Gleitleisten

Gleitleisten are guide rails used to direct sliding elements along a fixed path. They provide a low-friction surface and structural guidance for carriers such as sliding doors, drawers, or machine slides. The term comes from the German gleiten, meaning to glide, and Leiste, meaning strip. In furniture hardware and building installations, Gleitleisten are often simple metal or plastic strips attached to a frame, along which a door panel or drawer slides. In industrial and mechanical engineering, Gleitleisten refer to more robust guide rails that form part of linear motion systems; these rails may carry sliders, carriages, or rollers and might be made of hardened steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, sometimes with protective coatings or lubricating channels.

Construction and materials vary with application. Common forms include straight rails and rails with curved sections for non-linear motion. They may be supplied as discrete rails paired with matching sliders or as integrated rail-and-carriage assemblies. Surface treatments, such as hardening or anti-friction coatings, are used to extend service life under load and wear. Installations emphasize precise alignment, secure fastening to a solid substrate, and appropriate lubrication or dry-lubricant regimes to minimize wear and stiction.

Applications span from household and office furniture and interior joinery to industrial automation, machine tools, conveyor systems, and construction hardware. In many contexts the term Gleitleisten is used interchangeably with Führungsschiene or Führungsleiste, though regional or manufacturer-specific terminology may vary.

Notes on terminology and standards: Gleitleisten come in various sizes and configurations, and selection depends on load, travel velocity, environment, and mounting constraints. Refer to manufacturer specifications for exact dimensions and compatibility.