Food contamination risks can be reduced by switching to H1 food-grade lubricants

Food contamination risks can be mitigated by switching operations to food-grade lubricants which are registered H1 by global health organisation National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), according to ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants.

The firm’s Equipment Builder Group, which works with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to optimise industrial food and beverage machinery, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

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Rainer Lange (Paul Bergen/Paul Bergen)

Mobil SHC Cibus oils

The company provides food-grade lubricants for the full spectrum of hydraulic, gear, bearing, circulation system and heat transfer applications and works with OEMs, including Arburg, GEA Westfalia Separator Group, PIV Drives and Stoeber Antriebstechnik.

Rainer Lange, Mobil SHC brand advisor – EAME, ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants, told FoodProductionDaily its flagship product was its Mobil SHC Cibus oils and it works with OEMs in more than 150 countries around the world to develop lubricants to improve the safety, environmental awareness and productivity of food processor operations.

The food industry continues to grow in emerging markets like South America and the Middle East due to the rising consumer demand for higher quality produce and more diversity on the supermarket shelves,” said Lange.

It is important to broaden the appeal of food products to cater for diverse markets and ethnic requirements. Formulated to meet nut-, wheat- and gluten-free requirements, the Mobil SHC Cibus product range is suitable under Halal and Kosher dietary law.”

Established in 1914, the Equipment Builder Group, comprised of technical experts and engineers, is often involved with OEMs from the start of equipment conception through to design and construction. This enables the team to develop recommendations on formulating lubricants to optimise the performance of equipment.

100th anniversary

For 100 years, ExxonMobil’s Equipment Builder Group has been helping food processing OEMs develop equipment which can improve their customer’s operations,” added Lange.

Food and beverage processors are challenged not only with maximising equipment performance and boosting productivity, but ensuring food safety. Mobil SHC Cibus Series lubricants help food and beverage processors meet their application-specific goals and provide sustainability-related benefits, such as enhanced energy efficiency and extended oil drain intervals.”

He added while the trend to improve safety and environmental care is growing, productivity remains important.

Mobil products and services are designed to minimise downtime by providing long drain intervals and improving equipment reliability. Safety, environmental care and productivity are intrinsically linked, and it is becoming increasingly important to address all three elements to succeed in a competitive marketplace.”