Ecolab dry conveyor lubricant scoops award on water efficiency gains
The US-based giant said its Dry Exx GS Lubricant has been designed for use with glass packaging on stainless steel or mixed conveyors used in the beverage, brewery and food processing industries.
The patented lubricant reduces water use in conveyor lines by as much as 97 per cent when used in conjunction with its own control system, said Ecolab. It also works with mixed lines of stainless steel and plastic on a range of small to large packaging types.
The product picked up the best product design award at the Social Innovation Awards held as part of the JustMeans Redefining Value Conference in London. The 2011 Social Innovation Awards is an international awards program in the field of sustainability that recognises companies implementing groundbreaking strategies and programmes that drive social and environmental breakthroughs.
One million gallons
Launched at the end of last year, the company said some clients had reported slashing water usage by as much as one million gallons annually per production line. Use of the dry lubricant can also boost workplace safety by helping to reduce potential slip hazards from the plant floor, said the firm.
Drivers behind the development of the product included the need for resource efficiency coupled with challenges of increasing throughput. The dry lubricant has been brought to market as part of conveyor management system that Ecolab said can reduce bottle tipping, breakage and line stoppage, as well as help reduce influent/effluent treatment costs.
“We know the pressures our customers are under to run more efficient and sustainable operations,” said Timothy P. Mulhere, company senior vice president and general manager, Food & Beverage North America. “We developed DryExx GS to help reduce water usage while increasing conveyor speeds and reducing broken bottle counts.”
Ecolab said it has annual sales reaching $US6bn and employs around 26,000 people across its clean, sanitising and food safety activities for a raft of sectors including food processing.
