NSK has developed the world’s first
grease lubricant that is 100% derived from food grade ingredients. The development represents a breakthrough for any plants where machinery, production equipment or devices come into contact with foods, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics. Furthermore, the new
H3G grease is ideal for any application that is suited to the lubricant’s additional strengths of water resistance and low torque.
Initially, this grease has been installed into NSK’s Silver-Lube® series, a range of corrosion resistant bearing units designed specifically for use in industries where frequent and thorough wash-downs are necessary, optimum hygiene standards are required and good chemical resistance is important over a wide temperature range.
Typical applications range from food machinery such as shakers, fillers, centrifugal separators, bottling machines and conveyors, through to pharmaceutical, cosmetics and medical process devices, including pumps. Importantly, the environmentally friendly grease conforms to the highest international standards for safety regarding products that may come into accidental contact with food.
The new NSK eco-friendly grease, which is petroleum-free, exceeds the standards of lubricants currently used widely in such applications. These are generally based on rapeseed oil and other vegetable oils that contain many non-food ingredients. Such greases can also have performance limitations, with lower oxidative stability, resulting in lubricity and durability issues.
In contrast, NSK’s grease is made entirely from food-based ingredients including the base oil, thickening agent and additives. For instance, food-grade vegetable oil is used for its excellent heat tolerance as a base oil, while the thickening agent contains food additives with a fine 3D network for good base oil retention.
The lubricant is also formulated with food additives that further enhance the durability of the base oil, delivering a grease that offers enhanced oxidative stability and one-third lower friction loss (torque) than existing comparable products. Further advantages are less leakage and longer service live, even where there is exposure to water.
From an environmental perspective, the grease is naturally biodegradable and produces no toxic waste, making it both non-polluting and fully sustainable.
