Finbin wins green manus^® with plastic bearings used in solar energy garbage can

To increase the sustainability of the new type of waste bins, the engineers use components that do not require any maintenance. After all, every maintenance operation causes CO₂ emissions – solely through travel to the site. Finding such components was not always easy. An example: the plain bearings for the mechanics of the press and the skirting board.

Classic bearings made of metal were out of the question for the job. Why? Firstly, because there would be a risk of corrosion with high humidity. Secondly, because the lubrication of metal bearings can lead to several problems. It would combine with dust and dirt and, over time, become a paste that reduces the bearing's sliding ability, making the system less smooth and, in the worst case, leading to failure.

To avoid these problems, the engineers set out to find self-lubricating plain bearings made of high-performance plastic.

"We looked extensively at bearings from various manufacturers", Antti Kinnunen, Head of Marketing and Product Management at Finbin, recalls. "Durability and reliability were the main criteria and the reason why we chose plain bearings from igus."