The Importance of Bakery & Oven Lubricants
High-temperature bakery & oven lubricants are key parts of industrial bakeries and ovens.
Industrial ovens are often used for curing, drying, baking, annealing, tempering and cooking food products.
The ovens and heating equipment used in industrial bakeries and ovens contain bearings, conveyor belts and fans which all require adequate protection and lubrication to operate optimally.
It’s essential that all lubricants used in these environments are classified with the NSF certifications; ensuring that even their accidental contact with food products is safe. By using food-safe solutions, manufacturers can ensure maximal health & safety standards, avoid cross-contamination, comply with audits and ensure the full ingredients of their foods with confidence.
The Rise of Industrial Ovens over Furnaces
The global industrial oven market is estimated to reach a value of £14 billion by 2029, growing at a rate of 4.5%. This growth is accounted for by the rapid industrialisation of developing countries and the growing replacement of industrial furnaces with industrial ovens.
Industrial ovens are more expensive to set up than furnaces, though offering unique advantages such as more precise temperature control. As a result, manufacturers utilising them can invest in innovative lubricating solutions in order to bring down their total costs and improve the quality and safety of their food products.
Top Bakery & Oven Lubricants
Lubricants provide unique benefits to bakeries & ovens, including:
- Reduced friction and wear – improving efficiencies and minimising waste and maintenance.
- Increased equipment lifetime – reducing replacement costs.
- Ensured full safety and operability of machinery – complying with standards.
- Reduced frequency of maintenance – reducing labour and maintenance costs.
- Protection against corrosion, water and chemicals – reducing chances of damage.
- Food safety – uncontaminated food products, greater hygiene, safer storage and transportation.
Our top lubrication brands Krytox, Molykote and JAX provide food-safe lubricants, with the NSF H1 certification, that can be used by bakery and oven manufacturers safely.
Here we explore our recommended lubricants for this purpose:
Pneumatic systems
JAX Magna-Plate 72 and 74: NSF H1-rated oils containing rust inhibitors, emulsifiers, anti-wear and antioxidant additives for use in pneumatic systems, allowing easy operation and safety. These oils trap moisture so excess water can be disposed of within the system.
- In relatively “wet” systems, use JAX Magna-Plate 72 to ensure proper lubrication and corrosion protection.
- In relatively “dry” systems, use JAX Magna-Plate 74 (with emulsifiers) to retain moisture and achieve drainage.
Flour mixing machinery
JAX Flow-Guard ISO 150, 220, 320 are NSF H1-rated synthetic, 100% PAO food-grade gear oils that offer superior performance in severe applications, such as positive displacement blowers in flour mixing machinery.
Mixing / kneading equipment (gearboxes)
JAX Magna-Plate FG Series are NSF H1-rated semi-synthetic oils suitable for transmission gearboxes within mixing and kneading equipment. Explore the range of JAX Magna-Plate FG products here.
JAX Flow-Guard is a 100% synthetic PAO, NSF H1-rated oil that can be used for gears, chains, slide valves, bearings, pumps and other critical applications in mixing and kneading equipment.
JAX Perma-Gear FG ISO 220 are 100% PAG-based synthetic food-grade gear oils for heavy-duty worn and shock-loading applications, such as gearbox heads (for use where water contamination is not possible). H1-rated.
JAX Pyro-Plate FGN-2 is a food-grade synthetic grease with high resistance to moisture. It is suitable for both high and low temperatures and high loads within mixing and kneading equipment. H1-rated.
Cutting machinery
JAX Food Grade Mould Release N-S is a food-grade non-soy release lubricant approved for food contact. It can be used to provide efficient food release from cutting machinery. H3-rated.
Separating agents
JAX Food Grade Mold Release N-S is a food-grade non-soy release lubricant approved for food contact for the release of hard surfaces and bread pans. It can be used to provide efficient food release from cutting machinery. H3-rated.
JAX DC Conveyor Release WB is a separating lubricant for wire mesh or plastic slat conveyors. H3-rated.
Fermentation chamber
JAX Proofer Chain Oil is a food-grade chain oil with superior anti-corrosion quality and excellent load-carrying capacities for applications such as chains in fermentation chambers. H1-rated.
JAX Pyro-Plate FGN-2 is a food-grade synthetic grease with high resistance to moisture. It is suitable for both high and low temperatures and high loads as a fermentation bearing grease. H1-rated.
Oven chains
JAX Pyro-Kote FG Series are synthetic ester-based lubricants specifically for cleaning and providing deposit-free lubrication in high-temperature oven chain applications. H1-rated.
JAX Oven-Ice FG-2 is a 100% synthetic PAO-based grease with an inorganic thickener system for extremely high temperature and moderately low-temperature conditions. Clear in colour; H1-rated.
Spiral coolers and freezers
JAX Flow-Guard ISO 150, 220, 320, 460 and 680: They are 100% PAO EP gear oils with food certification and very high performance at low temperatures.
JAX Magna-Plate 80, 86 and 88 are chain oils for extreme low-temperature applications, such as freezers with temperatures as low as -85°F (-65°C).
JAX Magna-Plate 22 is a grease for incidental contact with food that works in extremely low temperatures -70°C, lubricating bearings and protecting refrigeration and freezing equipment.
Ammonia refrigeration systems
JAX COMPRESYN® NH3 is an NFS H1-rated food-grade ammonia semi-synthetic refrigeration compressor oil, compatible with naphthene-based oils used in ammonia compressors.
In addition to lubrication, high-temperature adhesives and sealants can be used in industrial ovens and bakeries to further optimise the performance and safety of components.
