In its quest to provide thrill seekers with the ultimate adrenaline rush, amusement park ride manufacturer S & S Power uses weatherproof igus products.
Specializing in vertical rides that are low maintenance, safe, and dependable, S & S uses Energy Chains, Chainflex cables, and iglide bearings on various high-adrenaline rides. These include the Turbo Drop™ vertical free-fall; the Space Shot®, which air launches its passengers up a 185 ft tower and bounces them back to a starting position; and the Thrust Air 2000™, one of the world''s fastest air-launched rollercoasters, which accelerates from 0-107 miles per hour in less than 2 seconds.
To ensure that all its amusement rides are dependable and require minimal maintenance, S & S uses Energy Chain Systems® on the company''s rollercoasters and iglide bearings almost anywhere pivoting, rotating, or oscillating motion is needed, such as lap bars and swing restraints. E-Z Chain and System E2 Energy Chains house and protect Chainflex CF27, CF35, and CF130US cables, which provide power and control to the coasters. Due to Energy Chain''s all-plastic construction, it is weatherproof, corrosion-resistant, and operates with minimal noise -- vital elements for smooth functioning of the S & S products.
S & S also uses between 1,000-2,000 iglide G300 and iglide Q bearings each year. Iglide bearings are lightweight, lubrication- and maintenance-free, and eliminate the corrosion issues S & S had previously experienced while using bronze bushings. Both iglide G300 and iglide Q deliver excellent wear resistance and vibration dampening, even while handling loads of up to 600 lb on the rides.
Six years ago, when S & S began using igus products, the company was confident the plastic components would be an ideal choice.
"The maintenance-free, no lubrication, weatherproof elements of igus'' products are great," said Quinn Checketts, lead designer for S & S Power. "But we also were really sold on the thorough documentation standing behind the products. That information makes it very easy for an engineer to justify using it. The customer service received from igus is superb; we have never experienced any quality assurance issues, and what we need is always in stock."
All of the igus products used by S & S endure a wide range of environmental elements and rugged conditions, as its amusement park rides are sold worldwide.