Keeping food industry print and packaging equipment moving

30 September 2019

Equipment used in the food and packaging industry must fulfil special requirements, especially where contact with food is concerned. Specific needs include hygienic design, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and/or EU regulation 10/2011 compliance.

Continue reading this article

Register now for free and access every article and to register for the print edition.

igus provides maintenance-free and lubrication-free machine parts and systems made of high-performance plastics that can help keep costs down and extend service life. Its TH3 energy chain meets the requirements for a hygienic design; to avoid product contamination it features an open design for efficient cleaning with rounded edges, which allows liquids to run off, and good resistance to chemicals. The interior separators ensure enough space is left between the cables and hoses for cleaning.

FDA and EU compliant, the TH3 energy chain is blue in colour, which is easily identifiable. It can also be supplied as a ready-to-install, harnessed 'readychain' with no minimum order quantity. On request, igus will supply and install these directly on site.

igus also offers maintenance-free linear guides made of stainless steel. In contrast to conventional recirculating ball bearing guides, drylin linear bearings do not have to be lubricated as the liners used between the rail and carriage are made of iglidur materials.

igus also manufactures plain bearing components, which have successfully been used in applications in the food and packaging industry. These plain bearings are said to ensure a good basic resistance to wear. iglidur A160 is a blue material that complies with FDA and EU requirements.