Since its foundation in 1891, the internationally active food manufacturer has developed a broad portfolio. It processes meat products, pasta, eggs and edible oils. In the 2016 financial year, the company generated a turnover of 9.5 billion US dollars. It employs around 20,000 people worldwide. While the external conditions are positive for the company, the internal flow of materials is causing increasing difficulties.

Wearing out too quickly
In some cases, heavy, open transport trolleys made of stainless steel are used, as is common in food processing. These work in a cool and humid environment, which is needed to prevent the goods from spoiling. However, the food producer had problems with the previous solution. The trolleys were fitted with polyurethane rollers. However, these were showing signs of wear. This increased the starting and rolling resistance and moving the trolleys was strenuous for the employees. The staff had to regularly clean the trolleys after use with a hot cleaning agent under high pressure. However, the user noticed that the wheels quickly started to rust as a result.

So those responsible set about looking for a suitable alternative. From several competitors, the company finally opted for the Blickle solution. The employees at the USA branch had seen the difficult operating conditions for themselves on site and recommended the POB 355/30XK wheel type.

The Besthane tread of the POB 355/30XK series is cast onto the wheel body. This creates a strong chemical bond with high tensile strength and durability. © Blickle

Top performance even in hygienic areas
Blickle has developed the series to enable high load capacities with very low rolling resistance and floor-friendly running behavior even in hygiene-sensitive areas. The specialists combined a high-quality polyamide wheel body with the hydrolysis-resistant Blickle Besthane polyurethane tread, which is particularly suitable for damp environments. Stainless steel ball bearings are used. The wheel is therefore protected against high washing temperatures and functions without any problems at the low operating temperatures that prevail in food processing. The bearings are sealed and maintenance-free thanks to lubrication with long-term grease. The tread is abrasion-resistant and has a high cut and tear resistance.

The robust Besthane tread is cast onto the wheel body. This creates a strong chemical bond that makes the design particularly tensile and durable. Blickle offers the POB series in various diameters and load capacity classes. It can withstand temperatures from minus 25 to plus 70 degrees Celsius. It is also resistant to many aggressive media.

Reduced costs
With Blickle's solution, the internal material flow now runs smoothly and quickly. With the corrosion-resistant wheels, the company saves significantly on spare parts costs. The POB 355/30XK wheel has proven to be particularly robust in tough everyday working conditions. Despite regular high-pressure cleaning and movement on hard and damp surfaces, the Blickle wheels operate smoothly and very quietly. Thanks to low abrasion and high-quality materials, they can be used for a long time without repairs. The low rolling resistance also ensures that the transport trolleys can be moved easily. This increases user-friendliness for employees and improves ergonomics in the workplace. as