Maintenance-free and UV-resistant bearing technology in sun protection fins

• What was needed: Spherical plain bearings, plain bearings and linear guides at the interfaces between moving and fixed elements of an innovative sun shading slat system
• Requirements: durable, wear-resistant, low weight, UV-resistant
• Industry: Façade/building technology
• Success through collaboration: After a detailed consultation, free sampling, cost-effective production of customized functional parts and fast delivery, the maintenance-free plastic components from igus® ensure that the innovative slat system continues to move reliably.

Arcora's application was honored with the 2021 Bronze Manus® Award.

The French company Arcora has developed a solar shading façade system with a shape memory alloy. When the alloy heats up, the system is able to set a translation carriage in motion. This carriage transmits the force to the rotating solar shading louvres via small connecting rods. This compact system can be used to replace standard motorisations in building façades, which are more susceptible to maintenance and repair, noisier and more susceptible to heat. For the interfaces between the moving (rotation, translation) and fixed elements, the designers were looking for suitable bearings that could withstand dust, the effects of the weather (in a double-skin façade, the temperature can reach up to 70°C in summer) and fluctuations in humidity.

The Arcora designers opted for components from igus®. igubal® spherical plain bearings, with and without flange, plain bearings and thrust washers made of iglide® J and iglide® G material as well as drylin® NS miniature guide rails are used. Thanks to the incorporated solid lubricants, the components are maintenance-free, lightweight, low vibration, quiet and smooth. By dispensing with external lubricants, they do not attract dirt, which would lead to faster wear. They also score highly in terms of UV resistance and corrosion resistance.