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download articleShell launches synthetic 3H registered lubricant
Shell lubricants companies have launched the first ever synthetic, NSF 3H registered lubricant developed specifically for the packaging industry, bringing higher performance direct food contact registered lubrication to the sector.Shell Cassida™ Fluid DC 32 is the latest addition to Shell’s food grade lubricant range, which is designed to offer excellent production performance and equipment protection, as well as increased food safety. While the existing Cassida range has received NSF H1 and/or HT1 registration for incidental food contact, Shell Lubricants have responded to the specific requirements of can manufacturers with a synthetic, high performance lubricant which is also 3H registered, thereby offering food safety, operational and HSSE benefits to packaging customers.
Explains Kate Durnford, Global Food General Manager, Shell Lubricants: “Packaging manufacturers have been waiting for an alternative solution to solvent-based lubricants and Shell Cassida Fluid DC 32 will provide them with a synthetic option. Cans are often not cleaned between manufacturing and filling, creating a significant risk of food contamination by the lubricant used in the necking process. With its 3H registration for direct food contact, NSF H1 registration and excellent performance benefits, Shell Cassida Fluid DC 32 helps to reduce levels of potentially damaging contamination and has already demonstrated significant operational benefits during detailed field trials.”
With significantly higher viscosity than solvent-based packaging lubricants, Shell Cassida Fluid DC 32 not only offers excellent performance but generates significantly lower levels of oil vapour, creating a cleaner working environment. The cleaner running of the equipment has positive implications for health and safety of machinery operators, cleaning and maintenance spend, and smooth running of the equipment. The increased viscosity also enables operators to dramatically reduce their lubricant consumption; in field tests at a large can manufacturer in Germany, the customer reported a reduction of between 50% to 70% in lubricant volume used, compared to its previous solvent-based product over the same period.
Following the success of the field tests, the canning manufacturer now uses Shell Cassida DC 32 as a necking oil in all of its Can-O-Mat lines. Making this switch has enabled the customer to reduce component wear and improve HSE by lowering oil vapour levels during operation.
With its ability to maintain viscosity at high temperatures, Shell Cassida Fluid DC 32 can help packaging operators reduce the costs and operational problems associated with oil thinning. A common problem during packaging equipment gear box lubrication, thinning can lead to excessive gear oil drainage, decreasing the interval between gear oil changes, while increasing the cost of lubrication and risk of accelerated gear wear.
Kate Durnford adds: “Shell Lubricants are constantly looking at new ways in which we can address the needs of the food industry and related sectors with innovative high performance products. With Shell Cassida Fluid DC 32 we are not only responding to the need to manage the risk of food contamination, but are offering wide-ranging performance benefits that improve operator health and safety, while reducing volume throughput."
For more information: FUCHS LUBRICANTS GmbH
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