Safe and reliable maintenance for the food industry

In an industrial bakery plant, the bearings for belt rollers, trolleys, and oven fans work continuously at high temperatures, and the grease in use lost consistency until it dripped onto the products being baked. Molykote G-1502 FM Synthetic Bearing & Gear Grease was adopted for the oven bearings and Molykote HP-300 for extreme temperature points, both NSF H1 registered. The lubricating film remains stable at operating temperatures without dripping or loss of consistency, and oven maintenance now follows a predictable schedule.

A bakery producer noticed the formation of carbon deposits and smoke emissions on the baking oven chains, along with high oil consumption, frequent cleaning, and progressive chain stretching. Tecnite OCL H1 was adopted, an NSF H1 registered food-grade polyol ester-based high-temperature chain oil, resistant to over 260°C with minimal evaporation. Deposits and fumes were reduced, oil consumption dropped, and the service life of the oven chains was extended.

A biscuit manufacturer experienced rapid degradation of the heat transfer fluid in the tunnel oven heating circuit, with carbon deposits forming in the heat exchangers, loss of thermal efficiency, and frequent replacements. Purity FG Heat Transfer Fluid was adopted, an NSF HT1 registered food-grade heat transfer oil with high thermal and oxidative stability. The circuit maintains exchange efficiency longer, downtime for exchanger cleaning is reduced, and as it is an HT1 fluid, any leak above the line does not compromise product compliance.

In a temperature-controlled cutting room, belt bearings were difficult to reach during shifts and manual relubrication was often postponed, causing overheating and sudden failures. Memolub HPS automatic lubricators were installed, loaded with Purity FG2, which dispense grease in constant, programmed quantities even in cold and humid environments. Manual interventions in the production area have been drastically reduced and bearing failures are now part of normal scheduled maintenance.

In meat and cold cut processing machinery, screws, bushings, and threaded connections are subject to seizing and premature wear during assembly and maintenance in humid environments with frequent high-pressure washdowns. Molykote P-1900 FM Anti-Seize (NSF H1) assembly paste was adopted, which prevents seizing during assembly, facilitates subsequent disassembly, and protects threaded surfaces. Assembly and maintenance become faster and the service life of components increases.

A fruit and vegetable processing company experienced grease washout from the roller bearings of washing and grading lines, which were constantly hit by water and detergents, leading to oxidation and frequent replacements. Purity FG2 Extreme was adopted, an NSF H1 food-grade grease with high resistance to washout and pressure. The grease stays in place even under continuous jets, corrosion protection has improved, and the frequency of bearing replacement has been reduced.

A cannery experienced grease degradation on the bearings and moving parts of sterilization autoclaves, which were exposed to steam and high temperatures in repeated cycles, resulting in loss of lubricity and jamming. Molykote HP-300 was adopted, a high-performance NSF H1 registered grease that is stable at high temperatures and steam-resistant. Relubrication intervals have been extended and the jamming of closing mechanisms at the end of the cycle has ceased.

A confectionery producer found that oily lubricants applied to the guides and cams of high-speed wrapping machines trapped fine sugar and cocoa dust, forming encrustations that increased friction and required frequent cleaning. CRC Dry Lube-F was adopted, an NSF H1 certified dry lubricant with PTFE that leaves a dry, non-sticky film. Surfaces stay clean, encrustations no longer form, and in-line cleaning interventions have been reduced.

In a chocolate production plant, the gearboxes of conches and refiners work in continuous cycles for dozens of hours under high loads, and the oil in use degraded with the formation of sludge and frequent changes. Purity FG EP Gear Fluid 220 was adopted, an NSF H1 food-grade oil with EP additives and high oxidative stability. Change intervals have been extended, gear protection has improved, and the entire department has switched to a lubricant suitable for incidental contact.

A frozen food producer experienced efficiency losses in the ammonia refrigeration plant serving the freezing tunnels, with oil being carried into the circuit, clogging filters, and causing unstable evaporator temperatures. REFLO Synthetic 68A was adopted, a synthetic fluid for ammonia compressors with low solubility in the refrigerant and excellent pumpability at very low temperatures. The fluid separates from the gas and stays in the crankcase, filters no longer clog, and freezing temperatures remain stable.

In a cold storage warehouse, conveyor bearings inside negative-temperature cells were rarely relubricated because every intervention required personnel to enter an extreme environment and stop the line. Memolub HPS automatic lubricators were installed, loaded with Purity FG2 Synthetic Grease suitable for low temperatures, which dispense grease on a programmed basis without the need to access the components in the cell. Maintenance in cold environments has been minimized, improving operator safety and operational continuity.

A mineral water bottler experienced rapid oil degradation in the high-pressure compressors serving the PET blow molders, with deposit formation, increased discharge temperatures, and frequent maintenance. Purity FG Compressor Fluid was adopted, an NSF H1 food-grade synthetic oil with high oxidative stability and resistance to varnish formation. Operating temperatures have normalized, change intervals have been extended, and the compressed air in contact with the preform is guaranteed by a suitable lubricant.

In a mineral water bottling line, interventions on cappers and labelers had to be performed during very short downtime windows, on hard-to-reach mechanisms and in close proximity to the product. The CRC Food Processing Safe (NSF H1) range was adopted, with targeted application and no disassembly required. Intervention times were reduced, line restarts are faster, and every product used in the area is covered by NSF registration.

A molder of components with plastic gears for packaging machines experienced friction and premature wear on the gears, with increasing noise and standard lubricants being incompatible with plastic materials. Molykote G-4500 FM Synthetic Grease was adopted, a food-grade synthetic grease compatible with engineering plastics and NSF H1 registered. Friction was reduced, noise decreased, and the service life of the gears increased.

A producer of corrugated cardboard packaging for food packaging experienced grease carbonization on the bearings of steam-heated pre-heating cylinders, with recurring failures and downtime. Krytox Corrugator 226 FG was adopted, a food-grade PFPE grease compatible with metals and elastomers and resistant to steam and ultra-high temperatures. The grease maintains its integrity without carbonizing, extending relubrication intervals and bearing life.