Maintenance-free plastic bearing for energy-saving and durable pool covers from H2 Wellness

What was needed: Durable and trouble-free retractable pool covers

Requirements: Lubrication- and maintenance-free bearing technology that is also insensitive to heat, cold, dust and moisture

Industry: Furniture construction

Success for the customer: The entire mechanics of the RH 2.1 and RS 2.1 pool covers were solved with igus bearing technology. The components have a long service life in outdoor use and are resistant to dirt, heat and corrosion. In addition, the application is economical and user-friendly thanks to the durability and maintenance-free nature of the covers.

H2 Wellness GmbH from Switzerland is a leading provider of luxury wellness solutions and energy-efficient pool designs. In addition to high-quality pool construction, the company's service portfolio also includes customised covers for swim spas and whirlpools.

The development of the RH 2.1 automatic whirlpool cover and the RS 2.1 sliding cover for ground-level pools presented the manufacturer with a particular challenge: As the covers are used outdoors, all mechanical components must be able to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions. Heat and cold, dust and dirt as well as moisture and wetness affect the entire system, including the mechanics for covering the pools.

H2 Wellness therefore looked for maintenance-free and durable bearing components, energy chains and cables. It was also important to avoid the use of lubricants in order to minimise maintenance costs. A low-wear and durable solution was sought for the lifting and rolling movement of the covers – for flawless utilisation and to ensure maximum convenience for the end user.

In order to make the mechanics of the RH 2.1 automatic whirlpool cover durable and trouble-free, completely lubrication- and maintenance-free iglidur plastic bearings and thrust washers are used. Thanks to extremely low coefficients of friction in dry operation and the very low stick-slip tendency, the bearings work reliably in outdoor use. Specifically, iglidur G plain bearings were used for the bushings, which are considered a universal solution for a wide range of applications. In places with particularly high loads, however, plain bearings made of the material iglidur Z are used.

For the lifting movement of the cover, the customer decided in favour of the lubrication-free linear plain bearings drylin R. And to support the drive shaft of the cover, an igubal flange-mounted bearing with high rigidity and lightweight was installed.

In addition to the mechanical components, the RS 2.1 sliding cover, another pool cover from H2 Wellness, also features an E2 energy supply system. The compact energy chain moves the flexible chainflex cables that lead to the sensors and the lifting motors.

Thanks to the motion plastics used and the harmonised combination of materials, a mechanical solution was found together with H2 Wellness that not only withstands adverse environments in the long term, but is also economical and user-friendly.