While you might guess that a steel mill or rock quarry presents the steepest challenge to reliable machine operation, the reality is that food and beverage plants rank among the toughest environments for rolling element bearings. Often, severe operating and sanitizing conditions put processing equipment at constant risk of mechanical component issues, particularly in two scenarios:
In both cases, the bearing lubricant performance—a key factor in achieving optimal life from your bearings—is at risk. The function of the lubricant is to create a thin oil film separating the bearing rolling elements and raceway surfaces in order to reduce friction and wear, thus increasing fatigue life. In most food and beverage applications, a food-grade grease is used to keep roller bearings and bearing housed units (also called mounted bearings) properly lubricated. However, washdown events and extreme high temperatures can severely impact the performance of grease. Consider that: