Good plant maintenance is vital to efficient food processing. Significant cost savings can be made through regular servicing and the use of modern analytical techniques - while a break down in machinery can lead to impressive losses. It is for this reason that food manufacturers are often prepared to invest in the latest technology to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the processing phase.
In addition, something as simple as efficient lubrication can prevent any number of problems. Plant operation specialist Molykote for example has added six high performance bearing greases to its range of lubrication products, which it claims are suitable for many different applications such as electrical motors, fan bearings and hot rolling mills.
"Customers who only thought of Molykote for pastes and anti-friction coatings will now be able to meet all of their lubrication needs with one source," said Manfred Wehner, director of Molykote Solutions.
The new Molykote bearing greases include G-0100 multipurpose motor bearing grease, a mineral oil-based grease thickened by urea. This grease offers a wide temperature range, low noise performance and excellent corrosion- and oxidation-preventative properties in applications such as electrical motors, fan bearings, water pump bearings and dryers in chemical and paper industries.
In addition, Molykote G-0101 long life bearing grease is a mineral oil-based grease thickened by a lithium system. This product offers a wide temperature range and can be used for high-speed applications including electrical motor bearings. And the firm's new G-0102 high load bearing grease, which is a mineral oil-based grease thickened by a calcium-complex system, can be used in a wide range of temperatures and offers excellent resistance against water washout.
Molykote G-1001 high performance bearing grease is a low-cost multipurpose grease that combines the high temperature properties of its lithium-complex thickener with the low temperature properties of its combination of highly refined mineral oil and synthetic oil. This, says the company, makes it ideal for most roller bearing applications.
The final two greases are Molykote G-2001 high speed bearing grease and the G-6000 high temperature bearing grease. The G-2001 is a synthetic oil-based grease thickened by a lithium system, and provides protection against wear and corrosion in application such as spindles, fast moving positioners and molding cutters. The G-6000 on the other hand is a phenylether synthetic oil-based grease thickened by polyurea. This can be used at extreme high temperatures.