Felt seal protects bearing points from dirt

In times of climate change, it is becoming increasingly challenging to ensure the necessary amount of food for humans and animals. Holmer Maschinenbau GmbH has developed a solution for the sustainable fertilisation of maize fields with its SecatFlex SL slurry hoe. To prevent environmental damage, the company contacted igus to see if we could offer a solution for reducing cost in their applications.

About Holmer Maschinenbau

Holmer Maschinenbau is a German agricultural machinery manufacturer and is known as a global leader, not only in design and production, but also distribution of self-propelled sugar beet harvesters. The company was founded in 1969 and headquartered in Schierling/Eggmühl, Germany. They develop advanced farming equipment that helps agricultural businesses improve harvesting efficiency, field logistics, and slurry applications. The HOLMER’s product portfolio has grown over the years and now includes sugar beet harvesters, carrier vehicles, beet cleaner loaders, and slurry technology systems. Their focus and goal is to support modern, high-performance farming operations. They have a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

Requirement, challenge and solution

A self-propelled sprayer applies liquid between rows of maize in the field.

Requirement

The company Holmer Maschinenbau GmbH has been supplying agricultural machinery for harvesting, loading sugar beets and applying slurry for over 50 years. Based on cutting-edge technology and innovation has allowed the company to drive sustainable growth in the sector. They wanted to reduce the amount of lubrication being used within the machines, while maintaining the longevity of the installed parts, despite the high load.

Bearing on a red bracket for an agricultural machine.

Challenge

The Terra Variant agricultural machine pulls a large slurry tank in which the fertiliser for the maize field is carried. Instead of spreading the valuable organic fertiliser superficially, the Terra Variant pulls an impressive machine behind it at a speed of ten kilometres per hour: The slurry hoe, the SecatFlex SL is attached to the vehicle. The machine is 7.5 metres wide and weighs 2,300 kilograms and is used to incorporate the slurry into the upper soil horizon of the field.

Two hoeing coulters loosen the soil, the slurry then enters the soil via a hose. The third hoeing coulter then covers the two fertiliser ridges with soil so that there is no mixing with the slurry and there is direct incorporation into the soil. This ensures valuable nutrients are retained and there is no noticeable pungent ammonia odour after spreading. Holmer places high ecological demands on its own vehicles and machines. For this reason, the manufacturer decided to install lubrication-free plain bearings in the design of the SecatFlex SL.

Agricultural machine with red arms and many hoses in a yard.

Solution

High demands must be met under the adverse conditions in agriculture. Joints in agricultural machinery often require lubrication to ensure friction-free operation. Conventional metal bearings require large quantities of grease via lubrication points. This is a particular problem in agriculture, as farmers want to avoid environmental pollution from lubricants. "We were therefore looking for an application with low lubricant requirements for the SecatFlex SL," explains Andreas Erl, who was responsible for the development of the slurry hoe at Holmer Maschinenbau. After discussing plain bearings, iglidur® SG03 looked like a suitable option. Like all iglidur® plain bearings, the SG03 is lubrication-free, as no external lubrication is required. At the same time, it offers a felt seal, which seals the bearing points against dirt and dust. This is a great advantage, especially in agriculture. The joints are often exposed to extreme loads and must offer a high degree of reliability.

Applications in use in the agricultural industry

Agricultural bearings in Lemken machines

No more wasting time with self-lubricating bearings

igus® has been successfully collaborating with Lemken since 2008. Various Lemken machines are equipped with igus plain bearings, among them the cultivator Karat 9. In the overload elements, the metal bearing points previously used had to be lubricated up to one hour per day to prevent wear and corrosion. By switching to lubrication-free polymer plain bearings, the farmer saves valuable time. Furthermore, the dirt resistance and stability of the plain bearings increase service life and dependability.

The grubber loosens the soil in the field behind the tractor.

Agricultural bearings in bale trimming machines

Heavy load up to 15 tons is made possible

Maintenance-free and resistant to dust and dirt, the iglidur® G plain bearings are used in hinges, locking systems and hydraulic cylinders of bale trimming machines from Optimal-Vertrieb Opitz. They replace red brass solutions, that were produced in-house and required both a relatively large installation space and lubricants that polluted the environment. The new polymer bearings need no lubrication and withstand all edge loads without problems.