FOOD & BEVERAGE CORROSION-RESISTANT CHAIN
Tsubaki’s range of Neptune chains are ideal for bottle conveyor applications (Image Source: Tsubaki)
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https://www.businesswi
re.com/news/home/2019 0917005879/en/Global- Beverage-Market-Nears- 1.86-Trillion-2024]
Beverage manufacturers need highly reliable equipment to meet demand and secure profit. Tsubaki chains are able to fulfil this need...
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beverage manufacturer in the Netherlands approached Tsubaki to provide a highly reliable drive chain to boost its equipment uptime, allowing it to capitalise on customer demand. The global beverage industry is a story of continuous growth. 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 billion1
, with future predictions estimating further growth in the years to come. To meet this demand, beverage manufacturers need to secure the reliability of production lines. A highly efficient production line that can provide high output is essential to meet demand and secure 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 supermarkets. These are incredibly lucrative, and failure to fulfil delivery quotas places these agreements at risk.
Tsubaki provided the beverage manufacturer with the lube- free RS12B-1 Lambda Neptune roller chain
38 MAY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
Combined with these demanding duty requirements, beverage manufacturers must also ensure that hygienic standards are maintained. High pressure chemical washdowns are standard across the sector, which reduce product contamination risks. However, this can adversely affect equipment that is not specialised for these conditions. Power transmission components on equipment such as conveyors are particularly at risk: chains for example. In the case of conveyor chains, repeated high pressure chemical washdowns can cause corrosion on the surface of the chain. This rust can increase chain wear in operation. Ultimately, this wear will mean that the chain fails prematurely. This can cause the entire production line to grind to a halt, resulting in production downtime. Rust can also present a contamination risk to the product itself. To avoid this outcome, a specialised chain solution is required. The 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, the lube-free 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 requirements. To provide end users with a highly corrosion resistant option, Tsubaki has a range of Neptune chains available, 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 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. Its inherent resistance to corrosion ensured an instant improvement in reliability. This increased service life extended maintenance intervals, thus promoting uptime and productivity. As a result, the beverage manufacturer could capitalise on growing market demand, securing profitability. The elimination of rust ensured that associated contamination risks were effectively reduced. Tsubaki provides a range of chains in
Neptune specification, with experts available to visit facilities and specify an exact solution to maximise reliability. Beverage manufacturers can therefore trust Tsubaki to help improve uptime and keep the drinks coming.
Tsubaki
tsubaki.eu
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