Lubrication Systems For Food And Beverage Applications

Lubrication systemsfor food and beverageapplicationsHelping lower maintenance costs andimprove productivity

The latest technologyfrom a name you trustToday’s food and beverage manufacturersare constantly seeking new solutions andadvanced technology to maintain freshness,reduce spoilage and maximize their productivity. The industry is moving toward science-based manufacturing requiring moreautomation. In this changing environment,proper lubrication of high-speed advancedtechnology machinery is essential.Food and beverage industries have someof the toughest environmental conditionsin which to maintain machinery. Moisture,extreme heat, extreme cold, product spillsand sanitary washdown procedures all adversely affect lubrication processes and canseverely reduce bearing life. Bearing failureand the resulting downtime may causeserious problems including lost production,spoilage and increased operating costs.The Lincoln advantageLincoln has been inventing and improvinglubrication practices for the food and beverage, agriculture, construction, mining andautomobile industries since 1910. Thecompany has been awarded more U.S.patents than all other lubrication systemmanufacturers combined.With so many innovations in lubrication,and a worldwide network of knowledgeabledistributors, food and beverage manufacturers trust Lincoln quality and service.Lincoln designs and manufactures everything you need – from automatic lubricationsystems to a full line of manual lubricationtools and equipment.Benefits ofautomatic lubricationPrecisely apply small amounts of lubricant frequentlyLubricant volume per lubrication eventToo much lubrication product contamination and breached sealsAutomatic lubricationOptimalManual lubricationToo little lubrication friction and wearTime2 Drastically reduce downtime costsfor bearing-related failures. Reduce lost production and laborcosts attributed to manual lubrication. Reduce product contamination oftencaused by over-lubrication. Prevent accidents that can occurwhen manually lubricating. Reduce lubricant, housekeepingand energy costs. An investment in automaticlubrication will quickly pay for itself.

It is your choice:three lubrication optionsAutomatic lubrication – feeds all points ona machine while it is operatingCentralized lubrication – feeds a numberof components from a single pointManual lubrication – performedpoint-by-pointAutomatic lubrication systems feature apump – with controls – that feeds lubricantto the metering devices – which delivergrease or oil in small, precise amounts atregular intervals to vital components whilethe machine is operating. The optimal timeto lubricate the machine is during operation,when all load-bearing surfaces are continuously exposed. In areas using heavy washdown or chemical sanitation methods, thesystem controls may be programmed toprovide a pre-lubrication function thatreplaces lost lubricant before startup.You can also choose to have our systemsinstalled with dedicated controls or utilizemachine-based programmable logiccontrollers (PLC) to schedule and monitorlubrication events.The centralized system extends bearing life,improves safety and reduces maintenancecost. The machine operator uses a greasegun and applies lubricant to a convenientlyplaced central divider valve that feedsgrease directly to every bearing – while themachine is running. It allows the operator tolubricate conveyor bearings in 10 percentof the time required in the point-to-pointmethod. Centralized systems eliminate theneed to remove guarding in order to accesslubrication fittings and can be used in allareas of food-processing facilities.While less popular in the food and beverageindustry today, point-by-point lubricationcan be effective in applications that aredifficult to centralize or automate but mayinclude moving points or single fittings inremote locations. Typically, machinery beingmanually lubricated is shut down for safetyreasons. The initial cost for the equipmentcan be lower, but it is the most labor-intensive approach. Grease guns are available inmanual and air- and battery-operatedversions.C autionFor all systems described in this brochure, see important product usageinformation on the back cover.3

