High pressure. Hot water. Caustic chemicals. Combine these challenges and you'll understand what machinery must resist in harsh environments such as food processing plants. To help your next design stay dry, we're showcasing a few washdown-ready products along with an inside look at specialized bearings suited for corrosive settings.

Stainless steel gearbox meets sanitation rules

The stainless steel K series speed reducer (KSS) is IP69K certified to withstand extreme dust, contaminants, high-pressure washing and steam cleaning, and caustic solutions. The KSS can accept up to a 3 hp input and outputs up to 3,400 in.-lb. What's more, the totally enclosed unit keeps contaminants out and food-grade lubricating oil in, offering maintenance-free operation. Three sizes come with a choice of keyed or keyless hollow shafts and single or double-sided solid shafts.

STOBER Drives Inc.
(606) 759-5090
stober.com

Linear shaft motor handles harsh settings

The Linear Shaft Motor features a stainless steel magnetic shaft, suiting it for use in harsh and washdown environments. This non-cogging motor uses all-magnetic flux, enabling it to complete moves with submicron resolution. Its noncritical air gap allows material buildup on the shaft (such as dust) without a loss in linear force. A fiberglass sleeve on the inside of the forcer (coils) completely protects windings from water and debris; coils are further sheltered by epoxy resin that fills the forcer's interior.

Nippon Pulse America Inc.
(540) 633-1677
nipponpulse.com

Medical-grade epoxy stands up to sterilization

EP42HT-2ND2MED (Black) two-component epoxy fully complies with the testing requirements of USP Class VI plastics. This medical-grade epoxy resists recurrent autoclaving and sterilizations including radiation, steam, ethylene oxide, and chemical sterilants. It also insulates electrically with a volume resistivity of more than 1,012 ohm-cm, a dielectric constant of 3.8, and a tensile strength exceeding 12,000 psi at ambient temperatures. Heat resistant to 450° F, it withstands inorganic and organic acids, alkalis, organic solvents, and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Master Bond Inc.
(201) 343-8983
masterbond.com

IP69K gearmotor withstands washdown

The IP69K-rated stainless steel SANIMotor encapsulates all electrical components in thermally conductive epoxy resin, allowing use in ambient temperatures to 104° F. The motor is enclosed in 304 stainless steel tubing, sealed with rubber o-rings, and secured with hex bolts to prevent leaking. Two frame sizes are available — 34F and 49F — for the three-phase, 230-V SANIMotor. Each size is mated to seven standard gearing ratios, which output 345 to 8 rpm and rated torques from 7 to 500 in.-lb.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
(800) 282-4766
bisongear.com

Actuators sport stainless body, rugged seals

All-stainless-steel ERD electric rod-style actuators are designed for stringent food and beverage applications. A smooth, 304 stainless steel body and Viton seals equip the IP67-rated ERD for caustic cleaning environments. The actuator is available in stroke lengths to 12 in. Depending on the choice of ball nut or solid nut, it delivers up to 200 lb of thrust or speeds to 40 in./sec. Solid nuts made of engineered resins offer quiet performance at lower cost. Ball nuts offer positioning accuracy and repeatability with longer life.

Tolomatic Inc.
(800) 328-2174
tolomatic.com

Battling corrosion, one bearing at a time

The battle against corrosion in food processing applications is challenging, but it's a war that food and beverage manufacturers must wage because the impact of corrosive invasion is notorious: It weakens base materials, limits machine longevity, affects human health, and is unsightly to boot. In one tactic to win this war, washdown-duty ball bearings are being incorporated into machine designs.

Ball bearing products have changed considerably over the last 15 years. Manufacturers listened to end users' corrosion concerns and developed bearings that offer high load capacity and longevity in tough environments. Some have focused particular effort on improving housings, raceways, seals, and the bearing cage itself.

Material tradeoffs, special coatings
A major challenge for manufacturers is to create bearings that maximize corrosion protection while maintaining material strength and load capacity. Typically, materials with superior corrosion resistance lack sufficient mechanical properties, such as strength and hardness required for suitable bearing operation. Conversely, steels with the best characteristics for bearing operation offer unsatisfactory performance when exposed to harsh environments and reactive chemicals. That's changing, though.