Food-Grade Lubricants: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Food-grade lubricants are oils, greases and lubricants that, being equipped with NSF H1, H2, H3, and ISO 21469 certifications, are specifically designed for use in food-processing machinery.
This means that they are approved for use in applications in contact with food products, preventing harmful contaminations and health & safety hazards. This allows them to reduce friction, downtimes and maintenance requirements while improving safety, efficiency and production output.
Food-grade lubricants are commonly used within food-processing plants in:
- Gears
- Bearings
- Chains
- Bearings
- Hydraulics
- Pneumatics
- Compressors
- Pumps
- Conveyor belts
The global food-grade lubricants market was valued at £270 million in 2021, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% until 2030. This growth is accounted for by the increasing consumption of processed foods and beverages. As a result, food industry manufacturers are looking for the most innovative food-grade lubricants to gain a competitive edge in this growing market.
Here we answer the top frequently asked questions on JAX food-grade lubricants:
How often should food-grade gear oils be drained or replaced?
Different gearboxes have different operating conditions, as set out in their operating manual. Factors that affect the lifespan of gear oils range from temperature variances, water and cleaning chemical contamination, and operation hours.
Carrying out an oil analysis through the JAX RPM Laboratory is the recommended way to determine accurate oil change intervals.
Why should food-grade lubricants be used throughout the plant when they are only required in one application?
As a food-grade manufacturer, food safety is of utmost importance to you and your stakeholders.
The benefits of using food-grade lubricants throughout the plant range from:
- Preventing cross-contamination between industrial and food-grade lubricants
- Adding an extra insurance policy to the company, ensuring food-safety throughout
- Preventing product recalls due to accidental exposures to non-food-grade lubricants
- Having application-specific lubricants for food-processing applications, improving lifespan and drain intervals
How does the storage environment affect the shelf life of JAX food-grade lubricants?
Two main factors affect the shelf life of JAX food-grade lubricants:
- Temperature: Both high heat (greater than 43°C) and extreme cold (less than -18°C) can affect lubricant stability. The ideal storage temperature range should be from 0°C to 25°C.
- Moisture: Varying exposure to heat and cold can result in potential moisture contamination. As a result, food-grade lubricants should be stored in a dry location, preferably inside.
When the lubricants must be stored outside, it’s advisable to use plastic covers or tippe oil drums to direct water and contamination away. In addition, if the grease is stored upright, oil separation and moisture contamination are further prevented.
Are JAX food-grade lubricants vegetable or plant-based?
JAX food-grade lubricants are typically based on petroleum or synthetic petroleum. This allows them to provide a much longer product life and improved protective characteristics than vegetable or plant-based lubricants.
Vegetable or plant-based lubricants often oxidise quickly when exposed to elevated temperatures, leading to reduced protection of equipment.
What is the procedure for changing from another lubricant to a JAX food-grade lubricant?
When changing from another lubricant to a JAX food-grade lubricant, a conversion procedure will be provided to you by your respective JAX representative. It’s important to follow this procedure properly in order to prevent cross-contamination and incompatibilities.
What food-grade lubricants does Antala offer?
At Antala, we offer food-grade lubricants from JAX, which has been providing high-quality synthetic lubricants for the food industry since 1955.
Discover how our JAX food-grade lubricants have been used in gearboxes, conveyor belts and chains, compressors and vacuum pumps, bearings, hydraulics, the dairy industry and the meat and butchery industry.
Contact one of our food-grade lubricants directly to get expert advice on your specific application.
