Precision balls for the food industry: characteristics and types

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27/01/2025
In the complex and multifaceted world of the food industry, every component plays its part in ensuring maximum efficiency and safety. Precision balls ensure that every step of the food chain process is optimised so as to maintain high standards of quality and hygiene.
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Precision balls for the food industry have proven to be essential in a wide range of applications, from smooth handling of loads to precise food processing.

Let’s get into detail.

The requirements of precision balls for the food industry

When dealing with precision balls within the food industry, the quality of materials and manufacturing processes is crucial.

These balls must meet a series of strict requirements and certifications to ensure that they are safe to use in this delicate sector.

Specifically:

  • Approved materials for food contact: Precision balls intended for the food industry must be made of materials approved for food contact. For example, stainless steel balls,  food-grade ceramic balls and various food-grade plastic balls are suitable.
    The composition of these balls resists corrosion and does not release harmful substances when they come into contact with food.
  • Dimensional tolerance: To ensure perfect functionality of food machinery, precision balls must have a very precise dimensional tolerance. Dimensional tolerance refers to the maximum permissible variation in the diameter of a ball. Too high or too low a tolerance can lead to problems such as machinery malfunction or damage to food products. Precisely for this reason, at RGPBALLS we subject all our precision balls to strict quality controls to ensure we provide reliable and durable products.

 

Want to know more?

Learn about all the dimensional checks we perform in our Quality Control Lab.

Food industry machinery using precision balls

Precision balls are used in a wide range of machinery across the food industry, performing crucial functions to ensure the smooth and safe production of food.

Some of the most important are:

  • Grain processing machines: these machines use precision balls in their drive mechanisms. The balls allow smooth and precise movement, ensuring efficient grain processing.
  • Mixers: precision balls are an essential component of the bearings of these machines. They provide quiet operation and ensure the longevity of the machinery by reducing friction and wear.
  • Packaging: these complex systems depend on precision balls to ensure smooth and precise movement of products along the line. The balls enable smooth transport, from filling to sealing and labelling.
  • Bottling machines: precision balls play a key role in bottling machines, ensuring smooth operation and enabling precise filling of bottles.
  • Ice cream machines: these devices use precision balls in their internal mechanisms to ensure even mixing and precise distribution of ice creams.
  • Bakery production machines: precision balls are used in machines such as dough mixers, ensuring even mixing and efficient production of baked goods.
  • Cheese production machines: precision balls are crucial in machines such as cheese pressers, where they ensure smooth operation and adequate pressure on the cheese during production.
  • Meat processing machines: these machines use precision balls in their cutting and grinding mechanisms, ensuring efficient and safe operation.
  • Chocolate production machines: precision balls are used in chocolate production machines, where they ensure even mixing and precise chocolate distribution.

RGPBALLS for the food industry

With over fifty years of experience in the industry, RGPBALLS is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of  precision balls. The company is dedicated to providing high quality balls that meet all requirements for the food industry.

Here is a list of the most commonly used materials and their applications in the food industry:

  • 316 Stainless Steel Balls: Stainless steel balls are preferred for their exceptional resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. It is ideal for use in machines for bottling and processing fruit juices and other acidic foods, as it does not react with food acids and maintains product integrity.
  • 440C Stainless Steel Balls: noted for its hardness and wear resistance, it is often used in meat and fish processing machinery, where it is essential to maintain cutting precision and reduce the risk of contamination.
  • Silicon Nitride Balls: these spheres are used in applications requiring maximum cleanliness and corrosion resistance, such as in chocolate and confectionery machines, where the absence of metal particles is critical.
  • PTFE Balls e Polypropylene Balls: Ideal for their non-adhesive and chemical resistance properties, plastic balls are used in packaged food production and packaging machinery, where direct contact with the food requires non-toxic and easy-to-clean materials.
  • Tungsten Carbide Balls:Due to its incredible hardness and wear resistance, tungsten carbide is used in machinery requiring high precision and durability, such as in mixers and mixers for high-volume production.

Each material is chosen according to the specific need for strength, hygiene and durability required by machines in the food industry, ensuring that each component works at its best to ensure the quality and safety of the food produced.

 

Find out how RGPBALLS precision balls can improve the efficiency and safety of your food operations

CONTACT US

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