Plant-Based Food Trends Require Careful Mixer Bearing Selection

For decades, Rulon® bearing materials have stood at the forefront for manufacturers and end users of mixers and blenders, prized for their quality, longevity and compatibility with food and pharmaceutical media. The advent of plant-based food innovations has prompted adjustments in processing requirements to achieve the desired product texture and consumer appeal.

Plant-Based Food Production Introduces Unique Requirements for Bearing Selection

Plant-based foods require unique processing methods and equipment. Key factors that affect bearing and component selection include:

• The moisture content of the materials being mixed
• The use of dry powdery ingredients
• The unique characteristics of the proteins and other product components
• Goals for product texture (mouthfeel) and appearance
• Production volume considerations and objectives

The Bearing Selection Process - Customizing Solutions Based on Processing Needs

When choosing bearings for machinery used for plant-based food production, the selection process begins with determining the operating temperature, followed by inquiries about the nature of the ingredients. Is it a dry mix, a slurry, fully wetted? Does it contain abrasive elements such as chickpea or soy powder, or other protein additives that might accelerate wear? It's also important to consider whether the process starts dry and transitions to a wet slurry.

We then gather details about hardware, like mating shaft material, surface finish, special fitting requirements, as well as the Clean-In-Place (CIP) solutions typically used. Other critical factors are the operational speeds, loads, and cycle rates. Understanding the current materials in use and any failure modes experienced is also crucial.

Rulon Materials are Ideal for Food Industry Applications – Including Plant-Based Options

TriStar offers several materials suitable for these applications, including four Rulon® variants that comply with FDA standards (Rulon® 641, Rulon® 123, Rulon® 1337, Rulon® 1439) and two that additionally meet USP Class VI requirements (Rulon® 641, Rulon® 123). Each of these materials have their unique benefits and all are ideal for use in bearings and seals functioning as steady bearings, shaft seals, or other supportive components within the mixers.

TriStar Brings Engineering Expertise and Comprehensive Solutions for the Food Industry

From cryogenic to 600°F, wet, dry or abrasive slurry, high speed or low speed, TriStar’s engineering team can help you find the ideal solution for your mixing application. We recommend you to dig into our food industry deep dive for more specifics and we encourage you to connect with our engineers to discuss your specific application needs.