The Delrin Bearing Succeeds in Food Processing

The Perfect Bearing for Food Processing Environments

Bearings are an unsung component of casters that play a huge part in casters’ performance. Ensuring that the correct bearing is implemented for the application is just as important as ensuring that the proper wheel is used. Food processing environments present elements such as moisture, chemicals, oils and debris that take their toll on casters, wheels and bearings. These elements may cause bearings to seize up, thus causing the wheel to no longer turn and increasing the likelihood of damage to the wheel, flooring and surrounding equipment.

A large frozen foods manufacturer found that the wheels with roller bearings they were using were seizing up. The food processing environment collected grease and debris and required frequent wash downs with abrasive chemicals. The sturdy polyurethane on polyolefin wheels were having difficulty rolling and showed signs of wear from the wash down chemicals being used, a sign that the roller bearings in use weren’t doing the trick. To find a solution to the problem, the company contacted a Caster Connection Regional Solutions Manager (RSM), to find an economical solution to the problem.

Using his many years of experience and extensive knowledge of wheels and casters, the RSM recommended replacing their bearings with Delrin and stainless steel bearings. The client compared both bearings over a nine-month period and found that the Delrin bearings exceeded their expectations and were more price effective than stainless bearings.

The Delrin bearings allowed the wheels to perform as needed in typical use and in wash downs, required no greasing and reduced maintenance. The company saved money by replacing their bearings instead of the entire wheel, and got the results they needed. The Delrin bearings also needed to be replaced less frequently.

Eleven months later, the company continues to use the Delrin bearings with their casters.

Delrin, a product of DuPont, is extremely durable and resistant to corrosion. Delrin bearings are ideal for environments where brine, steam, or excessive liquids are present.