The Lincoln advantageWe stand up to washdownsWorldwide experience and supportBecause spoilage and contamination areever-present problems, caustic washesand acid sprays are used to remove organicparticles from machines, bottles and kegs.A steam blast may also be relied on to sterilize your equipment. To endure this necessary but abusive treatment, we build ourlubricating system components to resistcorrosion. We fabricate many of themfrom 304 or 316 stainless steel alloyand nickel-plated components.We have manufacturing facilities in theUnited States, China and Europe withLincoln sales and support personnel invirtually every region of the world. Ourinternational network of systems housedistributors in 74 countries is capable ofhandling the toughest problems with skilledpersonnel and a commitment to service.More automatic choices for everyapplicationFrom the industry’s popular Centro-Maticsystem to the internationally knownQuicklub system, automatic lubrication isLincoln’s continuously evolving answer toproduction challenges such as escalatingcosts for maintenance, energy and materialsthat our customers face every day. Add ourtwo-line systems, modular progressivesystems and precise oil spray systems andyou will realize that Lincoln offers moreautomatic solutions than anyone.Specified by top OEMsLincoln’s centralized and automatic systemsare installed on food and beverage machinery manufactured around the world. Designengineers for top equipment manufacturersknow that Lincoln systems work and thatour representatives will be there to assistcustomers with the proper use of the systems once they are delivered and ready tobe put into operation.4Technical know-howLincoln products are designed to meet thestringent demands of the food and beverageindustry. Our dedicated national accountteam works with food and beverage customers to implement customized solutionsand coordinates engineering efforts withoriginal equipment manufacturers andconsulting engineers to provide systemsand new equipment.

Centro-Matic systemsCentro-Matic systems are extremelypopular in the food and beverage industry.They are also extremely reliable as somesystem installations have been in place formore than 20 years protecting criticalprocessing and packaging equipment.A Centro-Matic system features adjustableinjectors that meter a precise volume oflubricant to each bearing. Indicator pinsconfirm delivery to each lubrication point,and systems can be expanded with additional injectors if you decide to serviceadditional bearings at a later date or addanother piece of machinery.Most systems are pneumatically poweredand monitor system pressure to confirmlubricant delivery. We also offer electric andhydraulic-powered systems.Lincoln Centro-Matic systems dispenseeither oil or grease within a wide range oftemperatures and viscosities.Profile: Automatic lubrication successCompany: Pickle producer in the southeastern United StatesApplication: PalletizersInstallation: Centro-MaticReturn on investment: Less than six monthsPrevious Method: With annual production of 60 million jars of pickles, relishes and peppers,the company commissioned its first palletizer on a line without an automatic lubricationsystem. Approximately 150 points and critical chains on the machine needed regularlubrication. About 30 points could only be lubricated when the palletizer was not operating.Despite a rigorous preventive maintenance schedule, bearings failed frequently. Two sets ofdrive chains failed, and over-lubricated bearings often dripped onto cases prior to shipment.Automatic: The company now has our system installed on its six palletizers. Because of the increased reliability of the palletizers,the company has gained approximately 444 hours of uptime annually on each one. The stainless steel system components permitwashdown after spills or breakage without adverse effects. Based on current average line use and average production, the companyrealized a gain in annual production capacity of about 800,000 cases. Despite a 200 percent increase in production over three yearsduring peak season, the system has helped keep the number of maintenance personnel the same.5

Quicklub and Modular LubeQuicklub and Modular Lube systemsdispense grease or oil through a dividervalve metering device. These systems alsometer a precise volume of lubricant to eachbearing, incorporating features that providediagnostic feedback and warnings if asystem fault occurs. Most are DC powered(AC also available) and can be controlled bythe machine PLC or by a dedicated timerincorporated into the pump.Profile: Automatic lubrication successCompany: Coca-Cola, Bendorf, GermanyApplication: BottlerInstallation: QuicklubReturn on investment: Less than two yearsLincoln was involved from the beginning of this project. As the new equipment arrived,systems were installed. Years of experience with Lincoln systems in other plants inGermany proved the benefits of automatic lubrication. Lincoln engineers designed andinstalled a unique automatic lubrication system that met the plant’s high-tech requirements.According to Lincoln’s calculations, Coca-Cola saves 250,000 per year in maintenance andproduction costs at Bendorf because of its automatic lubrication system.The system is a Quicklub progressive system using one pump that is hooked up to morethan 3 000 lubrication points. The maximum distance from the location of the pump to the farthest lubrication point is approximately560 ft. (171 m).Despite widely dispersed lubrication points and long tube lengths, an exact measured quantity of grease can be delivered to eachlubrication point.The main and stand-by pumps are PowerMaster pneumatic pumps. They are connected to a one cubic meter (1 000 liter (264 gal.))bulk container. This layout provides an environmentally friendly system which eliminates the cleaning and disposal of empty barrelsbecause only one container needs refilling.6