Global beer brewery - bottle washing system
Lubrication upgrade cuts cost, boosts production
Initial situation
A global beer manufacturer operated an automatic bottle-washing machine, equipped with a centralised lubrication system. The lubricant in use was insufficiently resistant to challenging environmental conditions, such as frequent exposure to water, steam, and vapour. As a result, the moving parts and bearings were inadequately protected. Despite frequent lubricant replacements, regular lubrication system failures negatively impacted machine reliability and productivity.
Solution
The brewery transitioned to Interflon Food Grease 1 with MicPol® technology, an NSF H1-certified lubricant specifically developed for demanding environments involving water, steam, and vapour. Free from PFAS, Interflon Food Grease 1 was seamlessly integrated into the centralised lubrication system, ensuring consistent, safe, and effective lubrication of critical machine components.
Advantages
- Continuous, uninterrupted operation of the bottle-washing machine
- Improved overall productivity of the production line
- Significant reduction in manual lubrication tasks, previously taking approximately one hour per day
- Enhanced energy efficiency in gear reducers, contributing to further cost savings
Given the positive results, the manufacturer also upgraded the lubrication system of a similar washing machine on another bottling line.
Conclusion
The adoption of Interflon Food Grease 1 led to uninterrupted machine operations, enhanced reliability, and increased productivity. Additionally, this change generated monthly cost saving of approximately €500 through the elimination of labour-intensive manual lubrication tasks and improved energy efficiency in mechanical components. The lubrication system requires 15 litres of Interflon Food Grease 1, with refill intervals every 3 to 4 months, dependent on operational conditions.
