Polymer bearings for the boat industry

Leading manufacturer of boat cranes uses iglidur plain bearings

The company Quality Boat Lifts uses iglidur plastic plain bearings in their cranes, which are used in commercial and private marinas and also by private boat owners to hoist boats out of the water. Located outside Fort Meyers, Florida, the company offers seven different maintenance-free crane systems for boats, such as "ALUM-A-VATOR", which has met the industry standard for 40 years, and the robust industrial version "Superlift". In both, iglidur P is used directly in the drive shaft of the cable winch, which performs a lifting and lowering movement to lift the boats completely out of the water.
 
There are between 10 and 20 iglidur plain bearings found in every crane. Unlike metal and bronze bearings, bearings from igus do not corrode thanks to their components and are therefore the ideal selection for under water use. Quality Boats uses iglidur P especially for its low moisture absorption, low coefficients of friction and high load capacity. The bearing of the ALUM-A-VATOR and the Speedlift easily absorbs forces between 4,500 and 66,000 pounds. iglidur P also resists radial forces of 1,000 pounds that occur during the operation of a boat lift.

Problem

 A maintenance-free solution was sought that could withstand heavy loads and the most adverse conditions. A contamination of the water with lubricants was not permissible for the solution sought.  In addition, salt water and permanent UV radiation were added, which could affect the performance of the bearings used.  

Solution

With plain bearings made of iglidur P, the company Quality Boat Lifts can rely on a durable and lubrication-free solution .  An easy adjustment is achieved, which works without lubricant and therefore does not burden the environment.  Furthermore, the  iglidur P material is permanently resistant to UV radiation and also to seawater.  

An additional benefit for Quality Boats was the elimination of maintenance for the customers by using iglidur P. Previously, bearing blocks that required regular lubrication were used in the cranes. This was often difficult and often unsafe for customers, as the maintenance routine required boat owners to climb to the top of the unit. The lubricant contaminated the water as well, which made it an environmentally damaging solution. The use of maintenance-free bearings solved these problems.
 
"In our search for bearings, we were faced with a number of challenges: salt water, mineral deposits, grease - just about anything floating in the water can get into the crane and affect its components. " says Riku Ylipelkonen, Chief Engineer at Quality Boats. "The iglidur bearings defy all these elements and show little wear. Our crane structures, in conjunction with the impressive performance of the iglidur bearings, enable us to supply the only boat cranes in the industry that are completely maintenance-free. ”
 

The entire product range of the igus® iglidur® plastic bearings forms a practical and cost-effective alternative to bronze, metallic, rolled and injection-moulded plain bearings. They are resistant to dirt, dust, chemicals and UV. With a range of more than 8000 different bearing types and sizes, igus® offers a bearing technology solution for every application.