Fewer problems with rust and maintenance on the tail lift

iglidur® plain bearings defy tough conditions on the hoists of MBB Palfinger

MBB Palfinger produces around 15,000 tail lifts every year for an international clientele. They have to work reliably in the most difficult environments behind lorries, where there is a high risk of corrosion due to wetness and road salt. Failures can have serious consequences, for example in ambulances where patients have to be brought into the vehicle via the tail lift as quickly as possible. To prevent the risk of insufficient lubrication and corrosion of the bearing points from occurring in the first place, the designers decided in favour of our plastic plain bearings made from the heavy-duty material iglidur® Q290.

Tail lift from MBB Palfinger on patient transporter

Profile

What was needed: Plain bearings for 12 bearing points in the hoists, suitable for stainless steel bolts
Requirements: lubrication/maintenance-free, resistant to dirt and dust, shocks and impacts, suitable for high loads and edge loads
Industry: Commercial vehicles
Success for the customer: iglidur ® Q290 bearings are manufactured to fit the existing construction precisely and mounted quickly. The costs for lubrication are completely eliminated. The corrosion-resistant, durable material significantly reduces the risk of bearing-related tail lift failures.

Problem

Tail lifts are frequently exposed to moisture, road salt and other corrosive influences. This is a particular challenge for the twelve bearing points on the lifting gear close to the ground. If metal bearings are used here, continuous lubrication is required to prevent damage and failure. Ensuring this is not easy with different drivers per vehicle in haulage companies or even hire cars. There is also the hygiene factor in the case of ambulances or food transporters: Where should the grease syringe for lubrication be stored?

Another problem is edge loads that occur if, for example, the lift is loaded on one side or misused as a snow shovel in winter. This increases the risk of damage to the metal bearing and shaft.

When MBB Palfinger received the order from Great Britain to build tail lifts for ambulances (panel vans with twin wheels on the rear axle and weighing five tonnes), the designers were not satisfied with the previous solution offered by the competition. They decided to switch to stainless steel bolts and looked for compatible plain bearings that would minimise the risk of corrosion and maintenance.

Solution

Together with our bearing experts, MBB Palfinger found the perfect solution with the heavy-duty material iglidur® Q290, which came onto the market at exactly the right time. To ensure that the bearings fitted into the existing mountings of the construction, igus® realised a new dimension from the new material exclusively for the customer.

Like all iglidur® bearing materials, this one is also optimised for friction and wear, corrosion-free and does not require external lubrication. iglidur® Q290 also has very good friction and wear values with stainless steel as a mating partner and was therefore a very good fit for the new bolts from MBB Palfinger. The material is suitable for forces of up to 55 MPa and is particularly resistant to shocks, impacts and edge pressure. Thanks to the flexible plastic material compared to metallic bearings, there is no risk of damage to the bearing and shaft.

In addition to the elimination of lubrication and the long service life, the simple installation is another plus point. MBB Palfinger and the end customer will be just as pleased if the costs for materials, personnel and maintenance can be reduced in this way.

"The freedom from maintenance and corrosion as well as the price difference compared to metallic bearings are not the only advantages we have with plain bearings from igus®. In our industry, calculations are so tight that it is also worth a great deal if entire work steps can be saved during assembly, if bearings can simply be pressed in and no longer need to be lubricated. All of this in combination has convinced us completely of the igus® bearings."