If something moves, there is nearly always a bearing involved. Rotary rolling bearings ensure moving machine elements, such as axles and shafts, maintain their position. They also provide precise guidance, and support for these elements relative to the adjacent structure. Forces and torques are transferred to the surrounding construction. They run in a wide range of designs in many systems in the food production and packaging industry, such as in product fillers, conveyor belts, and folding and gluing machines.
Requirements for Bearings in the Production of Food and Beverages
Rolling Bearings: Design and Types
Precise Bearings from Schaeffler
Schaeffler Radial Insert Ball Bearing Units and Bearings for the Food Industry
FAQs on Rolling Bearings in Food Production
How can you achieve a long operating life for rolling bearings?
For a long operating life, the decisive factors are the load-appropriate design of the rolling bearings, the material quality, the heat and surface finish, the seal concept, and the lubricant as well as the coating, if applicable. Calculation and simulation programs like BEARINX or CABA3D help design rolling bearings in a load-appropriate manner as early as during the machine planning stage.
How can premature bearing failures be prevented?
About 80 percent of the premature rolling bearing failures can be prevented through appropriate lubrication. To this end, everything must be perfectly coordinated: the right lubricant, the optimal lubricant quantity and, if applicable, the suitable relubrication intervals. In everyday practice, automatic lubricators, our smart lubricator OPTIME C1 and ( lubrication monitoring, e.g. for monorail guidance systems ) are excellent means to prevent machine failures caused by lubrication errors.
How can I meet the difficult ambient conditions in food production?
A moist environment and frequent cleaning processes strain the assemblies in food production. But there are a number of options for designing rolling bearing areas in a hygienic and corrosion-resistant manner: with high-performance, corrosion-resistant rolling bearings, special coatings against corrosion, particular chemicals and abrasive wear, as well as with seals that protect the rolling bearing from intruding cleaning liquid, for example.
What are H1 lubricants and are they kosher and halal?
In low concentrations, H1 lubricants are unobjectionable when they come into short contact with food and may be used accordingly in the food industry. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the NSF keep lists of approved lubricants. In order to meet the religious requirements for food production, Schaeffler also offers corresponding lubricants that are certified for Kosher or Halal production.