The jury has decided: igus polymer plain bearings make portable lightweight microscopes tough and reliable

A mobile surgical microscope from Prechtl TechSolutions has won the 2025 manus plastic bearing competition. A jury of experts recognised the engineers who used lubrication-free polymer bearings and were able to increase the reliability of the microscope. Other winners of the competition include a bicycle trailer for parcel delivery, an AI hoe for agriculture and an agrivoltaics irrigation and cultivation system. They have all created ecological, economic and environmental benefits by switching to lubrication-free plain bearings made from high-performance plastics.

To enable doctors in areas with limited infrastructure to treat eye diseases such as cataracts, they receive donated surgical microscopes. The problem is that users on site are often unable to maintain or repair the devices. If you failed to relubricate the bearing points in the microscope stand, the bearings get damaged and become unusable, wasting resources in a time sensitive environment. However, the company Prechtl Tech Solutions was determined to find a solution. The engineers have developed a lightweight surgical microscope that can be assembled within five minutes without tools and also works without access to a power supply. In the joints of the microscope, iglidur G polymer plain bearings from igus ensure maintenance-free and fail-safe dry operation lasting many years, greatly reducing weight compared to metal bearings. The risk of contamination is also reduced as a result. This impressed the jury, including representatives from specialist media, industry, research and business, who presented Prechtl Tech Solutions with the gold manus award 2025 and €5,000 prize money. The experts praised its simple and economical design for such an important cause.

Bicycle trailers for parcel delivery: silver manus goes to zemmi GmbH from Hamburg

The silver manus 2025 and €2,500 prize money go to zemmi GmbH from Hamburg. The company has built a bicycle semi-trailer with pedal drive that can pull a trailer with a load volume of 4.2m³. The vehicle is becoming an alternative to lorries for parcel delivery, a more efficient solution to navigate built-up areas. However, to replace the classic delivery van, the bicycle semi-trailer has to operate reliably. The engineers therefore use weather-resistant, tough and lubrication-free iglidur J polymer bearings from igus as an alternative to metal bearings. According to zemmi, these bearings make a significant contribution to the sustainability of the overall system. “The project demonstrates the exceptional durability of igus plain bearings,” says Peter Krug, Professor of Materials in Automotive Engineering and Structural Durability at TH Köln. “It’s an exciting vehicle that boasts a sophisticated design. It will be useful in many cities around the world.”

AI hoe for agriculture: bronze manus for Farm-ING from Austria

The Austrian company Farm-ING received the bronze manus and €1,000 prize money for an intelligent agricultural hoe. Coupled to a tractor, the hoe uses artificial intelligence to specifically remove unwanted weeds. To ensure that the machine is reliable, the designers used igus plain bearings as part of the chopping unit. Being lubrication-free, the bearings are resistant to dirt and also work reliably in dusty field environments, where metal bearings would often attract dirt. According to Farm-ING, the bearings also reduce the environmental impact and minimise the risk of contamination from leaking lubricants. The iglidur J polymer bearings in the rods have contributed significantly to the reliable operation of the chopper.

Green manus for an agrivoltaics system from the French company TSE

With the green manus and €3,000 prize money, igus recognises projects that are characterised by a particularly sustainable approach. The French company TSE won this category this year. The product is an agrivoltaics system for farmers that can be installed around five metres above agricultural land so that the land can continue to be farmed. Conveniently, the system has an integrated irrigation system. To optimise electricity production, up to nine solar modules are attached to a table weighing around one tonne, which can be turned east and west using geared motors. An enormous load for the mechanics, for which the engineers rely on large igubal pillow block bearings made of high-performance plastic from igus. The jury emphasised the advantage that the absence of lubricants means there is no risk of escaping lubricants contaminating the ground. Even in harsh environments, the bearings are weather-resistant and require little maintenance.

All information about the winners and the manus catalogue with all 613 entries are available at www.igus.eu/manus-award.