Posted to News on 23rd Apr 2015, 16:12
Schaeffler launches Halal and Kosher-certified bearing grease
Schaeffler UK is introducing a new rolling bearing grease that is certified for use in both Halal and Kosher food processing environments. The new FAG Arcanol FOOD2 rolling bearing grease is also registered to category H1 with the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) and offers significantly improved performance compared with its predecessor, including reduced friction, better flow properties at low temperatures and improved wear protection, extending the scope of applications for the new grease.
Food and beverage producers are constantly striving to increase productivity, while ensuring that the food they produce is not contaminated by lubricating oils and greases that may be present in processing equipment and machines. This is particularly important if the food produced is a Halal or Kosher product, as Jewish and Muslim food laws apply not only to the food or beverage themselves, but also to the machines and environments in which they are processed.
Typical applications for FAG Arcanol FOOD2 include filling plants, packaging and sealing machines, meat and fish processing machines, freezing systems and other plant and equipment in the food and beverage industries.
Another requirement for the food industry is the registration of lubricants with the American organisation NSF. All greases and lubricating oils that occasionally come into direct contact with food must be registered to NSF Category H1. FAG Arcanol FOOD2 also meets this requirement. In the future, Schaeffler will use FAG Arcanol FOOD2 as the standard grease for corrosion-resistant deep groove ball bearings and radial insert ball bearings, which are increasingly used in the food industry.
Lubricants must work perfectly at all times, even at the low temperatures often required in the food industry. FAG Arcanol FOOD2 maintains its flow properties in cold environments and is suitable for temperatures down to -30degC.
Reduced friction is another benefit of the new grease, which improves the initial run-in behaviour of the rolling bearings and reduces their power consumption. In FE8 wear protection tests (to DIN 51819) tapered rolling bearings and angular contact ball bearings that were lubricated with FAG Arcanol FOOD2 achieved significantly better results than the previous version of the lubricant.
In tapered rolling bearings and angular contact ball bearings, the grease is subjected to very high stresses. The results of the FE tests means significantly less wear for all other bearing types. FAG Arcanol FOOD2 therefore not only meets the strict standards and religious requirements in the food industry, but also withstands the high stresses and low ambient temperatures.
Schaeffler offers a range of other lubricants that are designed and tested for specific bearing applications. The Arcanol series of rolling bearing greases offers better properties than standard greases and is suitable - depending on the lubricant chosen - for very high temperatures, heavy loads and high-speed production environments.
For more information on Arcanol FOOD2 rolling bearing grease, please go to www.schaeffler.co.uk.
