GRAPHALLOY® was presented with a challenge from one of the largest food manufacturers in the country. Their frozen food division, specializing in frozen pizza, was experiencing difficulties with the operation of their bakery ovens. The conventional oil-lubricated bearings being used in the ovens were lasting only one week. The customer was replacing 16 to 20 burned-out bearings every seven days for over one year.
As a prime supplier to the school lunch program, this food manufacturer was producing pizza in high volume. They were baking two shifts per day plus a third shift for cleaning, seven days a week. To maintain this level of production, the bakery was using two continuous belt-type ovens with an operating temperature of 525° F (275° C).
The bakery had problems keeping the belt tracking straight as it rolled through the long ovens. On several occasions, the belts and entire sections of the oven were damaged when the belts veered off the track. The customer devised a system of cam follower roller guides to keep the belts on track. The cam followers were mounted on an adjustable bracket with slotted holes to keep the rollers in contact with the belt.
Despite these efforts, the bearings continued to fail. This customer eventually contacted us through our website (www.graphalloy.com) with an email that began, "If your bearings are as good as you say they are...". Sensing their frustration, the local sales representative for Graphite Metallizing met with the customer to evaluate their problem and recommend a solution. Within a few weeks, GRAPHALLOY 1217-24-120.3 cam followers were installed. More than four months later, these cam followers were not showing any signs of wear.
Once again, GRAPHALLOY has exceeded expectations.
In addition to bakery ovens, GRAPHALLOY bearings may be used in dryers, grills, bottling plants and packaging equipment - anywhere grease and oil might fail. GRAPHALLOY bearings also withstand steam cleaning operations without any loss of performance.
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