2015 manus: on the lookout for challenging plain bearing applications

February 12, 2015 11:50 am

International competition for plastic plain bearing applications is in its seventh year – application entry phase is now open
 A for automatic telescope, B for boring device, C for cross trainer – right through the whole alphabet, over 400 submissions competed for the 2013 manus award. Motion prevails in all these machines and equipment – and that is precisely where the lubrication-free plain bearings are used. The application entry phase for the 2015 manus continues until 20 February, the competition where special applications with plastic plain bearings are recognised and rewarded. The awards carry prize money worth up to Euro 5,000 and will be presented at the 2015 Hanover Show.
They perform their service millions of times in the truest sense of the word “silent”. But since they are so inconspicuous, they attract little attention to themselves. To counteract this, the manus award was introduced for the first time in 2003, and in the last competition, 437 participants from 33 countries competed. Over the years the manus awards threw up a lot applications showcasing the benefits of self lubricating oil free bearing solutions. The dry-tech range of bearings offers a host of benefits and is ROHS compliant. Now, after twelve years, it will be the seventh time that applications using plastic plain lubrication free bearings will be examined, applications are characterised by technical and economic efficiency and the creativity of the developer. “With this competition we want to support innovation and award bold applications, regardless of the industry,” says Gerhard Baus, authorised officer for plain bearings at igus GmbH. “Among the winners of the 2013 manus award were the developers of a pneumatic rotary piston engine or a friction clutch, as well as the designers of a cross-country skiing exercise machine.” An array of inventions – from a sausage toaster to a foldable car – was presented at the competition.
Apart from the global manus, there will also be a local manus awards for the best plastic bearing application within the country. Entries for the global awards will be automatic entries for the local (India) manus awards.
Deepak Paul, National Sales Manager dry-tech Bearings at igus India says, “The response for the 2013 manus awards was humbling and overwhelming, and we expect many creative and path breaking solutions from India for this edition as well using plastic bearing solutions.”
2013 Local (India) Manus awards winnersGold Indian manus winner (Rs. 100,000/-) Late Harshwardhan Gupta from Neubauplan Automation for file cutting machine with Drylin and many other parts. Silver Indian manus winner (Rs. 75,000/-) Munir Pansare from Tata Motors was awarded for his application of noise reduction in steering column using iglidur JVSM. The Bronze Indian manus winner (Rs. 50,000/-) Manjari Govankop from Mahindra & Mahindra had a tractor application where igubal WGRM ball and socket special part with seal and real VALVE was incorporated.
Participants can apply online with a short text, images and videos of their application. This joint initiative of igus GmbH, Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe (Institute for Composite Materials), the Industrieanzeiger (industry indicator) and the Fachhochschule Köln (University of Applied Sciences Cologne) invites all developers and designers from around the world to participate. After the application phase an independent jury will select the winners. All participants should build at least one prototype of the proposed application.
Award ceremony at the Hanover ShowThe prize-giving ceremony of the manus award will be held at the Hanover Show on the booth of igus GmbH. The winners of the contest will be rewarded with a prize of up to Euro 5,000.