Success Story
Industry: Food and Beverage
Application: Baby Leaf Harvester
Cost Savings: $67,493
Introduction
A processor of food products harvests baby leaf products for sale to leading supermarkets. Their leaf harvester machine had a variety of low cost mounted unit bearings to support shafts of various sizes. During the harvesting season, the machine was subject to frequent bearing failures due to ingress of dirt and water. When a failure occured the harvesting machine was stopped while repair work was carried out. This lead to production losses and in some cases to spoil crops. NSK experts were asked to review the application and working environment. NSK recommended the mounted unit bearings be replaced with Silver-Lube with offered improved triple sealing arrangement with Stainless Steel Bearings. During the season after the replacement, only two failures occured, leading to productivity improvement and a significant reduction of costs.
Key Facts
- Baby Leaf Harvester
- Low cost bearings used
- Early bearing failure due to water and dirt ingress
- NSK Solution : Silver-Lube and triple sealed stainless steel bearings
- Vast reduction of bearing failure
- Cost savings for bearings and maintenance works leanding to a productivity improvement
- Baby Leaf Harvester
- Silver-Lube Bearing Units
Value Proposals
- NSK reviewed the bearing application and operating conditions and concluded ingress of water and dirt caused early failure
- NSK suggested use of Silver-Lube housing and triple sealed stainless steel bearings
- The bearings were fitted for the new season
- After replacement, only two bearing related failures were reported for the entire season
- Major reduction of maintenance costs
- Significant improvement on productivity
Product Features
- High grade stainless steel bearing-rings, cage & balls, seal core & grub screws, grease nipple & holt hole liners
- Nitrile rubber seals and stainless steel flingers
- Thermoplastic polyester resin housing; plastic end covers available
- Factory filled with a wide temperature USDA H1 food grade grease
- Silver-Lube® is available in four different geometries
- Resistant to cleaning agents and chemicals thus resistant to corrosion & peeling paint
- Long life / low cost of ownership
- Superior resistance to regular washdowns & chemical attack due to effective & efficient sealing arrangement
- Relubrication is possible for long trouble-free life, minimizing maintenance, maximizing productivity
- Approved to NSF, temperature scale from -4°F to +194°F (-20°C to +90°C)
Cost Saving Breakdown
| Before | Cost p.a. | NSK Solution | Cost p.a. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost production costs | $134,998 | Lost production costs | $67,505 | |
| Total Costs | $134,998 | $67,505 | ||
Reference:SS-E-2078
