Agricultural machinery manufacturer Sumo UK Ltd chooses igus bearings in cultivation equipment

Long standing customer Sumo UK Ltd switched to igutex® polymer bearings, enabling longer lasting, more durable machinery while reducing costs associated with standard metal bearings that require lubrication.

Renowned manufacturer of cultivation equipment, Sumo UK Ltd , know that engineering is fundamental to success and there is no room for error. Producing equipment that often weighs upwards of ten tonnes requires technical solutions that can take high loads frequently and with ease. This is where igus® was able to provide the perfect solution. A long-standing customer, Sumo UK Ltd were first introduced to plain bearings in 2017 and they have been installed in some of the heaviest equipment that they manufacturer. Sumo UK Ltd wanted to go a step further and assess how the range of woven bearings, igutex® compares to other options in high load applications. Many of these applications housed greased metal bearings so all possible factors were tested; such as load, wear resistance, serviceability and cost. All of these factors were all incorporated into the final decision to increase the number of igutex® products used on Sumo UK Ltd products.

Requirement, challenge and solution for applications with Sumo UK

Agricultural machinery bearings installed on Sumo equipment

Requirement

The bearings Sumo trialled initially are primarily used in the articulation geometry on folding hinge points, running on mild steel connection pins. The igutex TX1 and TX3 materials both have excellent running characteristics in oscillating motion, exactly what is needed in their applications.

Challenge

As the environment is quite a harsh environment, components have to be able to withstand not only high loads but dirt, dust, rain, heat and cold temperatures. Being lubrication-free, the igutex bearings that were trialled were able to not only withstand all of the above elements but also managed to reduce Sumo's cost and maintenance time.

Agricultural machinery bearings installed on Sumo equipment close up

Solution

igutex® bearings were the solution. These bearings are a composite material engineered with fibres and resins which are treated with high temperatures and pressures to create an exceptionally hard-wearing woven material. Not only can this range accommodate exceptional loads, but it also has a very wide window of operating temperatures ranging from -60 degrees up to +120 degrees. Combined, these qualities allow igutex® bearings to be used in a variety of industrial environments.