Sports, fitness & rehab

Tech up & cost down
motion plastics
for sports equipment

Currently, more than ten million members are working out in German gyms, and the trend is rising. Always in focus: ergonomic and smooth movements. To adjust sitting position, weights and inclination of the devices, we recommend bearings and linear systems by igus. They are comfortable to handle and work almost silently. No less important: igus products operate completely without external lubricant. After all, no gym member wants to get dirty hands or oil marks on their stylish gym outfit. In any case, for professional use exercise machines have to withstand continuous operation on a daily basis, whether they are adjusted manually or electronically at the push of a button.

Advantages of igus solutions:

Cost-effective
Save installation space and weight
Maintenance-free for 24/7 use
Fast delivery
Easy assembly
Complete system or individual components from batch size 1
Service life calculation
Low noise and low vibration

Linear housing for narrow constructions

drylin W slim

Pre-loaded lead screw nuts with continuous minimal axial clearance

Telescopic rail for high temperatures

drylin NT-35-HT

See all the 2022 news? You can find the overview here.

Selected motion plastics for sports equipment

drylin linear technology

Wear-resistant
Quiet operation
Configurable online

Go to the drylin online shop

iglidur plain bearings

Maintenance-free dry operation
Low coefficient of friction
Absorb vibration

Go to the iglidur online shop

igubal spherical bearings

Compensation for misalignment
Corrosion-free, easy to clean
High load capacity

Go to the igubal online shop

Free samples

See for yourself how to improve technology and reduce costs in sports equipment. Either order our free sample boxes for plain bearing and linear technology or submit a request for a part in your desired shape, quantity or material.

Order plain bearing sample box now

Order linear technology sample box now

Application examples of the drylin and iglidur product range

Example leg extender and multigym

The most popular exercise machines for weight training include leg extender and biceps or butterfly on the multigym. The drylin W linear guide allows for simple and almost silent adjustment of the height of the pad for leg training. Double profiles and carriages can be mounted quickly and because of the lubrication-free operation, absolutely no maintenance is required. For all bearing points on the multigym, iglidur G and M250 plain bearings are suitable. They are recommended for every joint in the motion sequence. No matter where they are installed, they are corrosion-resistant, never squeak and last a lifetime.

Leg extender

Biceps on the multigym

Butterfly on the multigym

Example rowing machine

If you would like to work on your cardio-vascular system, the rowing machine is perfect for you. Both rotating and pivoting joints can be adjusted ideally with iglidur bearings – silent and without maintenance. The drylin® W linear guide systems that are installed in rowing machines are completely lubrication-free and can therefore be used in open applications. Their double-shaft aluminium profile offers high torsion resistance at a low weight. Linear bearings ensure frictionless, quiet sliding of the seat.

Rowing handle

Seat rail

Cantilever arms

Example home exercise machine and ergometer

The ideal sitting position also plays a crucial role with cardio machines such as home trainers or ergometers – only then can you avoid straining the knee joint, for example. Whether by hand or via chip card control, seat distances and height adjustments of grips and displays are made in seconds and tailored to your specific need. With its profiles and complete carriages or single linear bearings, the drylin® W linear guide offers the ideal system for each construction and every design. Especially for electrical adjustment, igus® energy chains and cables ensure fail-safe operation in every installation space, even with the smallest bending radii.

Rowing machine seat adjustment

Ergometer seat adjustment

Cross trainer display adjustments

Example cardio equipment

With bearings and linear systems from igus, the professional models are equipped with the mechanical requirements to withstand these loads in the long term. The robust machine elements provide security and reliability for many years without failure. After all, there is nothing more annoying for the operators and members of a gym than faulty machines in the training area. Whether linear guides or plain bearings - igus offers all components of traditional drive technology as a lubrication-free version. They are based on technical polymers that do not require lubrication. The type of movement, which is simpler compared to circulating steel balls, reduces noise and weight while lowering costs by 40%.

Seat adjustment and pedal

Arm lever

Step

Success stories

Surf Evolution training equipment and dry-tech products

Maintenance-free bearing technology in surf training equipment

The developers of Surf Evolution, a device for training surfing movements, were looking for better bearing technology. In the first version, they had used metallic bearings. But it soon turned out that the components cost too much and maintaining the many bearing points took too long. The solution was dry-operating iglidur bushings, dryspin lead screws, and drylin W linear guides. They keep maintenance to a minimum and reduce costs by 70%.

Find out more about this application

Skiing trail in your own four walls

This training device was awarded the golden manus 2013, and brings the cross-country ski trail into your living room. The user moves the sticks as in real cross-country skiing and thus achieves an optimal training effect for the entire body.

Home exercise machine

Extremely high reliability and load capacity in running equipment

This application primarily secures people with a walking disability on treadmills during rehabilitation. iglidur plain bearings ensure a long service life and highest load capacity.

Space-saving and maintenance-free

18 people are working out, using one exercise machine at the same time – with the Body-Spider this is no longer wishful thinking. Approx. 100 polymer bearings from igus ensure the necessary compactness and maintenance-free operation.

Smooth sliding without lubrication

With this leg press, the muscles are strengthened in the right way. Smooth sliding with drylin linear technology promises optimal training success. In addition, corrosion-free and lubrication-free components allow for outdoor use.

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Cost-effective, quiet, and lubrication-free

With the drylin W modular kit, A & D Sports also found a way to equip its high-quality exercise equipment with cost-effective and at the same time lubrication-free components.

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igubal® spherical bearings support comfortable sitting

Extremely robust under continuous load

With this application, users work on their body tension and back muscles. igubal spherical bearings allow for comfortable sitting and withstand the permanent strain.

Durable, reliable, and cost-effective

This application emphasises the advantages of switching from metal bearings to polymer solutions. With this cross trainer, igubal spherical bearings ensure a quiet operation and minimal maintenance.