Resources
Enhancing Animal Pellet Feed Sector Reliability with Food-Grade Lubricants
In March 2020, a new regulation mandated the use of food-grade lubricants in the UK animal pellet feed sector. This article provides an overview of the adoption of food-grade lubricants in this sector and presents a case study highlighting the benefits of choosing a high quality, application specific product.
Maximising Efficiency & Safety: The Crucial Role of Lubrication Training in the Food Industry
In the dynamic and demanding landscape of the food industry, engineers play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of machinery and equipment. Among the various maintenance practices, the significance of lubrication cannot be overstated.
Global QSRs Lead Move to Mineral Oil-Free Food Packaging
With reports of big brand Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) directing packaging suppliers to transition to mineral oil-free lubricants from January 2024, ahead of proposed EU legislation banning Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food packaging, the race is on to achieve compliance.
Benefits of a 'Best Practice' Lubrication Culture. A 5-step plan you can implement.
In the demanding landscape of modern food manufacturing, there's one component that often remains unsung despite its monumental importance: lubrication.
A 5-step guide in Understanding Customer Challenges in Lubrication.
In any industry, understanding customer challenges is pivotal to providing effective solutions and forging lasting relationships.
Core Values: The Foundation of Activate Lubricants
In any industry, the pulse and identity of a company can be discerned not just from its products or services, but from its core values. These values drive decisions, shape cultures, and influence relationships. At Activate Lubricants, our dedication to excellence within the field of food-grade lubrication is underpinned by a set of foundational values that govern every facet of our business.
The Science Behind Food-Grade Lubrication
The world of food production relies on machinery to meet demand. But how do we ensure these machines run smoothly without contaminating the very food they produce? The answer lies in food-grade lubrication, a marvel of science tailored specifically for the food industry. Dive in with us as we explore the intricate science behind these lubricants.
Food factory chemical control
Inadequacies in chemical control in food production sites have been identified as a common non-conformance with the BRC Global Standard. In our experience, the level of awareness of the requirements for effective control of chemical contaminants in food production areas differs wildly between different production sites.
Cross-referencing foodgrade lubricants & lubrication partners
A short guide to maximising foodgrade lubrication performance and value for money
Culture shock: positive change for positive outcome
A food production business is a collective entity whose lifeforce and output is influenced by collective and individual behaviours, the attitudes of employees and management, and the working environment. In a similar way, production line maintenance and reliability are influenced by collective factors present in (or, indeed, absent from) the overall maintenance culture.
Buy UK-made foodgrade lubricants
With the current challenges posed by the global pandemic fallout, the post-Brexit landscape, the cost of living crisis (we could go on…), leveraging products of UK manufacture and UK-based services offers huge advantages for food production, food packaging and pharmaceutical businesses.
Compatibility of different foodgrade lubricants
When a food production site switches to Activate Lubricants, engineers are often concerned about the compatibility of our products with existing stocks from their previous supplier. Despite moving to a much simpler and easier to use system, change always requires a period of familiarisation before becoming second nature.
Lubricant supplier versus lubrication partner
We recently had a conversation with one of our clients who brought up the subject of lubricant supplier versus lubrication partner, which is a subject we talk a lot about.
Mini food grade lubricant storage
Looking for small-scale food grade lubricant storage with big-scale features? Look no further!
Foodgrade lubrication storage systems
Inadequate lubricant storage is still a common non-compliance with the BRC Global Standard, despite solutions being readily available for many years.
Food safety ‘continuous improvement’
A focus on food safety ‘continuous improvement’ pays many dividends to the food producer. Aside from the obvious importance of compliance with the BRC Global Standards and specific retailer audit bodies, a dedication to pro-actively push internal standards forward can go a long way to reassure customers who take the wider picture into account when choosing suppliers – safety, sustainability, ethical processes, etc.
Lubrication training: food safety best practice
Lack of competence as a result of insufficient training was recently highlighted as a common non-conformity with regard to the current BRC Global Standard.
Common Food Safety Non-Conformities
Featured in the recent BRCGS Food Safety Europe event was a talk by their Technical Food Specialist, John Figgins, who outlined the common non-conformities of BRC Issue 8 ahead of the incoming Issue 9 revamp.
BRCGS Food Safety Europe 2022 Hybrid Event
We are excited to be exhibiting at the BRCGS Food Safety Europe 2022 conference, taking place on 10 February in London. After a two-year absence due to the practicalities and pressures of lockdown, we can’t wait to rub shoulders with the ‘who’s who’ of European food safety!
