igus develops igubal ESQM pillow block bearing makes solar panels safe

  • Industry News
  • Apr 26,21
The in-house 3,800 square metre igus test laboratory, the service life, wear resistance and load capacity were examined under real loads of the daily motion sequence, simulated in a time-lapse. The number of movements achieved under a load of 1.5 tons corresponds to a service life of 72 years.
igus develops igubal ESQM pillow block bearing makes solar panels safe

In a bid to enable solar panels to generate energy efficiently, solar park operators rely on movable modules that automatically align themselves to the position of the sun, to ensure a high energy yield. igus has developed the igubal ESQM pillow block bearing specifically for mounting the modules on square profiles and has now expanded it with two additional dimensions. Plant operators worldwide receive a lubrication-free solution, resistant to dust and dirt, whose durability has been tested in the laboratory and is guaranteed for 25 years.

One economy that is currently booming is the photovoltaic industry. In the first half of 2020 alone, 20 per cent more plants were put into operation in Germany than in 2019. This is shown by the figures of the Federal Association for the German Solar Industry. Solar energy is not only used in Germany, but worldwide. In Spain, photovoltaic systems account for 19 per cent of electricity generation. Plant manufacturers of such photovoltaic fields are facing increasing competition and cost pressure. The electricity production costs should be very low and the utilisation of the modules very high. To this end, more and more operators are turning to bifacial modules that capture the incident light not only via the front but also via the back of the module. To make the bearing of solar panels safe on square tubes, igus has developed the ESQM series of igubal pillow block bearings, a reliable and tested solution made of high-performance polymer.

Richard Won, Industry Manager Renewable Energy at igus GmbH, explains, "Due to the high demand for our bearings in the solar industry, we have now extended our series to include sizes, 100x100mm and 140x140mm. In the dimensions 110x110mm and 120x120mm, the bearing is already used 500,000 times on square tubes worldwide. With the new sizes, we can now offer other suppliers a long-lasting solution."

Bearings last for 72 years

The igubal bearing comprises a polymer housing made of igumid G and a spherical ball made of iglidur J4. The tribo-polymers ensure that the bearing is UV-resistant and corrosion-free. In addition, the pillow block bearing is completely lubrication-free, which makes it insensitive to dust and dirt and maintenance-free. At the same time, it easily compensates for misalignments, caused by an uneven surface, for example. In the company's own 3,800 square metre test laboratory, the service life, wear resistance and load capacity were examined under real loads of the daily motion sequence, simulated in a time-lapse. The number of movements achieved under a load of 1.5 tons corresponds to a service life of 72 years. This is why igus guarantees a runtime of 25 years, which corresponds to the standard service life of a solar module.
igus GmbH develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move. In energy supplies, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings as well as lead screw technology made of tribo-polymers, igus is the worldwide market leader. The family-run company based in Cologne, Germany, is represented in 35 countries and employs 3,800 people across the globe.

In 2019, igus generated a turnover of Euro 764 million. Research in the industry's largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users. 234,000 articles are available from stock and the service life can be calculated online. In recent years, the company has expanded by creating internal startups, e.g. for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent ‘smart plastics’ for Industry 4.0.

Related Stories

Gears, Motors & Drives
Igubal Food Contact sample box includes magnet and new double joint

Igubal Food Contact sample box includes magnet and new double joint

Since 2019, the motion plastics specialist igus has been offering igubal Food Contact (FC), a special spherical bearing system made from high-performance polymers that comply with FDA and EU 10/2011..

Read more
Test & Measuring Instruments
WIKA India tunes in solar power for all its factories

WIKA India tunes in solar power for all its factories

The global market leader in pressure, temperature, level, force, and flow measurement, WIKA India notifies the installation of solar panels for its Ghaziabad factory. This step will make all four fa..

Read more
Other Industrial Products
Yanmar starts production at new industrial engine plant in India

Yanmar starts production at new industrial engine plant in India

Yanmar Engine Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd (YEMI) - a part of Japanese firm Yanmar - has commenced production at its new state of the art industrial engine manufacturing plant located at the Origins ..

Read more

Related Products

Deep Groove Ball Bearings

Bearings, Bushings, Wheels and Gears

LYC Bearing Corporation offers a wide range of deep groove ball bearings.

Read more

Request a Quote

Plain Bearings

Bearings, Bushings, Wheels and Gears

BMD Precision Bearings LLP offers a wide range of plain bearings.

Read more

Request a Quote

Wheel Nuts

Bearings, Bushings, Wheels and Gears

Nord-Lock India Pvt Ltd offers a wide range of wheel nuts.

Read more

Request a Quote

Hi There!

Now get regular updates from IPF Magazine on WhatsApp!

Click on link below, message us with a simple hi, and SAVE our number

You will have subscribed to our Industrial News on Whatsapp! Enjoy

+91 84228 74016

Reach out to us

Call us at +91 8108603000 or

Schedule a Call Back