EU Regulation 2024/3190 requires manufacturers of machinery for the food industry to reassess the design and materials used in components that come into contact with food. From July 2026, such parts in new machines placed on the market will no longer be allowed to contain bisphenol A, a substance recognised as an endocrine disruptor. For existing product lines, the transition period is due to end in January 2028. This means that alternatives must be found for materials currently used in plain bearings, guides and other working components. In response to these requirements, igus presented the new iglidur A351 material for use in food processing machinery at Hannover Messe 2026. According to the company, the solution enables a switch to a bisphenol-free material without technical losses and without the need for design changes.
The iglidur A351 material can be used, among other things, to produce plain bearings for conveyors, gears for packaging machines, and components with direct food contact, such as guides and washers in filling and packaging systems. The company offers it as a granulate for injection moulding, a semi-finished product for CNC machining, and a filament for 3D printing. Lars Butenschön, head of the iglidur plain bearing division at igus, emphasises:
