To avoid machine downtime, it is important to use robust and long-lasting machine elements. Here, lubrication-free and maintenance-free high-performance plastics from igus show their advantages. Using the example of forklifts, igus will show the areas where motion plastics can be used. For example, iglidur plain bearings can already be found in bearings for high-load pivots, chainflex cables and e-chains with the smallest bend radii and high lifting heights in the mast.

Defects, repairs or maintenance-related downtime of forklifts cause unnecessary expenditure because they cannot be used during this time. Therefore, robust and reliable components are needed to avoid such failures. This is where motion plastics from igus are used, because they are specifically developed for dynamic applications and have a high service life that can be calculated online. This includes igus' highly flexible chainflex cables, which are installed in seats or in the mast, among other things. The cables are resistant to UV rays and oil, flame retardant and extensively tested in the in-house test laboratory. With a 36-month guarantee and minimum bend radii, they are ideal for applications with long-term stressing.

Guide cables safely in the tightest of spaces
In forklifts, cables must be guided safely in the smallest possible space. e-chains are specially developed for this task, as they not only have a high torsional resistance and interior space that protects the cables, but also allow the smallest bend radii and inner heights. By design they are modular, can be assembled quickly and are also very light. Rounded shapes in the interior of the energy chains are very gentle on the cables. In forklifts, e-chains are used, for example, for seat adjustment or in the mast of narrow aisle lift trucks, where they protect cables from external influences. 

Flexibly adjustable cockpit with drylin linear guides
In addition to energy chains, linear guides are also used for the seat adjustment, because the cockpit of forklifts must be individually adaptable to the ergonomic needs of the operator at various points. This concerns especially the headrest, the armrests and the control elements and doors. With drylin linear guides, an easy and low noise adjustment on straight and curved rails with predefined snap-in points is possible. The drylin linear technology is very light as the carriages slide on iglidur high-performance polymers. This linear guides therefore need no additional lubricants and, while having a long service life, are very low-maintenance and insensitive to impacts.

iglidur plain bearings for lubrication-free and maintenance-free mounting
The bearing points of forklifts have high demands, such as high loads, on the used bearings. Here, the maintenance-free iglidur plain bearings display their advantages. The customer can choose from a wide range of plain bearings listed in the catalogue, which are made from over 50 tribo-plastics with special properties. Some materials are characterised by a high load capacity up to 250 MPa and are therefore installed in the bearing points for high-load rotations. Others have very low coefficients of friction and are therefore used for steering column bearings or on pedals. However, all iglidur plain bearings have something in common: They have a long service life, are lubrication-free, cost-effective, light and vibration dampening.