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Agricultural machinery manufacturer Sumo UK Ltd chooses igus bearings in cultivation equipment

Long standing customer Sumo UK Ltd switched to igutex® polymer bearings, enabling longer lasting, more durable machinery while reducing costs associated with standard metal bearings that require lubrication.

Renowned manufacturer of cultivation equipment, Sumo UK Ltd, know that engineering is fundamental to success and there is no room for error. Producing equipment that often weighs upwards of ten tonnes requires technical solutions that can take high loads frequently and with ease. This is where igus® was able to provide the perfect solution. A long-standing customer, Sumo UK Ltd were first introduced to plain bearings in 2017 and they have been installed in some of the heaviest equipment that they manufacturer. Sumo UK Ltd wanted to go a step further and assess how the range of woven bearings, igutex® compares to other options in high load applications. Many of these applications housed greased metal bearings so all possible factors were tested; such as load, wear resistance, serviceability and cost. All of these factors were all incorporated into the final decision to increase the number of igutex® products used on Sumo UK Ltd products. 

Requirement, challenge and solution for applications with Sumo UK

A tractor works a field with a wide tillage machine.

Requirement

The bearings Sumo trialled initially are primarily used in the articulation geometry on folding hinge points, running on mild steel connection pins. The igutex TX1 and TX3 materials both have excellent running characteristics in oscillating motion, exactly what is needed in their applications.  

A soil tiller is working the field and kicking up dust.

Challenge

As the environment is quite a harsh environment, components have to be able to withstand not only high loads but dirt, dust, rain, heat and cold temperatures. Being lubrication-free, the igutex bearings that were trialled were able to not only withstand all of the above elements but also managed to reduce Sumo's cost and maintenance time.

Red machine bracket with hydraulic components on a vehicle.

Solution

igutex® bearings were the solution. These bearings are a composite material engineered with fibres and resins which are treated with high temperatures and pressures to create an exceptionally hard-wearing woven material. Not only can this range accommodate exceptional loads, but it also has a very wide window of operating temperatures ranging from -60 degrees up to +120 degrees. Combined, these qualities allow igutex® bearings to be used in a variety of industrial environments.

"The performance of the igus bush is better than any other on the market"

Tim Lord

Head of Engineering, SUMO UK

Technology used

iglidur Q2 plain bearing cut out on a white background.

Q2 material

Plain bearings

  • lubrication-free
  • robust
  • weather resistant
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Composite sleeve bearing.

TX1 material

Woven bearings

  • Up to 200 MPa static and 140 MPa dynamic
  • Wear-resistant and dimensionally stable
  • Good liquid media resistance
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iglidur plastic plain bearing with flange.

Plain bearings

  • Excellent wear resistance at room temperature
  • Excellent friction coefficients
  • Low moisture absorption
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iglide TX3 sleeve bearing made of igutex.

TX3 material

Woven bearings

  • Lowest wear rates under extreme dry running conditions
  • Suitable for harsh conditions
  • Insensitive to dirt
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Applications in use in the agricultural industry

Agricultural bearings in Lemken machines

No more wasting time with self-lubricating bearings

igus® has been successfully collaborating with Lemken since 2008. Various Lemken machines are equipped with igus plain bearings, among them the cultivator Karat 9. In the overload elements, the metal bearing points previously used had to be lubricated up to one hour per day to prevent wear and corrosion. By switching to lubrication-free polymer plain bearings, the farmer saves valuable time. Furthermore, the dirt resistance and stability of the plain bearings increase service life and dependability.

To the application
The grubber loosens the soil in the field behind the tractor.

Agricultural bearings in bale trimming machines

Heavy load up to 15 tons is made possible

Maintenance-free and resistant to dust and dirt, the iglidur® G plain bearings are used in hinges, locking systems and hydraulic cylinders of bale trimming machines from Optimal-Vertrieb Opitz. They replace red brass solutions, that were produced in-house and required both a relatively large installation space and lubricants that polluted the environment. The new polymer bearings need no lubrication and withstand all edge loads without problems.

Bale wrapping machine in use in a field.

Sumo UK Ltd chooses igus bearings in cultivation equipment

Renowned manufacturer of cultivation equipment, Sumo UK Ltd , know that engineering is fundamental to success and there is no room for error. Producing equipment that often weighs upwards of ten tonnes requires technical solutions that can take high loads frequently and with ease. This is where igus® was able to provide the perfect solution.

To the application
A soil tiller is working the field and kicking up dust.

Consulting

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