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August 18, 2005

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Students Achieve Award-Winning Finish With Igus Plastics Bearings

Seattle, WA, USA--(Jobwerx News)--Donated products to students for Solar Spectacular are designed to foster the mechanical design and engineering ideas of plastics components.

Students from Desert Pointe Academy in Peoria, Arizona used igus bearing products on their 2005 boat entry into the SRP Solar Spectacular Challenge. The products were donated to the students through igus' Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, designed to foster the mechanical design and engineering ideas of students and to educate them on the merits of plastic components.

The students used iglide plastic bearings and iglide spherical bearings to eliminate excessive wear, heat build-up and corrosion.

Igus® Inc., the leading developer of Energy Chain Systems®, Chainflex® cables and iglide® plastic bearings, is proud to announce the accomplishments of Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program participants from Desert Pointe Academy. Students from the small charter high school in Peoria, Arizona propelled their way to a sixth place finish at the 2005 SRP (Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District) sponsored Solar Spectacular using iglide plastic bearings and igubal® spherical bearings. The team answered the Solar Spectacular challenge and designed a boat entirely powered by electrical energy from the sun, racing the homemade vehicle in a number of different events.

The competition, designed to teach participants the importance of preserving and protecting Arizona's natural resources, takes place annually on Tempe Town Lake, in Tempe Ariz. For the 2005 contest, Desert Pointe Academy was one of 15 qualifying high schools to compete in the event.

The students first used iglide bearings in the boat they built for the 2004 Solar Spectacular. They replaced steel and bronze bearings with iglide plastic bearings and igubal spherical bearings. By using iglide and igubal, the students eliminated problems of excessive wear, heat build-up and corrosion.

Specifically, the team employed iglide T500 bearings to maintain the propeller shaft and to provide good radial support for rudder movement. The team also used iglide M250 bearings and two igubal flange-mounted bearings on the internal end of the propeller to keep the boat's shaft centered - a vital part of preventing water from leaking around the shaft as it penetrates the bottom of the boat hull. During the 2005 event, Desert Pointe reused the same electrical drive train, putting the iglide bearings to a second test.

"We have been using free samples from igus for years and have always been impressed with the performance delivered by the company's bearings," said Craigg Woodman, Desert Pointe faculty advisor. "The students and I were excited to hear about the creation of the Y.E.S. Program because now it's even easier for us to maintain iglide and igubal as a permanent solution to our bearing needs."

Desert Pointe Academy has also decided to use igubal and Chainflex continuous-flex cables on its newest creation. During the 2005-06 school year, the students will be responsible for constructing a device that operates completely emission-free, while at the same time, providing a measurable benefit to the school. The students have decided to create a train that will be responsible for moving heavy supplies, such as tables and athletic equipment, around school grounds.

Iglide bearings are long-lasting, cost-effective alternatives to bronze, metal-backed and custom injected-molded bearings. Igubal spherical bearings are a complete system of self-aligning bearing products; spherical, pillow block and rod end bearings. All igus bearing products are lubrication-free, oil-free and maintenance-free.

Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide® self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings.

Images courtesy of Igus.

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