Food-safe lubricants for a clean egg supply

These chickens are not chained!

At Larei, a free-range egg producer in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, 120,000 chickens lay around 110,000 eggs daily. The two passionate owners, the Roos-couple, are deeply committed to animal welfare and sustainability. That’s why they chose food-grade lubricants from Interflon for their conveyor systems handling eggs, feed, and manure.

"If you take good care of your animals, the animals will take good care of you", is the motto of Daniëla Roos-Lambregtse and Mark Roos. The chickens roam freely indoors and outdoors, including in a covered winter garden. Larei also invests in sustainable operations. Chicken manure is dried and converted into fuel using a system powered by PV panels and warm stable air.

Automation and conveyor systems

Handling over 100,000 eggs daily would be impossible without automation. Eggs roll from laying nests onto a sloped conveyor, transitioning to a chain-driven bar belt. From there, an egg packer and robotic palletiser handle the rest.

Chain lubrication challenges

Dust in the chicken housing area makes chain lubrication difficult. “I used to lubricate minimally,” says Mark Roos. “You don't want any lubricant on the eggs and risk dioxin contamination. But without lubrication, the chain eventually failed and its rollers broke."

That incident led Mark to look for suitable lubricants: an oil that lubricates sufficiently, and is safe for both the environment and food. From the wide range of Interflon's food-grade lubricants, Interflon Food Lube aerosol was chosen. Mark Roos: "After applying this oil, the problems were solved. The chains now run smoothly and more quietly. And it's safe for the eggs and chickens.”

Beyond egg chains: a lubrication upgrade

Solving one issue led to a broader review of the farm’s lubrication practices. As a result, the lubricating grease used for feed chain components like open gear wheels, was replaced with Interflon Food Grease MP2, another food-grade option from Interflon.

A more complex issue was the lubrication of chains linked to the manure dryer. These run in extremely dusty conditions, causing the chains to crack. The chain supplier recommended an automatic lubrication system, but it would have cost €6,400 per dryer, plus €5,000 for a compressed air setup."These investments were beyond our budget and I also didn't like using  compressed air in a dusty environment," explains Mark.

Instead, Interflon proposed an automatic lubrication system using Interflon Lube PN68, which is now installed and running reliably. Mark: “The chains remain nice and dry on the outside, so that they don't attract dust or dirt, while the rollers remain nicely greased on the inside. I don't have to do anything about it myself. When the system indicates that the oil is about to run out, we top up the system. But that's about it.”

Expert advice makes the difference

Interflon’s support went beyond supplying lubricants. “We had return roller bearings failing too often. We thought the issue wasn’t lubrication, they were greased well,” says Mark. “But Interflon advised us to reduce the grease. We now use one pinch instead of two, and the problem is gone. You just have to know.”

Thanks to the collaboration with Interflon and the open and inquisitive mindset of the Roos family, Larei has transformed its lubrication strategy. “By lubricating correctly with the right products, I prevent downtime, reduce maintenance costs, and avoid wasting energy due to friction. I earned back the investment in no time,” Mark concludes.