480 applicants from 36 countries are vying for the prestigious manus award, an international competition that recognizes unique polymer plain-bearing projects. Organized by igus, a motion plastics specialist, the competition awards up to €5,000 every two years for the most exciting and creative plain-bearing projects.
The manus award is an international competition recognising unique polymer plain-bearing projects, offering prizes of up to €5,000. The competition is organized by igus, a motion plastics specialist, every two years. This year’s competition received 480 entries from 36 countries, showcasing a wide range of innovative plain-bearing projects.
The entries included a miniature lawnmower the size of a puppy, a fully automated robotic miniature kitchen, a foldable dog car step, and a 24/7 beer bottling plant. According to Tobias Vogel, CEO of Plain Bearings and Linear Technology at igus GmbH, the competition highlights the versatility of plain bearings and the problems they can solve in various applications, from highly hygienic areas in medical technology to very dirty heavy-duty applications.
The panel of judges, consisting of experts from research, business, and the specialist press, will evaluate the entries based on five categories: idea, plain bearing function, savings, effect, and differentiation. The winners will be selected based on these criteria, and the final decision will be made at a judge panel meeting in mid-March.
The manus award ceremony will occur at the igus trade show stand at the Hannover Messe on April 19, 2023. Due to the pandemic, the last manus award was presented as a digital live event, and the organizers are looking forward to presenting the trophies in person this year. To learn more about the previous manus award winners, visit https://www.igus.eu/info/manus-award.
