24/7 Problem-free production thanks to optimal chain treatment

Have you ever considered the chain drive in the production line when grabbing a bottle of Heinz tomato ketchup? Interflon’s technical advisors have. At the Logoplaste factory in the Netherlands, where the plastic bottles for Heinz are produced, they solved an issue that was disrupting the reliability of the packaging line. After treating the chains, the system now runs smoothly without issues or breakdowns.

Heinz does not manufacture the plastic bottles for its products in-house but outsources this to Logoplaste - a strategic choice. This allows Heinz to focus entirely on its core activities, while Logoplaste takes care of the production and storage of the bottles. Henk Hissink, Head of Technical Services at Logoplaste, explains: "At our site in Elst, we produce a semi-finished product, which we then heat and 'blow' into the final bottle. These bottles are then packed onto pallets. We generally keep a week’s worth of stock, but larger bottles are produced ‘just in time’ for our customer. To ensure we always have sufficient stock for our sole customer, we operate 24/7."

Packaging line challenges

In a large hall, the packaging lines place the bottles on pallets and build up the pallet layers. Three vertically positioned columns, driven by chain drives, are installed for this process. The Technical Services team noticed that the chains in these columns were wearing out relatively quickly. As a result, the chains stretched, leading to misalignments and inaccurate pallet stacking. Only regular maintenance could prevent the wear from increasing to the point where the pallet stack might collapse. Logoplaste naturally wanted to avoid the unplanned downtime and high costs that would entail. However, the chains are located at the top of the columns, making maintenance expensive and time-consuming due to limited accessibility.

The pitfall of new chains

Hissink: "We were already familiar with Interflon through their lubrication solutions, which our supplier MCA uses for the linear bearings. Our Interflon contact visits us about twice a year to consult and provide advice. When we needed to know if it was possible to reduce the chain maintenance frequency without sacrificing quality, we reached out to them."

Interflon quickly identified the issue: chains that come straight from the factory are often only treated with a preservative and are not necessarily clean. The risk of residual dirt particles from the production process is high. If these chains are used without treatment, the dirt particles can lead to rapid wear. The solution was clear: the chains needed to be cleaned and treated with a suitable lubricant before use.

The solution

Interflon cleaned and treated the chains at their premises in Roosendaal with Interflon Food Lube G150. The chains were returned to Logoplaste in time and installed during the Christmas shutdown. Since then, the wear issues have been fully resolved.

Hissink adds: "This experience once again confirms the specialist knowledge and expertise of Interflon, which we have benefited from on multiple occasions. We also use the Food Lube aerosol, which allows us to lubricate the chains efficiently and food-safely, and the cleaning product Eco EM100+, which is both human- and environmentally-friendly. It’s a pleasure working with a partner who understands our business and our needs and is always there for us."

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