Do you have a question about how you can achieve optimum performance from your machinery and stay in compliance with existing and upcoming regulations, such as the tough new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)?
Ask The Expert, Ben Briseño. As the Product Line Manager at Clarion Lubricants, he utilizes his twenty-eight years of industry experience to answer your questions about food-safe lubricants.
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Q. What are some advantages and disadvantages of food grade versus non-food grade greases? |
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A. Components used to manufacture food grade greases have to pass toxicity and safety requirements, so they are limited in number compared to components available for conventional greases. With this limitation, food grade greases in the past were thought of as not strong performers. Additive improvements for mineral oil based greases and the use of synthetic fluids have helped modern food grade greases come a long way in their development. Food grade greases now can offer performance on par with and in some cases superior to conventional greases. Use of food grade greases along with their proper application, help comply with safety requirements including the Good Manufacturing Procedures portion of HACCP plans. |
| Q. What are some consideration for choosing, handling, and storing food grade greases? |
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A. Synthetic food grade lubricants such as Polyalphaolefin (PAO) or Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) types offer enhanced properties in areas such as high temperature stability, low temperature fluidity, energy savings, and longer oil life. They are preferred where operating conditions surpass the capabilities of conventional food grade lubricants. In food processing, synthetics are often used in low and high temperature applications, air compressors, refrigeration compressors, and gear drives. Synthetic’s lower traction coefficient will yield energy savings in gear drives and compressors compared to conventional food grade lubricants. |
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Q. What are the antimicrobial agents used in lubricants? |
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A. Incidental food contact lubricants (NSF H-1) have limitations on type and quantity of ingredients defined in USDA 21 CFR 178.3570. Currently there are approved ingredients such as benzoic acid and metalchlorocresol that do not promote microbial growth. |
| Q. What are the major differences between conventional food grade lubricants and synthetic food grade lubes? |
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A. Synthetic food grade lubricants such as Polyalphaolefin (PAO) or Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) types offer enhanced properties in areas such as high temperature stability, low temperature fluidity, energy savings, and longer oil life. They are preferred where operating conditions surpass the capabilities of conventional food grade lubricants. In food processing, synthetics are often used in low and high temperature applications, air compressors, refrigeration compressors, and gear drives. Synthetic’s lower traction coefficient will yield energy savings in gear drives and compressors compared to conventional food grade lubricants. |
| Q. What is your perspective on how the FSMA is affecting my food operation, in terms of lubricants I should be using? |
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A. Facilities covered by the FSMA legislation are required to evaluate hazards and put plans in place for hazard prevention and corrective action. Lubrication points with the potential for food or beverage contamination require the use of food grade lubricants. Proper lubricant type, application, handling, and storage should follow current good manufacturing practices (GMP) as part of a Prerequisite Program. The Prerequisite Program being part of the facility’s HACCP System, but outside of the HACCP plan. If a facility has a chronic problem with lubricant contamination onto food or beverage, then the particular lubrication problem area or areas may have to be elevated into the HACCP plan. |
| Q. What Clarion Lubricant would you recommend for high temperature applications? The lubricant would be used in an oven to bake tortilla chips? |
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A. Clarion Food Machinery HT EP Grease #2, with a dropping point of 500°F, is recommended for greased bearing applications exposed to temperatures up to 430°F. Clarion Synthetic Gear Fluids are recommended for gear drive or fluid lubricated bearings. |
| Q. We are a bottled water manufacturer and have a number of gear boxes on our conveying lines. We have been experiencing frequent gear box failures. Do you have any suggestions to minimize our down time? |
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A. There are several possible causes for gear box failures, including mechanical causes such as misalignment and overloading. Other causes include lubricant contamination, incorrect lube interval, over lubrication or under lubrication. The lubricant itself may also be of an incorrect viscosity or type. In addition to used oil analyses, I suggest gear failure analyses which may provide clues of the failure mode. Inspection of gear teeth in boxes used in problem areas that have not yet failed may also be useful. |
| Q. We supply a line of breaded poultry products for the food service industry. Our plant is USDA inspected, what Clarion lubricant would be best used in our spiral freezers and belt conveyors? |
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A. For oil lubricated points, Clarion Synthetic Gear Fluid for gear drives and Clarion CompressorGard are full-synthetic lubricants with excellent fluidity at low temperatures. This will help provide oil flow to lubricated parts at low temperatures. |
| Q. Our plant is a co-packer of gourmet soups for a major CPG company. Does Clarion supply lubricants for our can seaming equipment and retorts? |
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A. Clarion Food Machinery Gear Fluids have provided excellent service in can seamers. |