Motion plastic specialist, igus, has introduced a ready-to-install system of xiros film guide roller for packaging and labelling technology, mainly used, so far, in clear anodised aluminium. It consists of black anodised aluminium tubes and maintenance-free, smooth-running xiros polymer ball bearings. 

xiros polymer ball bearings are lubrication-free, maintenance-free, hygienic and have a very low breakaway torque. Due to these specifications, they are mainly used in the field of packaging and food technology. As fully assembled systems with a tube made of aluminium, carbon or PVC, the ball bearings prove their worth as guide rollers for deflecting films and labels or for conveying goods. By using wear-resistant high-performance polymers and thin-walled tubes, they save in weight up to 48 per cent compared to metallic solutions. Their mass inertia is 42 per cent lower, and therefore the energy required for acceleration is considerably lower and the rollers reach the conveying speed faster. The igus range has now been expanded with a new black aluminium roller.

Marcus Semsroth, Head- xiros Polymer Ball Bearing Division, igus GmbH, explains, "The idea for the black design arose from a customer enquiry. The technical specifications of our classic aluminium rollers were already very convincing, but black visible parts were desired for one labelling series."

Black anodised aluminium for the rollers and black xirodur S180 fixed flange ball bearings made of polymer is the solution that the company has developed. "This soon resulted in a product that met the customer's requirements in terms of technology, price and appearance,” says Semsroth. In addition to this, the new black roller also offers further areas of application. This allows the roller to work easily together with camera systems, as it doesn't reflect light.

Configuring custom guide roller: igus has developed the ‘xiros® expert for guide rollers’ for the quick selection of a suitable guide roller. In the online tool, the user only has to specify the outer and inner diameter as well as the length of the roller, the load, the load case and the ambient temperature. By entering the acting force and the degree of wrap around, the online expert calculates the resulting force on the roller and recommends the appropriate tube materials. In the second step, the user can select their guide roller based on the deflection, weight and price data, download the configuration CAD data and order the roller directly online.