Lubrication for poultry stunning equipment
Poultry stunning systems, including CO₂ and electrical stunning conveyors from OEMs such as Stork and Marel, operate under some of the most demanding lubrication conditions in the processing line. Daily high-pressure washdowns, aggressive disinfectants and continuous mechanical load strip standard lubricants from chains, bearings and gearboxes within hours. The result is chain corrosion, bearing seizure and gearbox leakage, each one a direct cause of unplanned downtime, increased spare part costs and HACCP or BRC audit risk.
Documented results
- Chain lifetime doubled from 1.5 to 3 years in documented stunning conveyor applications
- Rust and stiff chain operation eliminated after daily washdowns
- Relubrication interval extended from weekly to monthly on infeed conveyors
- No routine gearbox oil changes, reducing maintenance time and contamination risk
- Micro-stoppages reduced through more stable conveyor operation
Typical failures and Interflon solutions
- Chains – corrosion and stiff operation after washdowns, frequent replacement.
→ Interflon Food Lube G150* is fortified with MicPol® technology. It penetrates into chain links and forms a durable, water-resistant lubrication film that withstands washdowns, preventing rust, ensuring smooth movement and extending chain lifetime. - Bearings – grease washout and premature failure under water spray and shock loads.
→ Interflon Food Grease LT2 for cold areas, or Food Grease HD2 for heavy load and humid conditions. Both water-resistant, extending bearing lifetime and reducing relubrication. - Gearboxes – oil leakage, overheating, contamination and frequent oil changes.
→ Interflon Food Grease HD00 or Interflon Food Lube G220 in non-automatic gearbox systems where temperatures allow: replace conventional oils, eliminate routine oil changes, reduce leakage, lower operating temperature and save up to 3% energy.
All products are PFAS-free, NSF H1 certified and suitable for HACCP/BRC audits.
Want to know more? Get in touch with our lubrication specialists for free advice.
* While Interflon Food Lube G150 is our primary recommendation for most poultry chain applications, Interflon Food Lube G220 can be an excellent alternative for slightly higher mechanical loads or short-term temperature peaks, where appropriate for the equipment and lubrication system.
Thanks to its higher viscosity and strong adhesion, Food Lube G220 is also well suited as a rationalisation product.
Case studies
Frequently Asked Questions about lubrication for poultry stunning equipment
The best lubricant for chains on poultry stunning conveyors is a high-adhesion NSF H1 chain oil that maintains film integrity through daily high-pressure washdowns and disinfectant exposure. Interflon Food Lube G150 is developed for this application. In documented stunning conveyor cases, switching to Food Lube G150 or G220 doubled chain lifetime from 1.5 to 3 years and eliminated rust-related stiffness after washdowns.
Chains corrode on poultry stunning equipment after cleaning because standard lubricants are displaced by high-pressure water and disinfectants during daily sanitation, leaving metal surfaces unprotected. Interflon Food Lube G150 uses MicPol® technology to bond to chain links and resist washoff, maintaining a protective film between cleaning cycles and preventing corrosion.
Maintenance downtime on poultry stunning lines is reduced by extending relubrication intervals and eliminating the reactive maintenance caused by chain corrosion, bearing seizure and gearbox leakage. In documented applications, switching to Interflon Food Lube G150 extended relubrication intervals from weekly to monthly, doubled chain lifetime and eliminated micro-stoppages caused by rust and stiff chain operation.