Food-safe 3D printing for applications with food contact

It is important that 3D printing can be offered in accordance to the requirements of the FDA and/or EU directive 10/2011.

igus® has a range of 3D printing materials that are. Not only that, they are up to 50 times more abrasion-resistant than commonly used 3D printed plastics.

3D printing in igus® materials means that the parts can be used as moving parts and as no lubrication is required, thanks to the integrated solid lubricants, these are not only cost -effective but can be produced quickly.

You can configure your 3D printed part for free using our online configurator.

Use the free online configurator

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Order abrasion-resistant parts from the 3D printing service or print them yourself

Laser sintering with iglidur® I6

Can be used in numerous industries
Max. application temperature: +80°C
Extremely abrasion-resistant: e.g. at least 9 times more abrasion-resistant than PA12 (SLS) in rotation test
Excellent sliding properties
No minimum order quantity

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iglidur® I150: the all-rounder filament

Compliant with food-specific regulations according to EU 10/2011
Can be processed on all regular 3D printers
The most frequently used tribo-filament with very good mechanical properties (strength, resilience, layer adhesion)
max permanent application temperature of 65°C

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iglidur® I151: visually detectable

Compliant with food-specific regulations according to EU 10/2011 and the FDA
Blue colour for optical detectability
Can be processed on all commercial printers
Ideal for food & packaging industry
Processed as easily as standard PLA and PETG filaments.

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Heat-resistant: iglidur® A350

Compliant with food-specific regulations according to EU 10/2011 and the FDA.
Temperature-resistant up to 180°C, fire-retardant according to UL94-V0
Suitable for steam sterilisation
High-temperature 3D printer required

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iglidur® I6: Highly abrasive-resistant

Food-safe according to FDA
Excellent abrasion resistance
Very robust
Accurate surface details.
Ideal for worm wheels
Available in blue

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iglidur® i6-BLUE

Laser sintering material
Blue colour for optical detectability
Good sliding properties
Printed in five days with the 3D printing service
No minimum order quantity
ideal for gears

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iglidur® I150 – Easy-to-Use Tribo-Filament for Food-Grade 3D Printing

iglidur® I150 is the most user-friendly tribo-filament, compatible with all standard 3D printers and as easy to process as PLA or PETG. It’s ideal for the food and packaging industry, thanks to its EU 10/2011 compliance for food contact.

Key features:

No special equipment required – works with regular 3D printers
Food-safe and wear-resistant
Available in 8kg reels – perfect for large-scale printing
Max continuous use temperature: 65°C
Not recommended for highly dynamic applications

iglidur® i150 in the shop

iglidur® A350 – High-Performance 3D Printing Filament for Food Industry Applications

Engineered for the food and packaging sector, iglidur® A350 is a blue, abrasion-resistant tribo-filament that meets EU 10/2011 and FDA food-contact standards. It offers:

High temperature resistance up to 180°C
Flame retardancy (UL94-V0 certified)
Steam sterilisation compatibility
Enhanced detectability thanks to its solid blue color

Due to its processing temperature of 340–360°C and build chamber requirement of ≥160°C, a high-temperature 3D printer is essential. If unavailable, you can order wear-resistant parts quickly and affordably via the igus® 3D printing service.

iglidur® A350 in the shop

Further solutions for food contact

Energy chain developed according to hygienic design guidelines

The easy-to-clean TH3 energy chain for cables is FDA-compliant and is blue, which is the typical colour for plastic elements used in the food industry. It is especially resistant to aggressive cleaning agents and chemicals, which makes it ideal for use in the food and beverages industry.

Low-friction liner for food contact

The low friction tribo-tape liner is designed for the versatile lining of tribologically challenged surfaces and shapes, for optimising movement within machine beds, etc. At a thickness of only 0.5 - 1mm (including the adhesive tape + 0.15mm), very little space is needed. The tape is easily fabricated - simply cut with a pair of scissors - and the optional self-adhesive liner tapes give almost unlimited possibilities. The liner is food-safe in accordance with FDA requirements.

More about food-safe liners

Flanged bearings for food contact

The iglidur® A181 material is compliant with FDA regulations and also conforms with 10/2011 EU. The blue colour also facilitates the often required 'optical detectability' in the food industry. Plain bearings made of iglidur® A181 are available with or without flange.

Find out more about FDA bearings

Further plastic solutions for food contact

In order to comply with the strict requirements regarding food hygiene and food safety in all stages of a process, igus supplies you with a large range of polymer solutions for food-processing machines and equipment. We supply different kinds of bearings, energy chains, cables, linear guides, lead screw guides as well as bar stock and 3D printing materials for the tool-free manufacture of special parts. As our machine components have been specially developed for moving applications and do not require any lubrication, product contamination is ruled out completely.

Food-safe guide rollers

Knife edge rollers are used as guide rollers in conveyor belts, for example. The new material iglidur® A250 was specifically developed for use in knife edge rollers for the food industry and is FDA and EU10/2011 compliant.

Find out more about iglidur® rollers

Frequently asked questions about 3D printing with food-grade plastics

It means that the material coming into contact with food has been tested for a possible transfer of particles of the plastic to the food, whereby a defined limit value has not been exceeded. On the European market, the requirements for plastics to achieve food conformity are regulated by EU Regulation 10/2011, in the U.S. by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration).

Before and during printing, the food-grade material must be protected from dust. We therefore recommend an enclosed installation space.

If a material meets the requirements for food conformity according to the EU standard 10/2011 or the specifications of the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration), it is confirmed by a declaration of conformity. The specifications for the use of the respective substance are noted there.

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