Record Participation in the 2025 manus Award Competition for Plastic Bearings

by · March 4, 2025

Record 613 Entries Compete for the 2025 manus Award

Record: 613 applications were submitted for this year’s manus award. They all rely on the lubrication-free plastic bearings from igus and want to win the golden manus. (Source: igus GmbH)

04 MARCH 2025 – The 2025 manus Award, an international competition recognizing innovative applications of polymer plain bearings, has achieved a record number of entries. A total of 613 submissions from 38 countries were received, reflecting a nearly 28% increase compared to 2023. The competition, organized by igus in collaboration with industry partners, highlights the economic, environmental, and technical advantages of lubrication-free plastic bearings in various industrial applications.

Among the submitted projects are a self-balancing, electric-powered wheelchair that extends its range through the use of lightweight polymer bearings, a maintenance-free electric pergola utilizing lubrication-free bearings to withstand all weather conditions, and a durable microscope designed for eye surgery in developing countries. These projects, and hundreds of others, showcase how high-performance polymer bearings can replace traditional metal components to improve efficiency, sustainability, and reliability.

Growth in High-Performance Plastics Adoption

The significant increase in participation underscores the growing global interest in high-performance plastics as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional metal bearings.

“This record number of entries demonstrates the increasing importance of polymer bearings in modern engineering,” said Tobias Vogel, CEO of Plain Bearings and Linear Technology at igus. “The transition from metal to polymer bearings is not only reducing costs but also improving sustainability by eliminating the need for external lubricants and reducing maintenance requirements.”

For example, an electric pergola manufacturer reported that switching to polymer bearings with integrated solid lubricants eliminated the need for additional grease, resulting in savings of €25,000 ($26,183) in lubricant costs and 20,000 maintenance hours over the product’s warranty period.

The manus jury met on February 19 to review the best submissions and select the winners of this year’s manus award. Pictured from left to right: Martina Birk, Head of Sustainability at Krones AG; Prof. Dr. Peter Krug from TH Köln; Alexander Gölz, Editor in Chief of the Industrieanzeiger; Dr. David Welling, CEO of Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie GmbH; and Tobias Vogel, CEO of Plain Bearings and Linear Technology at igus. Also part of the jury, but not pictured, was Paul J. Heney, Editor in Chief at WTWH Media. (Source: igus GmbH)

Selection of Winners and Award Ceremony

A panel of industry experts convened on February 19, 2025, to evaluate the entries. The jury, consisting of representatives from Deutsche Messe, Werkzeugbau Akademie Aachen, Industrieanzeiger, Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe, WTWH Media, Krones AG, and TH Köln, assessed submissions based on their creativity, engineering innovation, and contribution to sustainability.

“These projects demonstrate the courage to challenge conventional metallic bearing solutions and adopt polymer alternatives,” Vogel added. “They also serve as an inspiration for other companies considering the transition to high-performance plastics.”

Awards will be presented in four categories:

  • Golden manus – €5,000 ($5,236) prize
  • Silver manus – €2,500 ($2,618) prize
  • Bronze manus – €1,000 ($1,047) prize
  • Green manus – €3,000 ($3,142) prize for the most sustainable solution

The winners will be officially announced on March 27, 2025. For the first time, the award ceremonies will take place at the winners’ respective locations, further highlighting their achievements in real-world applications.

For more information about the igus manus Award, please visit: https://www.www.hansarobotics.com/plastic-bearings/manus-award

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