Estimated Annual Savings Over €2,600
Lubricating bearings in breadstick packaging machines
Initial situation
Industry: Production of breadsticks, biscuits, and crackers.
The packaging lines use “tagliacuci” machines, which seal polypropylene packs of breadsticks via heat-sealing and then cut them into individual units.
The induction sealing process operates at 160–180°C. At this temperature, the cams and bearings guiding the sealing and cutting blades are also exposed to elevated heat.
Previously used lubricants would dry out within 7 to 15 days. This required the line to be shut down for around 15 minutes to clean out the carbonised, dust-laden grease and reapply fresh lubricant. These unplanned maintenance stops also involved cleaning the surrounding machine components and came with both direct labour costs and production losses.
Critically, the lubricant in use was not NSF-H1 certified – a concern in food production environments.
Our solution
Product used: Interflon Fluor Grease 2
Benefits achieved
- Extended lubrication intervals
- Eliminated unplanned maintenance shutdowns
- Increased machine uptime and production output
- Improved workplace safety
- Reduced environmental impact
- Fully compliant with food production standards (NSF-H1 certified)
Result
By switching to Interflon Fluor Grease 2, the customer extended lubrication intervals to once every four months. Lubrication is now scheduled during planned maintenance windows for cutter replacement, eliminating the need for additional shutdowns.
An added benefit is the improved cleanliness of the machine: significantly less lubricant is required, and Interflon Fluor Grease 2 does not carbonise under heat. Being NSF-H1 certified, it also supports compliance with food safety requirements.
The estimated annual savings amount to €2,600, based on product use alone (yielding a B/C ratio of 22.5). Additional savings from reduced labour hours, fewer production stoppages, and higher output were not included – meaning the real impact of Interflon’s technology is likely even greater.
