Smooth operators

Food grade lubricants can bring big benefits for producers, says Peter Bird.

“Food grade lubricants can help minimise the potential for product recalls, maintain brand integrity and enhance equipment performance”
-Peter Bird, Exxon Mobil

What are the key benefits for food manufacturers in using food grade lubricants over traditional solutions?

Peter Bird. Food processors often cite food safety, energy costs and labour as three important issues affecting equipment reliability and productivity. Thanks to advancements in lubricant chemistries, using modern, premium quality lubricants that are suitable for food machinery applications where incidental food contact with the machinery lubricants may occur, can help support all three of these areas. What's more, they can help minimise the potential for product recalls, maintain brand integrity and enhance equipment performance, potentially enhancing a company's productivity in the face of these tight economic times.

What features and attributes should manufacturers look for when selecting food grade lubricants?

PB. First and foremost, the food processor should conduct a plant audit to run alongside local HACCP procedures to establish whether contamination of the food is possible by lubricating oils or greases. If, based on that risk assessment, the answer comes back positive the processor should select an H1 lubricant. H1 lubricants are formulated with base oils and components that comply with FDA 178.3570 and are suitable for applications in machinery that could result in the lubricant potentially having 'incidental contact' with the food or beverage being manufactured.

Then the processor should look for other features and benefits on offer from the lubricant. High performance synthetic H1 lubricants are often engineered using advanced synthetic base stocks that firstly exhibit outstanding load-carrying properties to help prolong equipment life and secondly low internal friction which helps to reduce energy costs. Also, look for a lubricant which offers long term-oxidation stability, anti-rust and anti-corrosion features, all of which can reduce the potential of unscheduled downtime associated with component replacement. Finally, choose lubricants which can be used in applications for both below and above the processing line, helping to reduce inventory costs and the risk of contamination from using non H1 registered lubricants.

What are the cost implications of selecting food grade lubricants?

PB. By following the recommended guidelines from a lubricant manufacturer, plant managers and maintenance professionals are better able to turn converting an entire food or beverage processing facility to H1 registered lubricants into a manageable task within their existing risk management systems - while at the same time helping their company optimize production, promote food quality and ensure the brand integrity of its products.

Do they offer good ROI for manufacturers?

PB. Along with delivering exceptional performance and long lasting equipment protection, premium quality synthetic H1 lubricants can also generate significant cost and energy savings. For example, in proprietary worm gear bench tests, ExxonMobil's Mobil SHC Cibus 460 synthetic H1 registered lubricant demonstrated up to 3 percent overall efficiency improvement compared to Mobilgear 600 XP 460, a mineral oil based product.

Moreover, high performance synthetic H1 hydraulic oils can last up to two times longer than conventional ExxonMobil mineral based hydraulic oils, whilst maintaining a high degree of system cleanliness. Long life and clean systems can reduce the costs and risks associated with frequent oil changes and unplanned component failures.

What different applications can food grade lubricants be employed in?

PB. Most high performance H1 lubricants are applicable for the full spectrum of hydraulic, gear and air compressor applications. In some instances, the same lubricant can be used in both compressors and hydraulic systems. Other applications include greases for medium and high temperature applications, vacuum pump oils, heat transfer oils and aerosols.

Do they offer versatility and flexibility?

PB. Absolutely. A high-performance synthetic H1 registered food machinery lubricant can help plant managers and maintenance professionals consolidate lubricants through its ability to provide excellent equipment protection in a wide range of applications.

Mobil SHC Cibus lubricants are designed to provide food and beverage processors with high performance lubrication and long service life, even under extreme operating conditions such as freezers and cookers. In addition to being manufactured in equipment where cross contamination is minimized, Mobil SHC Cibus Series lubricants are formulated to nut-, wheat- and gluten free and suitable under Kosher and Halal dietary law.

Biography

Peter Bird is Marketing Advisor for Food Processing Machinery Lubricants, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties. Bird is part of ExxonMobil's Europe, Africa and Middle East zone Industrial Lubricants marketing team with special responsibility for the food and beverage processing industry. He has been in the oil industry for 23 years.