The igus drylin W linear slide system has been presented as the first linear slide to receive EHEDG certification for food technology. (Source: igus SE & Co. KG)

igus has announced that its new drylin W linear slide system, developed for hygiene requirements in food technology, has received EHEDG certification. According to the company, the product is the first linear slide system to hold this certification.

Linear slides used in food packaging, filling and slicing machines can make cleaning processes difficult because of hard-to-reach areas where lubricant, wear particles and product residues can accumulate. The new drylin W system was designed to address this need and can be dismantled and cleaned without tools.

The system consists of two stainless steel shafts and a monolithic polymer sliding carriage to which machine equipment can be attached. When complete cleaning is required, the carriage can be removed directly from the rail without having to slide it off the end of the rail. This allows the carriage to be cleaned separately while the rail is cleaned in place on the system.

According to igus, the surface roughness of the electropolished round shafts is below 0.8 micrometres. This design aims to limit the adhesion of product residues and microorganisms to the surface. The transitions at the shaft supports and connection points have also been designed with radii of at least three millimetres in line with EHEDG hygienic design principles.

An FDA-certified silicone seal is used where the rail contacts the base. This is intended to prevent the accumulation of dirt or microorganisms between the rail and the mounting surface.

The blue iglidur A160 high-performance polymer used in the slide carriage was stated to be PTFE-free and tested for PFAS. Thanks to the solid lubricants in the material, the system can run dry without additional lubrication. This feature stands out as an important design element aimed at reducing maintenance requirements and the risk of unplanned downtime, particularly in food processing plants with frequent and intensive washdowns.

EHEDG certification aims to verify that an equipment design is suitable for effective, complete and safe cleaning. The certification is therefore a key reference for equipment selection in food production lines that require high process and product safety.

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