Extended lifetime, less grease and fewer stoppages.
From weekly to monthly lubrication of conveyor chains
Initial situation
At a poultry plant in Belgium the infeed and overhead conveyor chains required weekly lubrication to cope with daily washdowns and disinfectants. Conventional oils washed out quickly, leading to rust, stiff operation and premature chain failure.
- Lubrication frequency: 52× per year
- Labour time: ~20 minutes per lubrication round → ~17 hours per year
- Chain lifetime: ~1.5 years
- Chain replacement cost: ~€5.000 per set
Solution
In this specific case, the conveyor chains were switched to Interflon Food Lube G220 (PFAS-free, NSF H1). Thanks to its MicPol® technology, Food Lube G220 forms a strongly adhesive lubrication film that stays in place during washdowns and exposure to disinfectants. This improved corrosion protection, reduced stiff movement and resulted in more stable operation of the conveyor chains.
Results
- Lubrication frequency reduced → from weekly (52×) to monthly (12×)
- Labour savings → 40 lubrication rounds avoided ≈ 13 hours/year
- Lubricant use reduced → estimated 70–80% less product used
- Chain lifetime doubled → from ~1.5 years to ~3 years in this application
- Spare part savings → avoiding ~1 chain replacement every 3 years ≈ €1.600/year
- Improved hygiene → more stable lubrication film, less risk of rust and oil carry-over to the process
Conclusion
By switching to Food Lube G220, the lubrication work was reduced by 75%, saved ~13 hours/year in labour, cut lubricant use by up to 80% and extended chain lifetime. The result: smoother conveyors, fewer stoppages and annual savings of ~€2.000–€2.500, with full HACCP/BRC audit compliance.