4 things you need to know about Activate Lubricants
Never spoken to Activate before? Then you may not know how our approach differs from other lubricant suppliers. Firstly, we are NOT a lubricant supplier! We are a world class precision lubrication partner, trusted by over 60% of the UK’s top 50 food groups, and able to support any business at any stage of the Lean journey.
2022 – let's make it the year of reliability
“You can have the best lubricant in the world but if it isn’t applied correctly there is a massive amount of value not being realised.”
Food grade lubrication for the food industry: looking back on 2021
We are on the cusp of another year, which is a bit surreal - it only seems like five minutes ago that we were looking back on 2020! We guess it's not surprising as, despite an easing of restrictions throughout 2021, we are all still experiencing the fallout of the pandemic and the resulting additional pressures. Let’s hope the recent tightening of the rules to counter the new Omicron variant doesn’t set us back again!
Food grade oils and greases by numbers
We are often asked by engineers and lubricant buyers to quantify the benefits of using Activate Lubricants. Questions such as ‘what does this do to my lubricant spend?’, ‘what is reliability actually worth to me?’ and ‘how long will this aerosol last’ are pretty common.
Free e-training for food industry engineering apprentices
UK food industry engineering apprentices can take advantage of free access to Activate Lubricants' e-training platform, Activate Insights, as part of an incentive to encourage 'best practice' lubrication.
Food grade lubricants: UK stocks for immediate dispatch
Are you struggling with delivery lead times for imported food grade lubricants?
Food grade grease performance in aggressive, sub-sea application
Supplying food grease for sub-sea application was something that never entered our minds until we received an enquiry from an oil exploration company operating off the South Coast of America.
Food lubrication Q&A - Jim Harvey, Business Development Director
Even if you haven’t met Jim in person yet, there’s a good chance you would recognise him from talking on the phone (or, more recently, meeting virtually on Zoom!). As Activate Lubricants’ Business Development Director, Jim ensures that the entire company culture is focused on creating the best products and an unrivalled service for customers in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and animal feed industries.
Correct re-greasing intervals for bearings
Have you ever tried to determine the correct re-greasing intervals for bearings?
2020 vision: looking back on ‘that’ year
So that was 2020 – phew! It has seemed a long time coming but we are finally ready to usher in a new year, a year that will hopefully see us get back to a level of normality that eases the pressure somewhat.
Transition of InS registered products to NSF
All Activate products have until recently been either National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) or InS registered. Please note that NSF International acquired InS Services UK in late 2019 and all InS registrations will expire on 1 October 2020.
BRCGS Food Safety Europe 2020: a date for your diary
Next year, we are exhibiting at the BRCGS Food Safety Europe 2020 conference, taking place on 12 February in London. The one-day conference will deliver valuable insights and high-level, constructive knowledge-share designed specifically to improve European food safety management in retail, food service and manufacturing environments.
Introducing the new Activate Mini-System
The new Mini-System from Activate has landed!
Meet Phil Hardwick, our Training & Compliance Manager
You may have met Phil already being that he does the majority of our ‘Toolbox Talks’. If you would like a Toolbox Talk from Phil as a refresh or for new members of your team then just let us know!
5S Workplace Organisation Methodology – Seiri = Sort
Most engineers in the food industry have heard of the 5S methodology, as a reminder of what this actually means:
A Reminder Of Activate’s Foodcare NSF Registrations
Our sales team continually visit food and packaging companies of various sizes, responsible for manufacturing recognised brands that consumers are used to seeing in their daily lives usually purchased from the ‘Big 5’ supermarket brands. Our sales team is still alarmed by some of the findings in oil stores and the risks being taken which, if discovered, will damage brand reputation.
Meet Lisa Bartlett, Our Business Development Executive
What is your job role at Activate?
‘Ban The Straw’ - Activate Did That Ages Ago!
As everyday consumers as well as working in the world of manufacturing, it is impossible not to notice recent news on the use of daily plastics and the effect on our environment. One campaign that stands out in particular is ‘Ban the Straw’ accompanied by many facts and stats on straw usage across the globe.
Activate Lubricants Allergen Statement 2018
The FSA has recently updated the Allergen Statement which is applicable to our full range of oils, greases and aerosols as detailed on here.
Activate Lubricants Now A Sedex Global Member
We are pleased to announce that Activate Lubricants has recently become a member of Sedex Global. Sedex is home to one of the world’s largest collaborative platform for buyers, suppliers and auditors to store, share and report on information quickly and easily. The platform is used by more than 43,000 members in over 150 countries to manage performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.
The Dairy Industry - The Number One Mechanical Issue
The No.1 lubrication-related mechanical issue is bearing failures due to frequent wash down and ingress from aggressive cleaning chemicals.