CASE STUDY: How ACORN Helped a Dog Food Manufacturer Beat Bearing Breakdowns

A local dog food manufacturer approached ACORN with a recurring headache: premature failure on their freezer conveyor. Every 3-4 months the bearings had to be swapped out, causing unnecessary downtime and increasing maintenance costs.

They suspected temperature fluctuations were to blame. The food moves from room temperature to freezing along the conveyor, and the team thought this might be causing the problem. But despite trying multiple bearings from other suppliers, the issue persisted.

That’s when they reached out to ACORN’s Bearing Product Manager, Andy Fletcher.

Diagnosing the Issue

Andy took a close look at the application, starting with the operating environment and the conditions of the grease. Upon inspection, he found the issue: the grease had emulsified.

As the bearing moved between warm and freezing zones, moisture was building up and compromising the grease. It was freezing, thawing, and breaking down, making it unfit for the task and shortening the life of the bearing.

The Solution

Andy recommended switching to NSK Molded Oil PSFT30/LP99 bearings. These are specifically designed to handle wet, variable-temperature environments without the same risk of moisture ingress and lubricant failure. By using Molded Oil, bearings get a continuous supply of lubricant across different temperatures, while keeping out contaminants.

Results

Since making the switch, the bearing has run consistently for over 3 years without failure, extending the change-out cycle from every 3 months to 3 years and counting.

Our product specialists are always ready to help you get to the bottom of a problem and recommend the right fix, first time.