The food and drink industry is characterised by highly challenging factors. To meet these complex requirements, SKF has developed a portfolio of dedicated products and solutions.

SKF’s approach involves direct and ongoing collaboration with customers, enabling the development of bespoke solutions tailored to specific operating conditions. This teamwork is aimed at constantly improving efficiency and productivity.

H2: products and solutions for the food and beverage sector

SKF Food Line ball bearing units are lubricated for life and are designed to withstand washing conditions. They combine an advanced hygienic design with reliable bearing performance, helping to eliminate areas where contaminants can accumulate and reduce the risk of bacterial and allergen growth.

They are available as open units or fully sealed units with a cover and rear seal. In the coming months, a new range of closed and open covers made from plastic and stainless steel – which are detectable by metal detectors – will also be introduced; these will be available as optional accessories or pre-fitted on the closed units.

SKF’s range comprises a comprehensive catalogue of bearings designed to meet all the requirements of the food and beverage industry.

The shielded self-aligning roller bearing with food-grade seals is ideal for non-corrosive environments and is used in post-processing and packaging applications, for example in mills, mixers, and in filling, packaging and palletising systems.

The shielded self-aligning roller bearing with seals made from food-grade material, on the other hand, is ideal for heavy loads and is used in preparation and processing systems. It is characterised by high fatigue resistance and a higher dynamic load capacity.

The sealed stainless steel radial ball bearing is suitable for corrosive environments and is used in damp and contaminated areas, such as milk processing.

MRC sealed radial ball bearings are used in highly corrosive environments, such as lemon juice production and ice-cream hardening tunnels. The rings are made from high-nitrogen, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, whilst the ceramic balls further enhance corrosion resistance and fatigue life.

Solid Oil stainless steel bearings are ideal for wet and damp environments where lubrication is difficult and contamination can be a challenge, such as in food processing involving heat removal. Solid Oil is a lubrication technology in which an oil-saturated polymer matrix fills all the free space inside the bearing. This enables efficient lubrication, protects the bearing from the ingress of water and contaminants, and prevents oil leakage.

SKF also develops cam followers for the various stages of production along the line, taking into account the cleaning requirements for different types of beverages. The solutions can be customised to meet the specific application requirements of the process. The main applications include filling machines, PET blow moulding machines and packaging equipment. They are available with stainless steel or standard steel bearings and are characterised by low noise levels and high performance in operation.