October 13, 2003: manus plastic bearing design contest announced
November 26, 2003: manus receives overwhelming response
April 23, 2004: manus winners announced

News Release

For more information contact:
Courtney Toomey
manus
(401) 438-2200
ctoomey@igus.com

manus plastic bearing design contest

Submissions demonstrating creative and challenging applications resulting in technical advancements and reduction in costs can win up to $5,000

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – October 13, 2003 – The manus plastic bearing design contest begins October 20, 2003. Manus represents courage and initiative to tread new paths in the field of bearing technology. Design engineers using plastic bearings in creative and challenging ways are urged to submit an application.

The contest is designed to promote new and original ways of implementing plastic bearings as well as to promote awareness of the benefits of plastic bearings to a wider audience of potential users. Manus will also showcase the most challenging applications, honoring those with the courage and tenacity to implement plastic bearings.

Applications may be submitted until January 31, 2004. Three cash prizes, $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, will be awarded along with a gold, silver or bronze manus statue and a certificate of recognition. Winners will be announced at the National Design Engineering Show (NDES) held in Chicago, Ill., February 23-26, 2004.

The manus panel of judges includes Dr. Donna Meyer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and applied materials, at the University of Rhode Island, David Roylance, associate professor of materials engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Paul E. Teague, national editor for Design News, and Tom Miller, bearings business unit manager for igus Inc, a leading developer of plastic bearings. The judges will decide which applications demonstrate the most creativity, technical advancement and economic impact.

To enter, participants must submit an application, a short description of how they are using plastic bearings, which bearing they are using and pictures or a design of the product. Participants should also detail what benefits, such as technical advancements, cost savings or increased life span, resulted from using plastic bearings. For further information on the contest or to request an application, please visit www.manus.igus.com or call (888) 533-0639 ext. 147.

The name manus, Latin for hand, symbolizes courage and initiative in advancing bearing technology. The fingers symbolize shafts, the ring represents a bearing. Any organization optimizing plastic plain bearings in new or existing applications may enter. Bearings must be all-plastic or plastic compound. Plastic-coated bearings will not be considered.

igus is a registered trademark of igus Inc. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their repective companies.

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News Release

For more information contact:

Courtney Toomey
manus
(401) 438-2200
ctoomey@igus.com

manus: the first North American plastic bearing design contest receives overwhelming initial response

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – November 26, 2003 – manus: the first North American plastic bearing design contest began October 20th and the initial response reveals an industry excited and eager to participate. The contest is designed to promote awareness of the benefits of plastic bearings to a wider audience of potential users and to highlight new and original ways of implementing plastic bearings. Manus will showcase the most challenging applications, honoring those with the courage and tenacity to implement plastic bearings.

Organizations in an array of industries from sporting equipment to welding to furniture manufacturing have submitted compelling and ingenious plastic bearing applications. Design engineers using plastic bearings are urged to submit an application. The application must be in production or at least a working prototype built to prove its feasibility.

“The response has been fantastic,” said Tom Miller, bearing business unit manager for igus Inc. and a manus judge. “We couldn’t have asked for a better reaction. Customers are enthusiastic, excited to participate and more than willing to tell their story and share with the world the benefits of using a plastic bearing. We’ve received applications from organizations who created their own bearings and others who have uncovered whole new applications we never even dreamed of. The choice will be a difficult one.”

The manus panel of judges is comprised of experts in science and engineering, including David Roylance, associate professor of materials engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Donna Meyer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and applied materials at the University of Rhode Island, Paul E. Teague, national editor for Design News magazine, and Tom Miller of igus Inc., a leading developer of plastic bearings.

Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2004. Three cash prizes, $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, will be awarded along with a gold, silver or bronze manus statue and a certificate of recognition. Winners will be announced during a press conference at the National Design Engineering Show (NDES) held in Chicago, Ill., February 23, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. in room S101B. Manus represents courage and initiative to tread new paths in the field of bearing technology. For further information on the contest or to request an application, please visit www.manus.igus.com or call (888) 533-0639 ext. 147.

igus is a registered trademark of igus Inc. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.

