The food and beverage industry can involve fairly harsh environmental operating conditions. This can come from spillage of a processed beverage or immersion in food product. However, frequent wash down, using high pressure and high temperature cleaning solutions involving sanitizing chemicals, can be an even greater source for potential degradation of the bearing performance. In Food & Beverage applications, typically bearing performance is defined by two characteristics: external corrosion resistance and rotational bearing life. In some applications, the external appearance alone decides when a bearing requires replacement. Visual evidence of corrosion can be seen by inspectors as a potential for contamination of adjacent food/beverage product, or as a sign of impending end of life for rotational performance. In other applications, more emphasis is placed on bearing operating life, such that the user wishes to achieve longest operating time of the bearing and minimize loss of production due to unexpected bearing breakdown.
In this paper, we will address Sealmaster mounted ball and roller bearings’ features and benefits, and how they provide solutions that promote the performance needs in the food and beverage industry applications. Additional solutions from Regal Rexnord, such as Link-Belt Klean-Gard® ball bearings and McGill® CRES CAMROL® cam followers, also support these goals with specialized designs for wash-down resistance and contamination control.
Regal Rexnord offers varying solution levels to balance the needs of the application and budget.
| Mounted Ball | |||||||||
| Bearing Insert | Housing | Seal | Shaft Size | End Cap | Shield | IP69K | |||
| Sealmaster SS Gold™ | 440C | 300 series Stainless Steel | High Performance triple lip, FKM | 3/4 – 1 ½” | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sealmaster PN Gold™ | High Phosphorus Nickel coating |
|
High Performance triple lip, FKM | 3/4 - 2 7/16” 20 – 60mm |
Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Link-Belt Kleangard | Chrome or 440C Stainless Steel | White Polypropylene | Single Lip | 3/4 – 1 ½” | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Mounted Roller | |||||||||
| Sealmaster RPB-CR Tapered Roller | Bearing Steel | Fluoropolymer coated cast iron | Single lip, nitrile rubber | 1 3/16 – 5” 35 - 125mm | No | No | Yes | ||
| Cam Followers | |||||||||
| Bearing Insert | Housing | Seal | OD Profile | Mounting Type | Mounting Feature | Shaft Sizes |
|||
| McGill CRES Cam Follower |
440 C Stainless Full complement needle |
440 C Stainless | Standard – <1” = Lubri-Disc Seal | Cylindrical – Standard Crowned – RFQ | Standard stud, Eccentric stud Yoke | Hex Hole - Standard |
|
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Sealmaster SS Gold mounted ball bearings builds off many features as found in PN Gold, into an all stainless steel construction bearing assembly, for those applications where a coating or plating is either not preferred or allowed. This series incorporates the same high performance multi-lip seal, and is available in setscrew locking type in a variety of stainless steel housing configurations.
Sealmaster PN Gold™ mounted ball bearings feature high phosphorus electroless nickel coated steel bearing inserts combined with a high performance multi-lip seal, providing strong resistance to corrosion and contamination. Available with setscrew or SKWEZLOC™ concentric locking collar, and within a variety of stainless steel, composite, and fluoropolymer coated housing configurations.
Sealmaster self-aligning high-capacity tapered roller bearings include fluoropolymer coated housings and lock collar, and single lip contact seal. This IP69K certified product is suited for heavier loading conditions in wet environments where there are heavy loads.
McGill® CRES CAMROL® cam followers are made from 440C stainless steel and factory lubricated with H1 food-grade grease to deliver high performance motion control in corrosive environments. Featuring the LUBRI-DISC®+ seal for improved contamination resistance and lubrication retention, these cam followers reduce internal friction and operating temperatures to extend bearing life. They’re fully interchangeable with standard cam followers and are ideal for rotary fillers, cappers, labelers, and more.
Link-Belt Klean-Gard® ball bearings feature stainless steel inserts for superior corrosion resistance and system cleanliness. Housed in rugged white polypropylene for enhanced durability and wash-down protection, these bearings are designed to extend service life and reduce downtime. They include food-grade grease, high-capacity stainless steel inserts, and advanced sealing systems to guard against contamination which is ideal for conveyors, fillers, palletizers, and packaging equipment.
Investment Cast 300 Series Stainless Steel Housings have a smooth finish for easier cleaning, as well as minimal gaps and entrapment points.
The mounted ball bearing's rotating finger element has a triple lip FKM fluoro-elastomer, with an axial riding lip. This bearing also features an integrated 300 Series stainless steel flinger and inside seal stamping. Cavities are packed with GoldPlex-FG grease.
| Characteristic | Sealmaster Corrosion Duty |
Paint | Electroless Nickel | Teflon®* |
| Acid Resistance | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔✔ | ✔✔✔✔ |
| Base Resistance | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔✔✔ |
| Washdown | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔** |
| General Exposure | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔✔✔ |
| Non-Stick | ✔✔✔✔ | - | - | ✔✔✔✔ |
| Casting Adhesion | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔✔✔ | ✔✔✔ | ✔ |
| Hardness | ✔✔✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔ |
| Color | ✔✔✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ |
| Excellent ✔✔✔✔ | Fair ✔✔ | Unacceptable - **SHOULD NOT BE USED WITH HIGH PRESSURE SPRAYWASH |
|
| Good ✔✔✔ | Poor ✔ | ||
There are various levels of protection as identified by the certification. Below is an outline of the certification and meaning of code:
IP69K represents the highest level of resistance to this test, demonstrating that the product is resistance to ingress of dust and high pressure/high temperature water spray. This certification further endorses the effectiveness of the various sealing designs as incorporated in Sealmaster mounted ball and roller bearings for the food and beverage industry.
8 hours, vacuum applied through bearing to evaluate dust ingress. 
8 minutes, 4 GPM spray at 1160 – 1450 PSI, 4-6” distance, 176F water, 2 minutes x 4 angles. Regal Rexnord provides differentiated solutions to food and beverage industry users of mounted ball and roller bearings. An array of options are available under Sealmaster, each offering features that help the user achieve their goals, whether it is visual cleanliness, operational performance, or a combination of both.
The proper selection and application of products and components, including assuring that the product is safe for its intended use, are the responsibility of the customer. To view our Application Considerations, please visit https://www.regalrexnord.com/Application-Considerations. To view our Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale, please visit https://www.regalrexnord.com/Terms-and-Condi-tions-of-Sale (which may redirect to other website locations based on product family).
* The following are believed to be the trademarks and/or trade names of their respective owners and are not owned or controlled by Regal Rexnord Corporation. Teflon: The Chemours Company FC, LLC; Xylan: Whitford Corporation“Regal Rexnord” is not indicative of legal entity. Refer to product purchase documentation for the applicable legal entity.Regal Rexnord PN Gold, Sealmaster and USRB are trademarks of Regal Rexnord Corporation or one of its affiliated companies.© 2023 Regal Rexnord Corporation, All Rights Reserved.
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