Making the Switch to Help Improve Safety and Increase Productivity
Carsten Heck, Food Industry Advisor, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties, explains the benefits that food and beverage processing companies can achieve by incorporating high quality H1 registered lubricants into their operation. In addition he provides operators with top-tips to successfully converting an application from a mineral to an H1 registered lubricant.
Food processors often cite food safety, energy costs and labour as three important issues affecting equipment reliability and productivity. Using modern, premium quality lubricants that are suitable for food machinery applications where incidental food contact with the machinery lubricants may occur,can help support all threeof these areas. What’s more, they can help minimise the potential for product recalls, maintain brand integrity and increase equipment performance, potentially enhancing a company’s productivity in the face of these tight economic times.
Selecting H1 Registered Lubricants
First and foremost, the food processor should conduct a plant audit, torun alongside local Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures, to establish whether contamination of the food is possible by lubricating oils or greases. If, based on that risk assessment, the answer comes back positive the processor should select an H1 registered lubricant. H1 lubricants are formulated with base oils and components that comply with FDA 178.3570 and are suitable for applications in machinery that could result in the lubricant potentially having"incidental contact" with the food or beverage being manufactured.
Then the processor should look for other features and benefits on offer from the lubricant. High performance synthetic H1 lubricants are often engineered usingadvanced synthetic base stocks that firstly exhibit outstanding load-carrying properties to help prolong equipment life and secondly low internal friction which helpsto reduce energy costs. Also, look for a lubricant which offerslong term-oxidation stability, anti-rust and anti-corrosion features – all of which can reduce the potential of unscheduled downtime associated with the replacement of components.
Finally, choose H1 lubricants which can be used in applications for both below and above the processing line, helping to reduce inventory costs and the risk of contamination from using nonH1 registered lubricants. Most high performance H1 lubricants are applicable for the full spectrum of hydraulic, gear and air compressor applications. In some instances, the same lubricant can be used in both compressors and hydraulic systems. Other applications include greases for medium and high temperature applications, vacuum pump oils, heat transfer oils and aerosols.
ExxonMobil has developed a full range of high quality NSF H1 registered lubricants to help food and beverage processors maximise their operations while maintaining safety. Mobil SHC Cibus lubricants are designed to provide food and beverage processors with high performance lubrication and long service life, even under extreme operating conditions such as freezers and cookers. In addition, the range can be used in nut-, wheat- and gluten free production lines, and is suitable under Kosherand Halaldietary law.
Making the Switch
There are several advisory steps that need to be followed to convert a non-NSFH1 or HT-1 registered lubricant in a piece of equipment to a NSF H1 or HT-1 registeredlubricant. Each stage should be clearly documented according to HACCP planning andmay vary according to the complexity of the individual equipment and maintenanceprocedures.
Step 1 - Operate the system under normal conditions until stabilised operating temperature is reached
Step 2 - Drain as much oil from the system as possible. Check filters, reservoirs, etc.while the oil is still warm. Remove solid contaminants
Step 3 - Replace filters
Step 4 - Change the system with sufficient fresh NSF H1 or HT-1 registered oil to ensurefull circulation
Step 5 - Operate the system under normal conditions for a minimum of one hour. If theflushing fluid shows signs of contamination from excessive solid or water contamination,through visual or used oil analysis inspection, then repeat steps 2-5
Step 6 - Fill the system with recommended NSF H1 or HT-1 registered lubricant. Assume normal operation and monitor filters
Step 7 - Clearly label all machinery equipment with the type of lubricant that should beused.It is recommended to flush gearbox and hydraulic systems when converting fromconventional mineral oil to NSF H1 registered lubricants. For systems containing largecomplicated internal structures, systems with heavily aged lubricants or lubricants withthe presence of significant levels of unwanted heavy metals, additional flushing and oilanalysis may be required to achieve adequate cleanliness. This will help ensure theintegrity of the system and the lubricant
Step 8 – Establish an effective oil analysis programme. Once the equipment is running with the new NSF H1 or HT-1 registered product, it is imperative for maintenance professionals to monitor its performance to ensure the conversion was done properly.
Improving Performance and Increasing Productivity
Along with delivering exceptional performance and long lasting equipment protection, premium quality synthetic H1 lubricants can also generate significant cost and energy savings. For example, in proprietary worm gear bench tests, Mobil SHC Cibus 460 synthetic H1 registered lubricant demonstrated up to 3% overall efficiency improvement compared to Mobilgear 600 XP 460, a mineral oil based product1.
In addition, high performance synthetic H1 hydraulic oils can last up to two times longer2than conventional mineral based hydraulic oils, whilst maintaining a high degree of system cleanliness. Long life and clean systems can reduce the costs and risks associated with frequent oil changes and unplanned component failures. A high performance synthetic H1 registered food machinery lubricant can also help plant managers and maintenance professionals consolidate lubricants through its ability to provide excellent equipment protection in a wide range of applications.
With food and beverage processing companies under pressure to reduce costs and increase productivity to compete in today’s marketplace, many operators are starting to see both the safety and performance benefits of switching to high quality synthetic H1 food grade lubricants.
For more information about the Mobil SHC Cibus range and services for the food processing industry, please contact the ExxonMobil Lubricants Technical Help Desk on or +420 221 456 426, or visit our food processing sector pages on
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1 - Results determined on gearbox at 100% rated load, 1800 rpm and controlled room temperature. Results may vary based on equipment and operating conditions.
2 - Proprietary ExxonMobil hydraulic testing demonstrated that Mobil SHC Cibus 46 can last up to two times longer than conventional, non H1 registered mineral based hydraulic oils