Lubrication maintenance: a speciality at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners' plant in Dongen, every fifteen minutes of unplanned downtime significantly impacts production. This site has been operational for more than 65 years, and 85% of all beverages sold by the company in the Netherlands are produced here in Dongen - so downtime is simply not an option. 

Maintenance Manager Boy Huijberts knows better than anyone how crucial reliable maintenance is. That is why Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has maintained a 25-year partnership with Interflon - a collaboration that by 2025 has yielded time and cost savings in lubrication maintenance of up to 40%. Huijberts has a clear philosophy: ‘We only extend a contract if the partner demonstrably adds value.’ This approach has led to an innovative collaboration with Interflon, which has taken machine lubrication to the next level.

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Lubrication is a discipline in its own

At CCEP, lubrication is recognised as a discipline in its own right. The company understood that machine lubrication is far too important to be treated as a side task by operators. ‘Operators excel at keeping the line running, but lubrication itself requires specialised expertise ,’ says Huijberts. While CCEP has been using Interflon lubricants for decades, in recent years the partnership has evolved into a complete on-site lubrication service. Specialised lubrication technicians under Interflon’s management now carry out all the periodic lubrication of all machines, allowing Huijberts' team to focus on other core tasks.

Peace of mind with Lubrication as a Service

Huijberts recently renewed a Lubrication as a Service contract with Interflon. Under this agreement, Interflon specialists handle all lubrication maintenance at the plant according to a detailed schedule, with all activities digitally documented in an audit-proof system.

“Interflon has completely taken the lubrication work off our hands. We know the right amount is applied at exactly the right time.”
— Boy Huijberts, Senior Manager Maintenance, CCEP Netherlands

An additional advantage is the single point of contact for everything related to lubricants - from procurement to stock management and audit reports . The model also offers financial predictability thanks to a fixed annual fee. ‘After seeing the good results, we extended the cooperation,’ says Huijberts. In other words, contract renewal occurred only after the added value was clearly proven.

Reduced downtime and lower costs

The professionalisation of lubrication maintenance is clearly delivering results. Unplanned breakdowns due to insufficient lubrication have become virtually a thing of the past. All Interflon lubricants are enhanced with unique MicPol® technology, providing significantly reduced friction and longer service life of the lubricating film. Combined with extensive automation – such as the use of automatic lubrication cartridges (Single Point Lubricators) on bearings and chains – this has resulted in a reduction in lubricant consumption of approximately 80%.

Fluid grease with MicPol® technology has also been applied to a large number of drive systems at CCEP. “Whereas we used to change gearbox oil every two to three years, the same oil has now been in use for over a decade,” Huijberts explains. With hundreds of gearboxes in operation, such extended service intervals generate substantial savings in both oil and labour.

Flexible response to production planning

The Dongen plant operates with a dynamic production schedule. Each day, the availability of production lines for maintenance varies depending on which beverages are being bottled. “We often only find out a day in advance when and for how long a line can be taken offline for maintenance. Sometimes a scheduled lubrication task needs to be postponed at the last minute because a batch isn’t finished yet,” explains Huijberts. This is why, he says, adaptability in an external partner is essential. Interflon rises to this challenge: “They demonstrate great flexibility and genuinely think along with us. If a lubrication round needs to be rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday, that’s never an issue,” says Huijberts. That agility – combined with effective coordination between Interflon’s technicians and the in-house maintenance planners – is crucial for successful collaboration in a 24/7 production environment.

Sustainable and audit-proof maintenance

CCEP has long been firmly committed to sustainability and food safety at its Dongen site. In collaboration with Interflon, also the cleaning process has been further professionalised. To strengthen food safety standards, the maintenance team switched to NSF-certified Interflon cleaning agents – fully aligned with CCEP’s sustainability and quality policies. Thanks to dosing dispensers, these agents are now diluted both efficiently and precisely, improving both general and technical cleaning processes.

Lubrication practices are also fully compliant with all relevant standards. The lubricants used are food-grade (NSF H1), halal, kosher and vegan certified, and entirely PFAS-free. Supported by a digital lubrication logbook and corresponding certificates, audits now run smoothly and transparently. “We can demonstrate exactly what was used, when and why,” says Huijberts. “That gives us certainty – and reassures our customers.”

Additionally, the storage of lubricants and cleaning agents is being restructured according to the 5S methodology, ensuring everything remains organised, safe, and fully audit-ready.

Advice for fellow maintenance managers

In conclusion, Huijberts offers a clear message to fellow professionals:
“When renewing a contract, look for areas where you can improve together – whether that’s reducing costs, improving lubrication efficiency or optimising compliance with laws and regulations,” he advises. “Choose a partner who can genuinely substantiate the added value they promise.”

This approach not only leads to lower costs and greater reliability, but also delivers peace of mind, confidence and control in a complex production environment.

“Extending a contract is never a formality. I expect improvements – whether that means lower costs, stronger compliance or more efficient working methods.”
Boy Huijberts, Senior Manager Maintenance, CCEP Netherlands

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