Bearings, seals and lubrication systems supplier SKF will focus on educating its distributors and customers on its food-grade lubrication system, ChainLube, to drive local uptake of the product as part of its marketing strategy for 2013.
“A ChainLube system is yet to be installed at a facility in South Africa, owing to the fact that the lubrication product is still so new to the market, but SKF’s goal is to create as much awareness as possible in the market this year,” says food and beverage global segment manager Jean-Christophe Brossard.
The system supports cus- tomers’ hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) process while also helping them to reduce their food-grade lubricants consumption, he says.
ChainLube, which was introduced onto the market in October last year, offers a food-safe solution for accurate and auto- matic chain lubrication in the food and beverage industry to improve the reliability of the overall chain system without needing to connect to a compressed-air supply.
This feature reduces the risk of potential food contamination from oil mist and oil evaporation in high-temperature applications, explains SKF lubrication business development manager Jan Backer.
The system, which has four nozzles, can withstand nozzle-area temperatures below 40 °C – depending on the oil viscosity – and temperatures up to 220 °C.
The airless system’s projection nozzles, which have no mechanical contact with the chains, also prevent dirt accumulation and applicator wear.
ChainLube is best suited to the lubrication of parallel chains with speeds below three pitches per second, primarily used in baking ovens, dryers, proofers, freezers or conveyors in wet areas.
The delivery quantity of the lubrication system is accurately preset by the on-board controls and, when installed, the nozzles are positioned in relation to the chain in such a way that lubricant delivery is accurately positioned to reduce spillage and, in turn, reduce lubricant consumption, says Backer.
The ChainLube system, which was designed and manufactured in France, features a volumetric piston pump and a control unit that enables the delivery of accurately metered lubricant volumes at preferred intervals, pitch by pitch.
The lubrication system comprises stainless steel components, such as tubing, nozzles, a sensor and fixing supports, as well as a hygienic, ingress protection, 65-rated unit design that makes this lubrication system suitable for food and beverage industry requirements.
The ChainLube system components are delivered as a 10 kg kit, says Backer, adding that the product has only two parameters to set – the duration of the lubrication cycle and the number of chain rollers to be lubricated – and is designed for easy set-up and use.