A simple step towards food safety
The food industry is large, global, and diverse – yet its production equipment shares common requirements – every machine with moving parts needs to be sufficiently, and regularly lubricated so that gears, conveyor belts, cooling compressors, and other machine components, move smoothly and energy-efficiently, but this requirement is often overlooked!

Food and drink backgrounds: top view of a wooden table filled with a large variety of food. The composition includes minced meat, sausages, raw fish, cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, a red wine bottle, legumes, spices, pasta, olive oil, nuts, honey, among others. High resolution 42Mp studio digital capture taken with SONY A7rII and Zeiss Batis 40mm F2.0 CF lens
In busy working environments the question of what needs to be lubricated and with how much oil or grease, and when, is not trivial. Too much, too little, or the wrong lubricant at the wrong time can quickly bring production to a halt, or at least hamper it, which is why it is important to have a clear lubrication concept to ensure better compliance with quality standards and regulations in production, as well as identifying opportunities for cost reductions.
Lubricant manufacturers should offer advice and services that can provide important contributions to the organisation and support the establishment of process structures beyond the products themselves. One area where these objectives can be achieved for quality management, audit preparation, and process efficiencies specifically in the Food and Beverage sector is by using ‘food-grade’ lubricants.
Food-grade has become the standard term used for lubricants in the food-processing industry, however, this is not correct, because food-grade actually refers to materials that are intended for direct contact with food, such as inner packaging. Contrary to popular belief there are no official government-mandated rules or laws that define low-toxicity ‘food-grade’ lubricants. Rather, food-grade lubricants registered as NSF H1 products are only intended for indirect contact, or technically unavoidable food contact.
Lubricant management: For efficient processes and optimised audits
The best lubricant is only as good as the way in which it is used, but the use of oils and greases requires special expertise that is often underestimated. A good lubricant supplier therefore not only sells products to customers, but also offers a holistic lubrication concept based on Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) measures, such as professional counselling and services aimed at optimising machine outputs and component lifetime. Such a lubricant concept can ideally be multiplied across different locations, and even internationally.
Klüber Lubrication has developed a digital solution for the coordination and optimal use of these services. The system provides a central overview of the associated lubrication tasks and data. The TPM service portfolio addresses and optimises the factors of high energy costs, equipment, lubricant condition monitoring and spare parts. This also has a major impact on the sustainability factors of material, waste, and energy and thus on your sustainability performance indicators.
When choosing their lubricant supplier, food manufacturers should pay very close attention to product features and additional services that help to maintain quality standards and thus also improve food safety. These include: – ‘Food-grade,’ NSF H1 registration. – ISO 21469 certification of production plants – Development of a comprehensive lubrication concept – Digital services and lubricant condition monitoring services that support the lubrication concept – Employee training.

HACCP (Hazard Analyses and Critical Control Points) – Food Safety and Quality Control in food industry concept with business manager pointing to icons against a digital display.; Shutterstock ID 1945551856; purchase_order: KLF webinar; job: ; client: ; other:
Humans make the difference: Lubrication Training for Operators and Engineers
Whether compliance with standards and regulations can be ensured, and audits passed without any problems, depends on the employees who work with the lubricants. Not only do they have a direct impact on food safety, but they also influence how machines and equipment comply with specified food safety standards. Inadequate lubrication can lead to machine wear, which can cause machine material to enter the product leading product recalls that could be avoided.
A TPM concept can include colour coding of different lubrication products to avoid confusion that could quickly hamper production, or the safe handling of lubricants through training of production and maintenance staff. Good training also helps to increase the understanding of lubricants and the standards associated with them. This also helps to overcome internal resistance to compliance with standards.
Another solution is the use of Automatic lubricators to supply the lubrication point with a defined quantity of grease or lubricating oil at regular intervals. The result: thanks to the appropriate lubricator and correct lubricant quantity adjusted to specific applications is neither over lubrication nor under lubrication. The lubrication point thus receives the optimum amount of lubricant and, due to the closed system is protected from negative environmental influences such as dust, contamination, and moisture. Occupational safety also benefits from automatic lubricators: they minimise contact points between man and machine, especially workers’ presence in dangerous areas that are difficult to access and reduce the number of accidents due to slipping as a result of lubricant leakage.
To find out more about our food safe products and TPM solutions please contact a Kluber representative.
Email: info@uk.klueber.com
Link: www.klueber.com