FEATURE BELTS, PULLEYS & CHAINS


Exploring Neptune:


How the right chain can keep up with beverage industry demands


With the global industry expanding at a continual rate, beverage manufacturers need to utilise highly reliable equipment in order to meet demand and secure profitability. So when one beverage manufacturer needed a highly reliable drive chain to boost its equipment uptime, it turned to Tsubaki for the solution


O


perating on a global scale, the beverage industry is continually growing in line with the expanding human population. Trends such


as improved living standards, the desire for convenience and changing tastes have spawned technologically advanced production lines and cold chain facilities to deliver beverages to consumers worldwide. In 2018, the global beverage industry was valued at US$1,544.61 billion, with future predictions estimating further growth in the years to come. For beverage manufacturers, reliable production lines that can provide


high output are therefore essential – not only to meet customer demand but for securing profitability. Mass produced beverages offer low profit margins per unit, so ensuring reliable high output is key for manufacturers looking to maximise return. Furthermore, many beverage manufacturers will have supply contracts to honour with businesses such as supermarkets. These are incredibly lucrative, and failure to fulfil delivery quotas places these agreements at risk. Ensuring the continued reliability of production equipment is therefore incredibly important for the prosperity of a beverage manufacturer. In addition to these demands, beverage


manufacturers must also ensure that hygienic standards are maintained. While high pressure chemical washdowns are standard across the sector in order to reduce product contamination risks, this can adversely affect equipment that is not specialised for these operational conditions. Power transmission components on equipment such as conveyors are particularly at risk, with one example being chains. In the case of conveyor chains, repeated high pressure chemical


washdowns can cause corrosion on the surface of the chain which can increase chain wear in operation and, ultimately, result in premature chain failure. The resulting downtime can cause the entire production line to grind to a halt. While maintenance is carried out, production output is decreased and, consequently, overall profitability. Rust can also present a contamination risk to the product itself.


14 FEBRUARY 2021 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS To avoid this outcome, a specialised chain solution is required.


Neptune chains feature a special surface treatment that is designed to resist alkaline cleaning, marine environments, acid-rain and other adverse weather conditions


CORROSION RESISTANT SOLUTION FOR A BEVERAGE PRODUCER A beverage manufacturer in the Netherlands was experiencing increased wear on a lube-free chain installed on the drive of a bottle conveyor. The stainless-steel chain of the conveyor itself was subjected to a weekly washdown with an alkaline cleaning substance. With prolonged use, this drive chain had begun to exhibit corrosion that was increasing wear. In an effort to eliminate the problem and reduce maintenance, the manufacturer approached Tsubaki to provide a new chain better suited to the application requirements. Tsubaki offers a highly capable


range of conveyor chains with multiple specialisations to meet specific application challenges. A highly corrosion resistant option can be found in the company’s Neptune chains, which are ideal for bottle conveyor applications. Neptune chains feature a special


surface treatment that is designed to resist alkaline cleaning, marine environments, acid-rain and other adverse weather conditions. Link plates,


bushings and bearing pins feature two special layers to ensure maximum protection from conditions and operational wear and tear. The chain is also resistant to varying temperatures and excessive moisture. After inspection of the conveyor, Tsubaki provided the beverage


manufacturer with the lube-free RS12B-1 Lambda Neptune roller chain. Thanks to its inherent resistance to corrosion there was an instant improvement in reliability. This increased service life extended maintenance intervals, thus promoting uptime and productivity, meaning the beverage manufacturer could capitalise on growing market demand, securing profitability. The elimination of rust ensured that associated contamination risks were effectively reduced.


Tsubaki tsubaki.eu / DESIGNSOLUTIONS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52