HEALTH & SAFETY
WAREHOUSING, HANDLING & STORAGE
TURNING A PROFIT B
earings are critical to machine performance but are susceptible to the washdown process. One solution is to use bearings that are designed specifically to resist these harsh conditions. David Oliver, UK Platform Manager – Industry Manager - Food and Beverage, SKF explains.
Washdown is both a blessing and a curse for food manufacturers. A blessing, because it blasts away the bacteria that can bring production to a standstill if they are allowed to multiply. A curse, because the hot, humid conditions – and pressurised water – can play havoc with the bearings that are critical to machine performance.
Under the harsh conditions of washdown, water and detergent can penetrate bearing seals – damaging lubricant and reducing bearing life. This can lead to catastrophic machine failure if not managed properly. A potentially more serious problem is lubricant leaking out of the bearing housing and contaminating products. This can cause a line stoppage or – if not detected early – a product recall.
This puts food manufacturers in a dilemma: how can they maintain hygienic conditions while maximising machine performance? One way is to use specific food- industry bearings.
BEARING DESIGN
General bearings are widely used across multiple industries – including the food sector. However, they are not designed to withstand the rigours of washdown. Because bearings are critical to efficient machine operation, there are many specific variants designed specifically for food production. These bearings are made from food-grade materials. They are designed to prevent bacterial growth and be easy to clean. While they will have a price premium compared to a standard bearing, they typically run more efficiently – and last longer. An example is SKF’s Food Line bearings, which help food manufacturers incorporate hygienic design principles while maintaining performance, cost and sustainability. Their special design helps to eliminate contaminants – and reduce the spread of bacteria – in punishing environments.
Firstly, they comply with food safety and compliance regulations. This requires the use of food- grade materials – both for the bearing itself and the internal lubricant. In addition, their features must
help food manufacturers operate efficiently. This can be through maintaining cleanliness and easing jobs such as cleaning and maintenance. When correctly designed, bearings for the food sector can cut costs and raise sustainability.
STRICT HYGIENE
A high standard of hygiene improves food safety and reduces incidents of product recalls and line shutdowns. Specially designed bearings play a critical role here, because they address specific food- industry challenges.
For example, angled surfaces promote self- draining and resist soiling, whatever the mounting orientation. Food Line bearings are engineered to have no ‘dead spaces’ – which could harbour bacteria. Smooth surfaces – which are comparable to the internal finish on hygienic tubing – also help to make cleaning more efficient.
Bearings that are easier to clean are also cheaper to clean. Cleaning a Food Line bearing requires about one-third less hot water than a typical bearing; this in turn reduces the energy needed to heat the water. Together, this can help to reduce both costs and carbon footprint over time.
SEALED IN
A critical feature of Food Line bearings is a patented, four-element sealing system that reduces bacterial build-up. Firstly, a base seal is formed when it is fitted to the mounting frame. In addition, a back seal stops material entering the bearing cavity from the back. Thirdly, the housing is designed to eliminate the crevices and recesses where bacteria might accumulate. Finally, an end cover – held in place by a patented locking mechanism – seals the unit completely. The bearing, base and back seals are made from food-grade synthetic rubber that is FDA- and EC- compliant. Housings and end covers meet FDA regulations. Food-grade bearing grease is allergen-free and approved for accidental food contact. It complies with both Halal and Kosher certification. Blue-coloured seals and housing material make visual detection easier – if accidental contamination is suspected.
DEEP GROVE
SKF recently introduced an ‘off-the-shelf’ deep- groove ball bearing for the food industry. An
SFK
www.skf.com
integral seal helps to reduce water ingress, which raises bearing performance and maintains hygiene. Usually, this type of bearing is only available as a ‘custom filled’ product. This off-the-shelf product will be faster – and more cost-effective – to re-order than a custom-filled version. In addition, the bearing is produced to SKF’s Explorer performance class, giving it a high load-carrying capacity that maintains rotating equipment performance.
The new bearing complies with food industry standards – using food-grade NSF H1 grease that is optimised for food use. It is Halal- and Kosher- certified and complies with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Community (EC) recommendations.
In addition, it requires no relubrication. This has several advantages, including: reduced maintenance; greater uptime; less chance of leakage; and lower grease consumption. Cutting down on the need to relubricate can stop excess grease accumulating in end covers – where bacteria typically grow. It also cuts the need to dispose of waste lubricant. This can contribute towards a 0% landfill policy.
The harsh conditions of washdown can damage standard bearings, so it makes sense to consider specially designed food industry versions. Superior sealing performance helps extend bearing life – and prevent lubricant leakage – while designing out ‘dead spots’ cuts the risk of bacterial growth. Despite a higher investment cost, they raise machine efficiency and hygiene standards – cutting the risk of line shutdowns or the dreaded product recall. SKF’s mission is to be the undisputed leader in the bearing business. We do this by offering solutions that reduce friction and CO2 emissions, whilst at the same time increasing machine uptime and performance. Our products and services around the rotating shaft, include bearings, seals, lubrication management, artificial intelligence and wireless condition monitoring. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2021 were SEK 81 732 million and the number of employees was 42,602.
28 OCTOBER 2022 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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