Pas Grantham Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Costs with Advanced Food‑Grade Lubricants

The potato was first cultivated over 4,000 years ago in Peru, and today it remains one of the world’s most beloved staples. In the United States, the average adult consumes 140 lb (63.5 kg) of potatoes annually, while Germans eat more than 200 lb (90.7 kg) and residents of the United Kingdom consume 220 lb (100 kg) per year.

PAS Grantham Ltd. – a leading British chip manufacturer – produces a range of nutritious products, from oven chips and home fries to low‑fat French fries and mini pizzas. Their success hinges on rigorous ingredient selection and a strict manufacturing process that prioritises equipment reliability, productivity, and cost efficiency.

The Role of Lubrication

Mechanical engineer Tim Wainwright has been with PAS Grantham for 32 years and emphasises that the greases used in the plant’s machinery are pivotal to maintaining high productivity and reducing operating costs. Central to the company’s strategy is a Total Preventive Maintenance programme that continually seeks products capable of elevating quality throughout the plant.

The Lubricant Trial

PAS Grantham’s production lines run 24 hours a day, at least five days a week and sometimes seven. A single machine failure can halt the entire line, costing the company roughly £900 per hour. “Proper lubrication is integral to preventing downtime,” Wainwright says.

In 2004, after a suggestion from Petro‑Canada account manager James Ross, Wainwright conducted a six‑month trial of the food‑safe PURITY FG2 synthetic grease – a high‑performance, food‑grade lubricant designed for demanding food‑processing environments. The trial compared the new grease to the existing product in terms of gear, bearing and equipment protection, as well as cost.

Results and Full‑Line Switch

The trial revealed clear benefits: reduced grease consumption, improved equipment reliability, and lower maintenance costs. “After six months, the advantages were evident,” Wainwright notes. “We immediately transitioned to a full range of PURITY products, including PURITY FG2 Grease, PURITY FG00 Grease and PURITY FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 68.”

PURITY FG2 now lubricates standard conveyors; PURITY FG2 Synthetic powers steam peelers and fryers; PURITY FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 68 runs freezer chains; and PURITY FG00 is used in the auto‑lube systems. The entire plant benefits from the range’s superior performance.

Product Performance and Savings

PURITY FG greases deliver outstanding lubrication and pumpability across wide temperature ranges, protect equipment, and resist water washout and jet‑spray loss. The synthetic formulation remains consistent even during rigorous cleaning cycles.

PURITY FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 68 offers long‑lasting protection, resists oxidative breakdown better than leading specialty food‑grade fluids, and minimizes sludge and varnish formation. These attributes extend fluid life and cut downtime.

“PURITY FG food‑grade lubricants have delivered improved reliability and tangible cost savings,” Wainwright confirms.