Other uses for motion plastics in the bicycle industry

1 Folding mechanism in the folding bike

Ideally so small that they can travel free of charge as luggage on the train or be stored in the car in a space-saving manner. As mobility changes, folding bikes are currently undergoing rapid development - with less weight, more riding comfort and sophisticated folding technology that is quick and easy to use. For the many joints in the folding mechanism, we offer a lightweight and corrosion-free alternative to metal bearings with our bushings made of wear-resistant high-performance plastic, for example made from the iglidur J3 material, which do not require any lubrication or maintenance. Open and close, frequently and over a long period of time, without squeaking or rattling.

Plain bearing iglidur J3

• Excellent coefficients of friction
• Very good wear resistance
• Low moisture absorption
• Good wear resistance under water and high media resistance
• Resistant to edge pressure, shocks and impacts
• Insensitive to dirt and dust
• Lightweight
• Lubrication-free

No bearing clearance, no greasing: iglidur in the folding mountain bike
The Austrian company Tonkel Om handmades in Salzburg has developed a mountain bike that can be folded to a pack size of 75 x 34 x 25cm in just 90 seconds without any tools. For the many bearing points in the folding mechanism, the developers were looking for a resilient, wear-resistant bearing material that is as light as possible and insensitive to all possible weathering effects. iglidur bushings are the perfect solution here ...

2 Steering head bearing and bottom bracket bearing in a children's bicycle

The iglidur J3 plain bearings are also successfully used in the headset and as inner bearings of children's bikes. This is because they are robust, cost-effective and resistant to moisture, dirt and impacts - ideal specifications when you consider that a children's bike is not only exposed to all weathers, but can also take the odd fall, land in a puddle or in the sand on the playground. You are spared the problem of ball bearings that become rickety due to dirt penetration, loss of lubricant and rust.

Plain bearing iglidur J3

• Excellent coefficients of friction
• Very good wear resistance
• Low moisture absorption
• Good wear resistance under water and high media resistance
• Resistant to edge pressure, shocks and impacts
• Insensitive to dirt and dust
• Lightweight
• Lubrication-free

3 Trike front suspension

Still a niche, but increasingly popular: recumbent bikes, especially three-wheelers, are probably the most comfortable way to go on a bike tour. Depending on the intended use and surface, there are now many variants on the market, including spring-mounted and agile sports bikes for rough terrain away from the tarmac. iglidur G plain bearings are small, light, resistant to dirt, water and shocks and are successfully used with these specifications in spring-mounted front wheel suspensions, among others.

Plain bearing iglidur G

• Very good coefficients of friction
• Resistant to edge pressure
• Insensitive to shocks and impacts
• Particularly resistant to dirt and dust
• Resistant to high loads (>60N/mm²)
• Lubrication-free

Small, light, robust: iglidur plain bearing in the trike from Azub
With the "Trike of the Year" award in 2015, Azub Bike has already won a prestigious prize for its TRIcon 26 with innovative rear fork. The company has also opted for high-performance components such as high-strength grade 5 titanium in the front suspension for the new Ti-FLX recumbent bike. It is complemented by dry-operating plastic bearings from iglidur G. The all-round bearing is not only lubrication-free and maintenance-free. Resistant to dust and dirt, it can achieve a long service life. Unlike metal plain and ball bearings, it is also corrosion-free and many times lighter.

4 E-scooter head tube

Electric scooters, especially rental scooters, have been conquering cities for several years now. Travelling in wind and weather on different surfaces, with changing users who do not always treat them with care, the scooters have to withstand a lot. With our lubrication-free plain bearings, the maintenance effort can be reduced, the scooters do not need to be taken out of circulation for bearing maintenance and thus their utilisation efficiency increases. The range of the battery benefits from the light weight of our bearings. Bushings made of iglidur E material are particularly suitable for suspension forks, they are vibration-dampening and have hardly any stick-slip effect. For use in the head tube, we recommend our heavy-duty iglidur Q plain bearings.

