SKF Y-Bearing Units Increase Productivity and Reduce Downtime in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry presents a tough and varied environment for bearings which have to deal with some major challenges such as coping with excessive moisture due to continual wash-downs, whilst at the same time complying with strict hygiene standards and regulations, never mind the requirement of working continuously. In response to this, bearing manufacturers such as SKF have introduced a new generation of Y-bearing units which have been specifically developed to offer a highly effective solution to withstand water from high pressure wash-downs as well as other sources of moisture in the food and beverage industry.

The Y-bearing units feature a curved, non-porous surface and are available in a range of housing shapes to suit many different purposes. The bearing units can cater for up to 50mm metric and 1 15/16” imperial shafts and are available in a corrosion-resistant composite material or stainless steel. The bearings have zinc-coated or stainless steel inserts which are pre-lubricated with food-grade grease to comply with industry regulations. The Y bearing units are suitable for a range of applications in the industry including pressers, sorters, brush washers and all wash-down areas.

Patricia Van Der Hulst , SKF bearings and solutions manager for food and beverage said “Wash-downs performed hourly, daily, or weekly (depending on processing and regulatory requirements) commonly cause water, detergents and contaminants to penetrate seals, leading to bearing failures in as little as six months. As SKF Food Line Y-bearing units do not allow water to enter the bearing, they eliminate the need for re-lubrication after wash-downs to purge water and contaminants.”

Eliminating the need for re-lubrication helps to increase the lifecycle of the bearings, increases productivity by reducing lubrication downtime, helps prevent foreign bodies from entering the bearings and also prevents dripping grease or purge contamination. Not having to re-lube the bearings also benefits the environment by preventing excess lubricant from filtering into wastewater streams.

Acorn offer an extensive range of SKF bearings so contact us to discuss your bearing and bearing unit requirements for the food and beverage industry and we can provide you with the perfect solution for your needs.