Plastic Bearings for the Boating Industry

Leading boatlift manufacturer uses polymer plain bearings

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – March 18, 2008 – igus® Inc. today announced that Quality Boat Lifts uses iglide® plastic, plain bearings on its lifts used by both residential and commercial marinas and private owners to remove boats from the water.

Quality Boats, based out of Fort Myers, Fla., offers seven different, maintenance-free boatlift devices such as the ALUM-A-VATOR, which meets 40-year industry standards, and its rugged, industrial grade Superlift.  Both of these lifts use iglide P in the direct cable-winding drive shaft, which performs the up-and-down motion to fully raise boats out of the water.

Each lift uses between 10 and 20 iglide bearings.  Unlike metal and bronze bushings, igus bearings do not corrode due to their high-performance polymer construction, making them an ideal choice for this underwater application.  Quality Boats specifically chose iglide P for its low moisture absorption, low wear rates and high load capacity.  The bearing handles loads encountered by the ALUM-A-VATOR and Speedlift—which range from 4,500 up to 66,000 pounds—with ease.  iglide P is also unaffected by the radial loads of 1,000 pounds a piece put on them during the operation of the boatlifts.

Another big plus for Quality Boats was the elimination of maintenance for its customers as a result of using iglide P.  The company had been employing a bearing block in its lifts, which required regular greasing.  This task was very difficult for customers and often unsafe, as the maintenance routine required boaters to climb on top of the unit.  The grease also contaminated the water and was not an environmentally friendly solution.  Lubrication-free iglide bearings eliminated these problems.

‘‘There were a number of challenges to deal with while searching for a bearing: salt water, mineral deposits, gunk—pretty much anything that is floating in the water can get into the lift and affect the components,’‘ said Riku Ylipelkonen, chief engineer for Quality Boats.  ‘‘iglide bearings withstand all these elements and also deliver low wear.  Our lift design, combined with the impressive performance of iglide, enables us to offer the only entirely maintenance-free boatlifts in the industry.’‘

igus’ entire suite of iglide plastic bearings are a convenient, cost-effective alternative to bronze, metal-backed and custom injection-molded bearings.  They are resistant to dirt, dust chemicals and UV rays.  With more than 8,000 bearing styles and sizes from stock, igus offers a bearing solution for every application.  To speak with a design technician, call (888) 803-1895.  To read other customer success stories featuring iglide, visit www.igus.com/applicationcorner.

About igus

igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems.  With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide.  Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings.  For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.

igus, iglide, Energy Chain System, Chainflex, DryLin and igubal are registered trademarks of igus Inc.

For general inquiries:
igus Inc.
PO Box 14349
East Providence, RI 02914

Toll free: 1-800-521-2747
Tel: (401) 438-2200
Fax: (401) 438-7270

e-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.igus.com