Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Self-lube bearings bring smooth motion to vf/f/s machines

A special polymer injection-molded with dry lubricants blended in is at the heart of the self-lubricating bearings used on these machines.

Pw 7864 Oan Matrix Mach

Matrix Packaging Machinery, a manufacturer of vertical form/fill/seal machines for products ranging from green beans to candy to detergent, uses DryLin® linear bearings from igus on its G Series machines. That includes the Matrix Proteus, Mercury, and Ares models.

According to Matrix president Marcel Willden, the G Series machines operate at speeds to 65 cycles/min. They also operate in some pretty abusive environments. That’s what led to the use of DryLin bearings, which Willden describes as a low-cost, maintenance-free alternative to other solutions Matrix has tried, including oil-impregnated bearings or metal ball bearings.

In a typical Matrix G Series bagging machine, there might be 10 igus bearings deployed. They’re used on a round shaft and are designed to minimize friction as the shaft reciprocates back and forth in its linear path. The reason the igus bearings are self-lubricating is because the material that comes in contact with the reciprocating shaft is a special polymer that is injection-molded with dry lubricants blended in.

Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
The road ahead for CPGs in 2025 and beyond—<i>Packaging World</i> editors review key findings from a survey of 88 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG readers.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO