components in bearing points on pantographs. Since the plain bearings contain solid lubricants, they require no additional lubricants and are therefore maintenance-free. The iglidur® materials G, H370, J, W300, X and Z are frequently installed in pantographs.

Pantograph with igubal rod end bearings and iglidur plain bearings

Measuring machine for rail technology with guide rails and a measuring carriage for position measurement.

Measuring machine for rail profiles

Self-adjusting igubal® bearings are used in measuring machines for rail profiles. Their angle compensation makes them ideal for manual adjustments. Furthermore, drylin® SLW linear guides are used here for width and height adjustment, as they are cost-effective and weight-saving. drylin® R carbon fibre shafts with drylin® R plastic housing bearings are also used in measuring machines to save weight.

5. iguform and igutek gear wheels

Two plastic gears, one beige and one white, side by side on a light background.

Wear-resistant plastic gears made from iglidur® high-performance polymers

Our iglidur® gears are lubrication- and maintenance-free and are characterised by high wear resistance. They have proven themselves in various applications and have been tested in our test laboratory. We support you in selecting the right material and production technology for customised gears.

Wear-resistant plastic gears

Railway switch with a magnified detail of the drive unit and gears.

gear in points adjustment

Railway points are used to reduce interruptions to railway journeys. They are used for the seamless transition of railway vehicles from one track to another.
The use of our wear-resistant iglidur® i3 gear contributes to a high service life of the application.

Gears proven successful in rail technology

6. E2.1 micro e-chain®

E2 micro e-chain® are lightweight, stable energy chains, ideal for dynamic applications and confined spaces. This makes them particularly suitable for safe cable routing in railway doors. The E2.1 generation offers a robust stop-dog system, greater unsupported length and higher additional loads. They are easy to open and offer a wide range of accessories such as internal partitioning and mounting brackets.

The E2 micro energy chain guides a green cable and a red pencil.

energy chain for safe and durable cable routing

Our energy chains are made of optimised materials for long running times and service life. They are cable-friendly, lightweight, stable, quiet, easy to open and low-maintenance. They can carry energy, data, fibre optic cable, oil and air in one system and can be configured online. With smart plastic, they can be expanded as an intelligent, self-monitoring system.

Energy chains

Train door with e-chain guidance for railway applications.

Failure-free entry systems with a long service life

Make entry systems and emergency exits fail-safe

Cable system for hydropower on a screen and guide structure.

Safe movement of the transfer table

In order to safely route the cables from the control unit to the transfer table in the long term, even in the extreme weather conditions and salty air in the harbour in Felixstowe, and to keep maintenance times to a minimum, the operators opted for a flizz® system made of stainless steel, in which an e-chain® from the E4 series and chainflex® cables are used.

Transfer table

7. chainflex® cable

cables for moving applications

chainflex® cables are known for their reliability and quality. With 30 years of experience, we offer a wide range of cables for various applications. They are maintenance-free and deliver high performance, even under the most adverse conditions. Fast delivery times guarantee minimum downtime.

chainflex cables

CF9.UL tram with doors open at the platform.

Space-saving light rail doors with chainflex® cable

Developing compact passenger doors for new light rail vehicles on the Metro del Valles line in Barcelona: This is the job of the Spanish company Masats. The engineers rely on chainflex® control cable and e-chain® from igus® for the opening mechanisms of the doors.

Light-rail doors

Modular cable assembly with chain guidance and connectors for energy chains.

Ready-made energy chain with chainflex® cable

The readychain® systems from igus® are ready-to-install energy chain systems consisting of energy chain, flexible cable, connector, metal sheets and mounting frames. They are available in four standardised versions: Basic, Standard, Standard Plus and Premium. Each system is final tested and comes with a guarantee.

Ready-to-install harnessed energy chain systems