EU Regulation 2024/3190 presents food machinery manufacturers with new challenges. From July 2026, no more machines containing components with the hormonally active plastic ingredient bisphenol-A may be placed on the market. An transitional period until January 2028 applies to existing product lines. At the Hannover Messe 2026, Igus will present a bisphenol-free plain bearing material, which designers can switch to without any technical disadvantages or additional adjustments.
The new iglidur A351 plain bearing material has been specially developed for use in the food industry. This self-lubricating high-performance plastic is BPA-free, enabling designers to respond to the new requirements of the EU regulation without technical impairments or additional adjustments. „With iglidur A351, designers can continue to work in compliance with standards in the future. This is because the material is not only FDA compliant but also free of Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S,“ explains Lars Butenschön, Head of the iglidur plain bearings business unit at Igus.
Versatile application possibilities
The iglidur A351 material is suitable for manufacturing various components, including plain bearings for conveyor systems, gears for packaging machines, and components with direct product contact such as guides or spacers in filling and packaging systems. Igus offers the material in several manufacturing forms: as plastic granules for injection moulding, as semi-finished products for CNC machining, and as filament for 3D printing.
Igus highlights the high stability and low weight of iglidur A351. With a density of approximately 1.42 g/cm³, the material offers high stability compared to metal solutions. The compressive strength is around 78 MPa, meaning that components can also work reliably under higher surface pressures. Another advantage is the low moisture absorption of approximately 0.6 percent, which ensures dimensional stability and functional reliability in humid production environments. Furthermore, iglidur A351 is designed for continuous temperatures between -100 °C and +180 °C, thus withstanding high process temperatures as well as intensive cleaning cycles.
Cost-effectiveness through self-lubricating effect
A special characteristic of iglidur A351 is its integrated self-lubricating effect, which makes the use of external lubricants unnecessary. This significantly reduces maintenance requirements and increases the cost-effectiveness and reliability of machines. The blue colour of the material also improves detectability by optical systems, thereby enhancing product safety in the food industry.
With iglidur A351, Igus offers a future-proof solution for the challenges posed by the EU ban on Bisphenol A. The material was tested in its own 5,500 square metre laboratory in Cologne and meets the high requirements of the food industry.
Source: Igus
