3 Reasons Why You Should Use Oil-free Motors in the Food Industry

1) Eliminate the Risk of Oil Contamination

Oil leaks in drum motors are more common than you might think. Even major suppliers acknowledge that leakage can happen during normal operation. The fact that H1 food-grade lubricants exist at all proves that some level of contamination is expected. The problem is that these leaks often go unnoticed because:

• They occur gradually as microleaks, making them difficult to detect.
• There is no routine testing for excess lubricants in food products.
  
  

This creates a false sense of security. While regulations limit food-grade lubricant contamination to 10 ppm, there is little oversight, meaning leaks can go undetected—until it’s too late.

Food-grade lubricants are not designed for consumption, and their presence in food should be minimized. They are a mixture of chemicals, and some studies suggest they can even serve as a breeding ground for bacteria like Listeria. The assumption that using food-grade lubricants makes oil leaks “safe” is a misconception.

Oil-free drum motors eliminate this risk entirely. By removing oil from the equation, you prevent contamination at the source rather than trying to mitigate its effects later.

A recent example of a recall due to oil contamination

References:

LUBRICATION FUNDAMENTALS - Incidental contact lubricants for the food industry - Start your ounce of prevention with the right formulation and processes.

Lubricant's role in food safety

2) Reduce Maintenance and Downtime

Oil-lubricated motors require ongoing maintenance, including:

• Regular oil changes.
• Leak inspections and repairs.
• Managing compliance with food safety regulations related to lubricants.
  
  

This results in unplanned downtime and higher operational costs.

Oil-free drum motors, on the other hand, eliminate the need for oil-related maintenance. With fewer components subject to wear and tear, they last longer and keep production running smoothly.

3) Improve energy-efficiency

Our oil-free drum motors weren’t just designed to eliminate oil—they were built to be more energy-efficient. Here’s how:

• Synchronous Motor Technology: Unlike traditional motors, our drum motors use synchronous technology, which inherently reduces energy loss.
• Stronger Mechanical Design: Because we eliminated oil, we reinforced the motor’s internal structure to ensure durability and efficiency.
• Lower Energy Consumption: In tests comparing our oil-free synchronous drum motors to conventional gear motors, we found up to a 36% reduction in annual energy consumption.

Go to test.