It is all too easy for the layman to idealise farming as something peaceful and bucolic that takes place in picture perfect rural landscapes. The reality, of course, is very different.
Farming is a constant struggle against nature, the elements and untold other factors. So much so, in fact, that it can sometimes feel almost miraculous that it is able to feed us at all.
In particular, heavy duty farm equipment faces a huge and diverse range of challenges, whether it be ground that’s sodden, rocky or so dry that penetrating it at all is a struggle.
And it’s this type of equipment that is manufactured in North Yorkshire by Sumo UK, which produces a wide range of machinery including cultivators, seed drills, and subsoilers designed to prepare soil, plant seeds, and manage crops. Producing equipment that often weighs upwards of ten tonnes, Sumo requires technical solutions that can take high loads frequently and with ease.
Also read: The rise of recycled bearings
Enter igus
Given the varied and challenging conditions in which they are required to work, the nature of these loads can be pretty extreme, while wear and tear is a given. These pressures inevitably end up making themselves felt on the machinery’s bearings and it is here that igus comes in.
A long-standing customer of igus, Sumo was first introduced to iglidur plain bearings in 2017 and they have been installed in some of the heaviest equipment with no complaints. However, Sumo UK wanted to go a step further and assess how igutex compares to other options in high load applications where greased metal bearings are usually fitted. No stone was left unturned as factors such as load, wear resistance, serviceability and cost were all incorporated into the final decision: increase the number of igutex products used on Sumo UK Ltd products.
The reason for this is made explicit by Tim Lord, Sumo UK’s engineering manager, who says: “igus bearings are simply the best in the field – I can’t emphasise that nearly enough. That’s why we’re swapping out all of our Oilite [powdered brass bonded with resin] and brass bearings and replacing them.”
He continues while holding up an igus bush: “I am 100% convinced as an engineer that these are the future.”
So what led to this enthusiastic conversion?
A strong relationship has formed between igus® and Sumo UK Ltd over the years as both companies prioritise quality and reliability. The testing carried out on all igus® products is thorough. With around fifteen thousand tests carried out a year, all products undergo rigorous testing, with the added transparency of allowing customers to see the products for themselves before they decide to invest. In summary, igus uses plastic technology to solve engineering problems in the toughest environments, something clearly achieved with the tilling equipment at Sumo UK.
Lord had come to notice that, when taking machines apart for refurbishment, the igus bushes being used looked as good as new, and that this positive experience drove a decision to explore other products and specifically see how the igutex bearings fared in high-load applications typically dominated by greased metal bearings.
As a result of the assessments carried out by Sumo UK Ltd, conclusions were made that for a majority of applications, igutex TX1 and TX3 would be the best components. The bearings are primarily used in the articulation geometry on folding hinge points, running on mild steel connection pins. The igutex TX1 and TX3 materials both have excellent running characteristics in oscillating motion, exactly what is needed in their applications.
igutex® bearings are a composite material engineered with fibres and resins which are treated with high temperatures and pressures to create an exceptionally hard-wearing material. Not only can this range accommodate exceptional loads, but it also has a very wide window of operating temperatures ranging from -60 degrees up to +120 degrees. Combined, these qualities allow igutex bearings to be used in a variety of industrial environments at reasonable prices, reducing cost for customers as well as saving maintenance and lubrication requirements.
This is particularly valuable, since Sumo is a global exporter, with a particular focus on the Australian market. Equipment for Australia has different requirements than that for the European market.
Sumo’s MD Steve Ridley pointed to the challenges faced by customers in Perth, Australia: “They’re trying to cultivate ground that's had no rain for four months. They're trying to go as deep as they can to alleviate compaction. They're driving all day before they make a headland turn. The heat of the ambient temperature, the heat of wearing metal in the ground is on a scale that you'd never ever see in Europe.”
Another key advantage
Here, as well as being hard-wearing, igus bearings have another key advantage – the fact that they’re lubrication free, meaning there’s no need for grease and less need for maintenance in the Australian context. Says Ridley: “There’s a massive advantage with these because the driver’s not going to get out halfway through the day with a grease gun and lubricate bearings and points. The reduced maintenance is a big plus for the end user.”
Tim Lord concurs, saying: “We are constantly looking for wins on material and component type and these bearings give us a big one.”
The switch to igutex polymer bearings has clearly delivered fantastic results for Sumo UK, allowing it to produce longer lasting, durable machinery and saving significant amounts of money on the cost of standard metal bearings that require lubrication.
