Application areas for our components in railway technology

The control elements of trains and trams also benefit from the motion plastic specification. For high wear resistance, bearing points, e.g. in control panels, are equipped with iglidur® G plain bearings. Adjustable foot platforms are equipped with dryspin® spindle and enable easy adjustment.

iglidur® plain bearings and drylin® linear technology ensure clean adjustment, low coefficient of friction and low-noise movements without additional lubricants. This is due to the incorporated dry lubricants contained in the igus® materials. If the components must comply with DIN 45545, iglidur® RW370 can be used.

Since iglidur® bearings consist of non-conductive high-performance polymers, they can be used as insulating components in bearing points on pantographs. Since the plain bearings contain solid lubricants, they require no additional lubricants and are therefore maintenance-free. The iglidur® materials G, H370, J, W300, X and Z are frequently installed in pantographs. Each of these materials has certain advantages, such as low moisture absorption or resistance at particularly low or high temperatures.

Railway couplings benefit from the high reliability of the iglidur® plain bearings and thrust discs. In Scharfenberg couplings, for example, they are used on the main pin so that the hook disc can rotate during coupling. the plain bearings require no additional lubricants and are therefore maintenance-free.

iglidur® plain bearings are installed in train and tram brakes because they enable perfect function and are corrosion-free in the event of impacts and dirt. Use at particularly low or high application temperatures between -100 °C and 250 °C is made possible by special materials that have been specially developed for extreme temperatures

A continuous function of the switch device must be guaranteed despite weather and vibrations. iglidur® plain bearings are ideally suited for this application. All iglidur® materials contain incorporated solid lubricants that make additional lubrication and maintenance superfluous.

Disconnectors and earthing switches can be found along the railway line and in the railway itself. Whether for medium or high voltage - safe mechanical disconnection and connection must be guaranteed in the switches at all times. To make this possible even under demanding weather conditions, drylin® drive systems and threaded spindles are used.

Railway points are used to reduce interruptions to railway journeys. They are used for the seamless transition of railway vehicles from one track to another. 
The use of our wear-resistant iglidur® i3 gear contributes to a high service life of the application.

Whether fresh air from the air conditioning system or the cooling of important electronics - a constant supply of air must be guaranteed and regulated in express trains and trams. Pressure protection devices and ventilation flaps can be moved smoothly with the help of various igus® products.

Strong protection against stone chipping is required under the vehicle body. In addition, the cables must be guided safely so that the batteries can be pulled out easily during maintenance. This is why robust energy chains and cables are often used on the battery boxes of trains. Both components are also available as readychain®.

chainflex® cable, dryspin® lead screw technology and energy supply are used to make boarding systems maintenance-free and, above all, durable. Defective doors can put passengers in danger in emergency situations and are an obstacle to swift passenger transfers in everyday life.

The vehicle fleet requires regular maintenance. Therefore, the lifting platforms and the associated cable and energy supply are also under constant load. If the cables are not guided safely, this accelerates wear and can lead to breakdowns.

Transfer cars connect tracks in factory halls and in the open air in order to move wagons, control cars and locomotives. While the transfer table is in motion, a safe power supply must be guaranteed at all times, e.g. with signalling lamps or a control panel. Chainflex® cables are used to ensure that the transfer table continues to function despite frequent use.

In washing systems for regional and high-speed trains, igus® components have to show what they can do. In addition to permanent stress, there is also contact with water and cleaning agents. This is no problem for the igus® components. iglidur® bearings are available in 50 different high-performance polymers.

igus® offers a wide range of solutions for shunting locomotives. From drylin® drive technology and PRT rotary table bearings to bar stock plate and tribotape®. All of these components contain high-performance polymers and are optimised for low wear and low friction to guarantee a long service life.

Sophisticated machines are needed to build new railway lines or tramways. Bearings in track construction machines are exposed to high mechanical forces, vibration, dust and weathering. Thanks to the use of iglidur® plain bearings, all these factors no longer represent a load. For high mechanical forces such as edge loads or impacts, there are specially developed iglidur® materials that can withstand static loads up to 200 MPa and dynamic loads up to 140 MPa.

igus® components are not only used in trains and trams. They are also used in road-rail vehicles, such as snow clearing and maintenance vehicles. The bogie of these vehicles can be lowered by means of hydraulic cylinders. Plain bearings and piston rings made of iglidur® materials are used in the cylinders. They are characterised by their enormous service life and are also maintenance-free.