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News Release

For more information contact:
Courtney Toomey
manus
(401) 438-2200
ctoomey@igus.com

manus: The First North American Plastic Bearing Design Contest winners announced

Top applications range from entertainment to agriculture to medical instrumentation

CHICAGO, ILL. – February 23, 2004 – The results are in and the winners of manus: The First North American Plastic Bearing Design Contest were revealed today at the National Design Engineering Show (NDES) during National Manufacturing Week. Winning applications were from a variety of industries, including entertainment, agriculture and medicine. They were chosen by a panel of experts in science and engineering based on creativity, technical advancement and economic impact. Manus represents courage and initiative to tread new paths in the field of bearing technology.

First place was awarded to Six Flags Theme Parks in Valencia, Calif. for its use of the igus® iglide® Z plastic bearing on the new “X” roller coaster, the world’s first fourth dimensional coaster. Six Flags needed a bearing that was maintenance-free and lubrication-free because after installation, accessing the component would be difficult. It also needed to be highly flexible in order to provide the high level of vibration dampening essential for optimal performance.

Six Flags corporate engineer Jeff Hudgins wrote, “After six months of continuous operation during the height of the season, the iglide Z bearing was inspected and the results were amazing. There was virtually no noticeable wear on bearing or shaft. Maintenance has been reduced by 95 percent and annual cost of replacement parts has been reduced by at least 54 percent.”

Second place winner Harriston Industries from Minto, N.D., discovered iglide J plastic bearings for the pick arm of its automatic potato planter when the oil-impregnated bronze bearings it used previously continually experienced high wear and premature failure due to very abrasive conditions. High salt content in the air was also causing corrosion and seizure. Using iglide J in place of bronze has increased the lifespan by 500-600 percent at a cost 70-80 percent lower.

“After 2 years of use, I have yet to find a bearing comparable to it,” said Dave Paschke, R&D specialist for Harriston Industries.

Third place went to Nova Biomedical from Waltham, Mass. for its cutting-edge immuno-assay biotechnical instrument. The company chose to use DryLin® R bearings on its two-axis tray and both DryLin R and DryLin N linear slides on its three-axis probe. Repetitive motion, saltwater contamination, high temperatures and the crucial need for accurate positioning prompted Nova to turn to igus plastic bearings. The bearings also needed to be lubrication-free so as not to contaminate the fluids involved, and maintenance-free because the end user would be unable to perform any regular upkeep.

“Igus products were initially considered primarily for the low-friction and lubrication-free operation, but other advantages soon became evident,” said Ed Mulhern, mechanical engineer for
Nova Biomedical.

Jonathan Scott, also mechanical engineer for Nova Biomedical added, “The low cost and ease of implementation were two other important factors in the ultimate selection of igus plastic bearings.”

The manus panel of judges was comprised of experts in science and engineering, including Dr. Donna Meyer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and applied materials, University of Rhode Island, David Roylance, associate professor of materials engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rick DeMeis, senior editor for Design News, and Tom Miller, bearings business unit manager for igus Inc., a leading developer of plastic bearings.

Dr. Meyer observed, “There were so many outstanding applications entered, it was a difficult task to choose only three. It’s apparent that plastic bearings are becoming a standard choice among design engineers in any industry and at every level, from the multi-million dollar corporation to the non-profit sector, student level and right down to the backyard inventor. Every application we reviewed is to be applauded for its ingenuity.”

The contest was designed to promote new and original ways of implementing plastic bearings as well as to promote awareness of the benefits of plastic bearings to a wider audience of potential users. The most challenging applications will be showcased at the igus booth during NDES, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., February 23-26, 2004, booth #2423. The top three entries were announced today during a press conference at NDES at 2:00 p.m. in room S101B.

Winners received one of three cash prizes, $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, along with a gold, silver or bronze manus statue and a certificate of recognition. Any organization optimizing plastic bearings in new or existing applications were eligible. Bearings had to be all-plastic or plastic compound. Plastic-coated bearings were not considered.

To enter, participants submitted an application, a short description of how they are using plastic bearings, which bearing they are using and pictures or a design of the product. They were also encouraged to detail what benefits, such as technical advancements, cost savings or increased life span, resulted from using plastic bearings. For further information on the contest or to request an interview, please call (888) 533-0639 ext. 147. More information can also be found at www.manus.igus.com.

igus, iglide and DryLin are registered trademarks of igus Inc. SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme Parks Inc.®, ™ and © 2004. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.