Poultry processing lubricants — NSF H1 certified, PFAS-free and washdown-resistant
Poultry processing is one of the most demanding environments for industrial lubrication. Chains, bearings and gearboxes run under continuous mechanical load while being exposed to daily high-pressure washdowns, aggressive disinfectants, blood, condensation and temperature extremes. This ranges from evisceration lines to spiral chiller zones at –28 °C. Conventional lubricants wash away within hours. The result is chain rust, bearing seizure, gearbox leakage and recurring unplanned stoppages, each one measurable in lost production, spare parts and audit risk.
The core challenge is not finding a lubricant that meets NSF H1. It is finding one that maintains its lubrication film after every washdown cycle, in every zone of the plant, without creating drip contamination or leaving maintenance teams relubricating daily just to keep lines moving.
Interflon's food-grade lubricants with MicPol® technology are formulated specifically for these conditions. They are PFAS-free, NSF H1 registered and ISO 21469 certified, and their performance is documented across every major application in poultry processing.
Documented results in poultry processing
- Poultry conveyor chains — relubrication interval extended from weekly to monthly; chain lifetime doubled from 1.5 to 3 years; lubricant consumption reduced by 70–80%
- Stunning and bleeding conveyors — chain lifetime doubled; rust eliminated; micro-stoppages reduced; audit findings on dripping oil eliminated
- Spiral chiller bearings — frozen bearing failures eliminated at –28 °C; annual savings of €1,500–€2,100 per chiller in spare parts; downtime reduced by 3–6 hours per year
- Sorter bearings (Marel) — grease consumption reduced by 87%; lubrication labour reduced from ~1,000 to ~40 hours per year; bearing reliability improved
- Dumper chains in offal processing — chain lifetime extended to 52+ weeks; lubrication frequency reduced from daily to weekly; over 300 interventions per year eliminated
Interflon is the first and only lubricant supplier to hold NSF 537 PFAS-free certification across a complete food-grade portfolio.
Applications
Frequently asked questions about lubricants for poultry processing
Poultry conveyor chains require a high-adhesion NSF H1 chain oil that resists washoff from daily high-pressure cleaning and disinfectants. Interflon Food Lube G220 and Food Lube G150 are formulated for this application. Both use MicPol® technology to maintain a durable lubrication film after washdowns, extending chain lifetime and reducing relubrication frequency from weekly to monthly in documented applications.
Standard food-grade lubricants often fail in poultry processing because they are not formulated for the combination of high-pressure water, alkaline cleaners and disinfectants used in daily sanitation. Interflon's lubricants with MicPol® technology form a strongly adhesive film that bonds to metal surfaces and resists displacement by water and chemicals, maintaining protection between washdown cycles.
Bearings in spiral chiller zones require a low-temperature grease that remains stable at –28 °C or below, resists condensation and washout, and meets NSF H1 requirements for incidental food contact. Interflon Food Grease LT2 is developed for this application. In a documented case at a Belgian poultry plant, switching to Food Grease LT2 eliminated frozen bearing failures entirely and reduced downtime by 3–6 hours per year per chiller.
PFAS-free lubricants are not yet universally required by law, but are increasingly expected by food safety auditors in the EU and by retailers applying their own supplier standards. Interflon's entire food-grade portfolio is PFAS-free and holds NSF 537 PFAS-free certification, making it the first lubricant supplier globally to achieve this across a complete range.
Audit readiness in poultry processing requires NSF H1 registration per individual product, ISO 21469 certification of the manufacturing process, PFAS declarations and full traceability documentation. Interflon provides a complete audit pack including certificates, safety data sheets and PFAS declarations. A Technical Advisor can review your current programme and identify gaps before your next audit.
