Hygienic Industrial Parts for Medical and Lab Equipment

Bearings made from polymers that can withstand extreme environments—such as corrosion, chemicals, dirt and debris, and high or low temperatures—are ideal for use with common cleaning agents and sterilization procedures. Many igus® materials, including iglide® J, X, and A160, are designed for these demanding conditions. These bearings have been tested and proven to resist Ecolab cleaning agents, ensuring reliable and safe performance in laboratory or hospital settings. If FDA compliance is required, we recommend iglide® A160, which is also highly corrosion-resistant.

There are a few ways to reduce backlash in lead screw systems, including the use of preloaded nuts. These nuts use O-rings as spring elements to apply a constant load, which minimizes backlash but can increase wear due to the added preload. Another option is a zero-clearance nut, which consists of two nut halves connected by a torsion spring that gently forces them in opposite directions to eliminate clearance. Unlike preloaded nuts, zero-clearance nuts do not increase wear or the torque required to drive the system.

You can reduce noise and vibration in lab automation equipment by incorporating polymer components into your design, particularly in gear trains, gearboxes, and ball bearings. igus® drygear® gears and gearboxes offer an effective alternative to metal components by naturally dampening vibration, resulting in quieter operation. They also require no additional lubrication, helping keep medical environments clean and free of contaminants.

When designing medical lab equipment, it's important to consider the industry-recognized certifications required for safe and compliant operation. Many igus® polymers already meet RoHS, REACH, and ISO standards, and several materials and products are also CE- and FDA-compliant. Additionally, igus® offers ISO Class 1 cleanroom-ready cable management systems and ISO Class 4 slewing ring bearing solutions.

Cable carriers used in cleanroom environments must be highly abrasion-resistant to prevent particle release that could contaminate the space. Equipment in these settings often requires fast, short movements, low noise, and compact designs. igus® offers a range of cleanroom cable management solutions certified up to ISO Class 1, the highest standard for air purity.

Hygienic energy chains must be wear-resistant to prevent particle contamination and designed without gaps where residue can accumulate and allow germs to grow. They also need to be easy to clean and disinfect. To meet these requirements, igus® developed the TH3 series e-chain®. TH3 chains are resistant to cleaning agents and chemicals, feature an open design with rounded edges to prevent residue buildup, and are made from an FDA-compliant blue material.

All igus® cables have a defined bend-radius factor based on their construction and materials. This factor, shown as “x,” is multiplied by the cable’s outer diameter to determine the required minimum bend radius. In addition, igus® chainflex® cables are thoroughly tested and guaranteed for long service life. You can use the lifetime calculation tool to estimate how long a specific part number will last based on your application parameters.

igus offers many different cable options for different price points and different industry solutions. For many medical and cleanroom applications, we can offer CFCLEAN cables that are 39% thinner (reduction in outer diameter) and 43% lighter. This is ideal for small, tight spaces and they work cohesively inside the igus e-skin flat cable management system. 

Additionally, Igus offers 58 series of standard cables that offer an ISO Class 1 rating and 11 series that offer an ISO Class 2 rating per DIN EN ISO Standard 14644-1, so we have already had third party testing completed on the class rating based on particulates generated.