In the food industry, the cleaning of machinery and equipment is a key challenge. Linear guides, which are indispensable in automated processes, often pose a problem in hygienically critical areas. They can have hard-to-reach places where dirt and lubricants accumulate. The new drylin W linear guide from Igus is now the world's first of its kind to receive EHEDG certification. This certification ensures that the components are easy and safe to clean, significantly increasing process and product safety.
A key advantage of the new linear guide is the tool-free removal of the carriage. Traditional ball bearing guides often require tools for disassembly, leading to increased maintenance effort and longer downtimes. With the drylin W linear guide, the carriage can be easily detached from the rail and cleaned separately. This minimises downtimes and significantly simplifies maintenance.
Hygienic design reduces contamination risks
The construction of the drylin W linear guide strictly adheres to EHEDG guidelines. The electro-polished stainless steel shafts have a surface roughness of less than 0.8 micrometres, making it difficult for germs and product residue to accumulate. Transitions between shafts and rail connectors are designed to comply with EHEDG guidelines, with milled transitions and minimum radii of three millimetres. A FDA-certified silicone bottom seal prevents dirt or microorganisms from accumulating between the rail and the surface.
Dry running without lubrication
The linear guide carriage is made from the blue high-performance plastic iglidur A160, which is PTFE-free and PFAS-tested. Integrated solid lubricants ensure dry, lubrication-free operation, further improving hygiene. The material is characterised by low water absorption, meaning the carriage remains dimensionally stable even after intensive cleaning cycles.
The development of this linear guide shows the importance of considering hygiene and efficiency requirements in the food industry. The EHEDG certification highlights the significance of a design that both facilitates cleaning and improves operational safety. This innovation from igus could set a new standard for hygienic automation components in food technology.
Source: Igus
