Igus unveils SHT linear module in hygienic design

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Igus unveils SHT linear module in hygienic design

Igus unveils SHT linear module in hygienic design

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Dec 30,24

At BrauBeviale 2024, igus presented lubrication-free drylin linear and drive technology - designed according to the EHEDG guidelines – for beverage producers

Igus unveils SHT linear module in hygienic design

The pressure on beverage manufacturers to produce hygienically is increasing: consumer demands for product safety are growing and global standards from authorities such as the FDA are becoming stricter. As a result, the demands on machine and system components are also increasing. To enable machine builders and operators to achieve hygienic, low-maintenance and fail-safe production, igus presented lubrication-free drylin linear and drive technology in hygienic design at BrauBeviale 2024 (which was held from November 26-28, 2024) in Nuremberg, Germany, including a design study for a ready-to-install SHT linear axis. This not only fulfils FDA and EU requirements, but also meets the EHEDG guidelines with regard to cleanability.

In times of stricter regulations, companies in the beverage industry must ensure that their equipment for filling, labelling, packaging and inspecting bottles and tins can be cleaned easily and thoroughly. This also applies to machine components such as linear technology, which is used for the adjustment and movement of filling heads, label dispensers and camera systems, among other things.

"The demand for linear technology in hygienic design is currently increasing rapidly. Machine manufacturers are looking for ways to further reduce the risk of contamination in their systems while lowering cleaning effort and thus operating costs," confirmed Michael Hornung, Product Manager drylin Linear and Drive Technology at igus. For this balancing act, igus presented a growing product portfolio at BrauBeviale 2024, which is being developed in accordance with the guidelines of the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG). These require that components must either have a gap-free design or be encapsulated accordingly. "This way, we can support the safe and efficient operation of production facilities in the beverage industry," said Hornung.

SHT linear module for hygienic positioning tasks

Among the new products that visitors to BrauBeviale were able to see was the design study of a ready-to-install SHT linear axis in hygienic design, which has been optimised for better rinsing. It is suitable for filling stations, for example, allowing for precise and hygienic movements to position bottles and tins. The axis uses stainless-steel round shafts as guidance and relies on dryspin lead screw technology from igus made of corrosion-free stainless steel for the drive.

The truss assembly consists of two housing halves that are sealed with an FDA-compliant silicone flat gasket and hygienic screws. Specially developed wiper seals protect the shafts and prevent dirt and moisture from entering the shaft end support. In addition, igus has designed the lead screw nut on the lead screw in such a way that there are generous gaps. This prevents deposits and makes it possible to clean them efficiently. Hornung said, “We are working on developing more and more products consistently in accordance with the hygienic design guidelines and have now also joined the EHEDG so as to facilitate new types of certification for open moving parts."

Growing portfolio proves its worth in numerous applications

In 2023, igus presented the world's first sliding carriage for linear guides in hygienic design, which is made of 100% food-grade plastic with FDA and EU 10/2011 approval. Here, too, the design is completely open and free of dead space, making the system fully flushable - even with aggressive cleaning agents. The carriage is suitable for format adjustment in beverage-bottling plants, for example, to handle different bottle sizes without interchangeable parts.

Thanks to solid lubricants integrated into the high-performance plastic, the carriage works hygienically with low-maintenance dry operation and doesn't require external lubrication. Furthermore, individual bearings have been added to the drylin hygienic design product range. They are placed separately on the guide rail and assembled into linear carriages using stainless-steel plates in various sizes, which enables a more flexible design. This also includes the drylin ZLW toothed belt axis made of stainless steel with bearings, toothed belts and ball bearings made of plastic compliant with FDA and EU 10/2011.

The igus components have already proven themselves in a variety of applications in the food, beverage and packaging industries: from the inspection technology of Krones AG to the robotic kitchen of the start-up Cook-e to the fully automated pizza oven from BistroBox. Hornung: "Thanks to their hygienic design and the fact that they are easy to clean, our linear and drive technology fulfils the strict requirements of the food and beverage industry and thus contributes to safety and efficiency in the production process."

The Cologne (Germany) based igus GmbH develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move. In energy supplies, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings as well as lead screw technology made of tribo-polymers, igus is the worldwide market leader. The family-run company is represented in 31 countries and employs around 5,000 people across the globe. In 2023, igus generated a turnover of €1,136 billion. In recent years, the company has expanded by creating internal startups, e.g. for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent "smart plastics" for Industry 4.0. Among the most important environmental investments are the "chainge" programme – recycling of used e-chains - and the participation in an enterprise that produces oil from plastic waste.