Plain bearing iglidur E

• Wear-resistant endurance material
• Very low coefficients of friction
• Particularly suitable for linear movements
• Particularly long service life in combination with aluminium shafts
• Vibration-dampening
• Upper long-term application temperature 90°C
• Upper short-term application temperature 120°C

Plain bearing iglidur Q

• Resistant to high loads (>60N/mm2)
• Specially developed for extreme loads
• Resistant to shocks and impacts
• Very good coefficient of friction
• Corrosion-free
• Small installation space required
• Lubrication-free

5 Cantilever brake

V-brakes are the classic among bicycle brakes because they are light, cost-effective and easy to repair and maintain thanks to their simple design. As far as maintenance is concerned, you can save it, at least at the bearing points, if you use our dry-operating plastic bushings, which are vibration-dampening, weather-resistant and lightweight. For use on V-brakes as well as classic cantilever brakes, iglidur J is the perfect material.

Plain bearing iglidur J

• Very good wear resistance at medium temperatures
• Very good coefficient of friction
• Low moisture absorption
• Resistant to edge pressure
• Insensitive to shocks and impacts
• Resistant to dirt and dust
• Lubrication-free

6 Bicycle assembly stands

Anyone who often works on bicycles uses a bike stand to securely fix the bike at a comfortable working height. In addition to simple models, there are also electrically adjustable high-end models that offer mechanics in workshops in particular the opportunity to raise heavy bikes such as e-bikes easily and without straining their backs. Various igus products are successfully used in such lifts: lubrication-free and maintenance-free drylin linear rail systems, heavy-duty chainflex cables, which are specially designed for moving applications, and compact e-chains from the E2 series, which ensure a particularly long service life for the cables.

Linear guide drylin W

• 14 rail profiles, 50 carriage versions
• 100% maintenance-free and lubrication-free
• Corrosion-free and wear-resistant
• Resistant to dirt, dust and moisture
• Very quiet running
• Up to 40% more cost-effective than recirculating ball bearing guides

e-chains E2 series

• Reliable protection for moving cables
• Light and strong
• Quiet operation
• Quick and easy to fill
• Available as openable with crossbars or closed as a tube

chainflex cables

• Specially developed for movement
• Suitable for small installation spaces and particularly tight bend radii
• 48 months chainflex guarantee
• Available from stock, from 1m length within 24hrs

7 Bicycle racks

Bicycle racks installed on the car roof or at the rear are the perfect transport solution for anyone who doesn't have a trailer, pick-up loading area or motorhome bike garage. Particularly popular are foldable models that can be easily transported when dismantled and stowed away compactly, equipped with a tilting mechanism that allows access to the boot. Manufacturers use plain bearings and thrust washers made from our iglidur J series to ensure that folding and tilting works easily for a long time. Moisture, dirt, impacts and edge loads are no problem for them.

Plain bearings and thrust washers iglidur J

• Excellent wear resistance at medium temperatures
• Very good coefficients of friction
• Low moisture absorption
• Resistant to edge pressure
• Insensitive to shocks and impacts
• Resistant to dirt and dust
• Lubrication-free

More about iglidur J plain bearings and thrust washers in the shop

8 Bearings in prams

Anyone who spends a lot of money on a pram also wants it to function reliably. Even after long periods of use in all weathers and in harsh environments such as on the playground or on the beach, where the material comes into contact with sand and seawater. Metallic ball bearings and bushings with PTFE coating suffer particularly badly here. Sand adhering to the lubricated bearings, loss of lubricant/gliding layer and rust are a problem that can be avoided with our dry-operating plastic bearings. No more jamming or squeaking wheels, no more rattling bearing points. iglidur G plain bearings are lightweight, cost-effective and - robust just right for use in folding and articulated joints, in height adjustment, in swivel wheels and wheel hubs.

Plain bearing iglidur G

• Very good coefficients of friction
• Resistant to edge pressure
• Insensitive to shocks and impacts
• Particularly resistant to dirt and dust
• Resistant to high loads (>60N/mm²)
• Lubrication-free

Lightweight, affordable, uncomplicated: igubal spherical bearings in a jogging pram
The JogAlong pram combines the usual transport function with sporting activity: it has ergonomically shaped arm levers that imitate the natural swing of the arms. At the heart of the design are igubal spherical bearings made of solid plastic. They enable three degrees of freedom, reduce the complexity of the assembly and thus reduce costs and weight compared to the originally intended designs. The fact that they are lightweight, lubrication-free and corrosion-free makes them the perfect alternative to metal bearings.