Partnership improves technical availability

Van den Bor Poultry Processor in Nijkerkerveen, The Netherlands, runs a highly automated operation under harsh conditions. Frequent lubrication-related failures disrupted production until Interflon carried out a full line assessment and reduced breakdowns significantly. Among other improvements, the risk of plucking finger failures was cut by 30–40%.

Challenging conditions

Poultry processing equipment operates under extreme stress: constant washdowns, rising temperatures and contamination from dirt and sand early in the process. “This puts a heavy load on moving parts,” explains Jan van de Bunt, maintenance engineer at Van den Bor. “Components wear quickly, need frequent replacement and failures are common.”

The first contact

The turning point came when Van den Bor requested a bucket of grease, and Interflon refused to supply it. The technical advisor explained that he only delivered products once he fully understood the application, to ensure reliable results.

“This showed us Interflon was a serious partner focused purely on quality,” says Van de Bunt. “We invited them to inspect the plant. They recommended alternative lubricants, new application methods and correct lubrication intervals. Failures went down and Interflon proved its value as a true specialist. From then on, we brought them in on more specific issues.”

Plucking fingers

Plucking fingers are high-speed components that remove feathers while enduring heavy mechanical loads, water and sand. The previous grease could not withstand these conditions, leading to frequent replacement.

“On Interflon’s advice, we switched to Interflon Grease LS2, which resists both water and sand,” Van de Bunt explains. “The result: 30–40% fewer plucking finger failures.”

Crate lift system

Another improvement concerned a crate lift outside the slaughterhouse. In this dirty environment, water, sand, burnt oil and aggressive poultry manure caused failures every 4–5 months.

“Interflon proposed a flowable grease,” recalls Van de Bunt. “We had asked for such a product years ago. It turned out to be exactly what we needed. One and a half years later, the lift is still running without a single intervention. The higher product cost has already paid for itself.”

Shared focus on quality

Van den Bor is known for its strong team spirit and commitment to uptime. Van de Bunt concludes:
“Interflon fits perfectly here. A focus on quality, always ready to help and share knowledge.”