A new range of food-line ball bearing units has been launched. The hygienically designed components are intended for use in food-processing equipment, as an important element of a proactive approach to food safety.

Since 2012 the food and beverage industry has seen a significant increase in units recalled, with a 92.7% spike in US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls and an 83.4% uptick in recalled products by the US Department of Agriculture.

Bacterial contamination and undeclared allergens represent 75% of the top causes of FDA food recalls, making proactive food safety a priority for the food and beverage industry. However, there has been limited investigation into contamination risks at the component level and potential solutions to the problem.

“Companies have safety practices to protect their food product. These might include measures such as posted signs encouraging hand-washing or purchasing hygienically designed food-grade machines,” says SKF innovation and business development chief technical officer and president Victoria van Camp. “The problem is, traditional relubrication, wash-downs and dry cleaning of bearings can create hidden means by which contaminants thrive, such as airborne droplets, wastewater, or contaminated grease.”

SKF’s Blue Range of food-line ball bearings are designed to improve hygiene, reliability, performance and compliance with food safety regulations, while reducing maintenance costs for food and beverage companies.

The sealing system and high-performance bearing grease used in the units aim to improve the performance and hygiene of food processing equipment. The hygienic design makes the bearing units easier to clean and longer-lasting, reducing the risk of bacteria build-up in difficult-to-clean areas and minimising the spread of bacteria during cleaning. In addition, the bearing units do not require relubrication, reducing production stoppages to lubricate and clean equipment.

The units also aim to reduce environmental waste, with less hot water required for cleaning, less grease deposited in waste water and fully-recyclable components.