07/06/2022 SMB Bearings Ltd

From London beer flood from 1814 to Tapioca tanker disaster of 1972, there were a host of high-profile food and beverage disasters at every stage of the food processing chain. While innovative new technologies have been essential to continue improving the safety and modernity of operations, a small mechanical component is indispensable throughout the food and beverage supply chain. This is Chris Johnson, Managing Director of food grade bearing supplier, SMB Bearings studies the role that bearings play in the food industry.

Despite ongoing challenges over the past two years, the food processing industry is expected to achieve USD 235.67 billion by 2028, demonstrating healthy growth since its Market size of USD 143.51 billion in 2020.

Ball bearings are used in countless precision agricultural applications, as well as in conveyors, mixers, and pick and weigh machines. In fact, if a piece of food processing machinery is rotating, it will use bearings to ensure smooth movement. So let’s take a closer look at the importance of choosing the right bearings at three key stages in the food processing supply chain.

Bearings in agriculture

The food cycle begins at the production stage. Faced with increased demand, farmers are increasingly turning to automation to scale up their operations. In this context, bearings are used in a range of machinery such as agricultural scanners, combines, balers and seed drills. Due to the severe mechanical stresses and abrasive particles in this environment, bearings for agriculture must be durable and reliable, with a long service life.

Heavy-duty bearings are a popular choice when choosing bearings for precision agriculture technology because they are often subjected to heavy loads in addition to shock loads and vibration. Due to the high risk of contamination, bearings equipped with labyrinth seals are often specified with extreme pressure (EP) greases. Many agricultural bearings have a “hex bore” and are designed to fit a hex shaft for easy assembly.

Manufacturing Challenges

Then the product goes to the manufacturing stage. From continuous high speeds and temperature extremes to excessive humidity and exposure to chemicals, bearings in food processing lines face many challenges.

Bearings used in these parameters must meet a series of non-standard criteria. The first consideration is the need for continuous high speeds. Contamination is also a concern in many forms. For the highly regulated food and beverage industry, contamination can lead to costly lost production. Excessive moisture from wash cycles can also cause lubricants to wash out of the component.

Likewise, exposure to chemicals from detergents and disinfectants can cause corrosion and accelerate component wear. Acetal resin bearings provide an inexpensive, corrosion resistant option. Suitable for low load and low speed use. For greater resistance to corrosion and temperature extremes, alternative materials for rings or cages can be used, such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

For processes such as heating, boiling and cooking, bearings must be suitable for extreme temperatures. Stainless steel ball bearings can be supplied with non-toxic lubricants approved to NSF H1 or H2 standards. Bearings with a choice of food-grade lubricants can withstand the ingress of water or cleaning chemicals, as well as regular steam cleaning.

Packaging Considerations and Beyond

After manufacturing, the product goes to the packaging stage. By investing in a high-speed robotic pick and place cell, operational efficiency can be significantly increased. For robotic applications, thin section bearings deliver high speeds, improve efficiency and provide design flexibility. Due to the small size difference between the inner and outer ring, these bearings also reduce application weight and space requirements.

However, because they are so thin, you need to pay special attention to the roundness of the ring itself. Therefore, the manufacturing process must be extremely precise to ensure the highest possible degree of roundness in both rings, as well as good noise levels in the bearing itself. This will normally require fine grinding and machining, complemented by a very high level of quality in both process and raw materials. If the rings are not perfectly formed, even a small deviation will prevent the bearing from performing as well, producing excessive noise and disrupting the food packaging line.

In efforts to improve supply chain efficiency, even the smallest components can make a big difference. It is important for food plant managers to consider the suitability of components at all stages of the food cycle to ensure that they can meet the production needs of tomorrow.

For more information on food grade bearings and lubricants, visit SMB Bearings website or contact a specialist today by emailing sales@smbbearings.com.

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