Bisphenol-free plain bearing material for food machinery

igus has introduced iglidur A351, a new plain bearing material developed to comply with EU Regulation 2024/3190. This regulation requires that, from July 2026, components with product contact must no longer contain Bisphenol A. Existing product lines must comply by January 2028. The material is designed to enable manufacturers to transition without design modifications or performance trade-offs.

Material solution for regulatory compliance
iglidur A351 is free from both Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S while meeting relevant requirements for food industry applications, including FDA compliance. The material is suitable for components with direct product contact, such as plain bearings in conveyor systems, gears in packaging machines, and guide elements in filling systems.

It is available in multiple processing forms, including injection molding granulate, semi-finished stock for CNC machining, and filament for 3D printing, enabling flexible integration into different manufacturing processes.

Mechanical properties and application range
With a density of approximately 1.42 g/cm³, iglidur A351 combines low weight with high mechanical stability. Its compressive strength of around 78 MPa allows reliable operation under higher surface pressures typical of industrial environments.

The low moisture absorption of approximately 0.6% supports dimensional stability and functional reliability, even in humid production conditions. The material is designed for continuous operating temperatures from -100 °C to +180 °C, making it suitable for thermally demanding processes and intensive cleaning cycles.

Maintenance-free operation through integrated lubrication
Like other materials in the iglidur family, iglidur A351 incorporates solid lubricants. These enable dry operation without external lubricants, supporting hygienic operation in food processing environments.

Eliminating external lubrication reduces maintenance requirements and contamination risks while improving overall equipment availability.

Product safety and detectability
The blue color of the material enhances detectability in food production environments using optical systems, supporting quality control and product safety measures.

Validation and industrial relevance
The material has been tested in igus’s in-house laboratory under application-specific conditions. With iglidur A351, the company addresses evolving regulatory requirements while providing a technically robust alternative for food processing applications.

This development demonstrates how material innovations can support compliance while maintaining performance and reliability in increasingly regulated and data-driven industrial environments.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.igus.com