Polymer bearings from igus help mobile microscope secure industry award

A mobile microscope from Prechtl TechSolutions has won the 2025 manus plastic bearing competition. A jury of experts recognised the use of lubrication-free polymer bearings to increase microscope reliability.

A common industry problem is that users on site are often unable to maintain or repair microscopes. If the user fails to re-lubricate the bearing points in the microscope stand, bearings get damaged and become unusable, wasting resources in a time-sensitive environment.

However, Prechtl Tech Solutions was determined to find a solution. The company’s R&D engineers developed a lightweight  microscope that can be assembled within five minutes without tools and without access to a power supply.

In the joints of the microscope sit iglidur G polymer plain bearings from igus, which ensure maintenance-free and fail-safe dry operation lasting many years, while also greatly reducing weight compared with metal bearings. This innovation 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.