Thomson (www.thomsonlinear.com) has announced the release of Food Grade FluoroNyliner Bushing Bearings, which are designed with a non-magnetic 303 Stainless Steel corrosion resistant sleeve and a USDA and FDA compliant self lubricating liner. These features enable them to excel in challenging in pharmaceutical, medical and food processing applications. The bearings are available in Closed and Open types and offer specific machining options to satisfy customers’ unique application needs.

“By eliminating the need for ball bearings, these food grade bushing bearings can operate on soft shafting such as Thomson ‘corrosion proof’ 316 Stainless Steel or Ultra Light Aluminum LinearRace shafting to deliver exceptionally long life and reliable operation in washdown environments,” said Tom Dwyer, Business Unit Manager at Thomson Linear Bearings & Guides.

The bearings have been specially designed to offer robust liner material that can handle heavy loads with a maximum static pressure value of up to 1000 psi, support a maximum continuous PV value of 10,000 psi ft/min and deliver maximum no load speeds to 400 ft/min. in temperatures between -400°F up to 385°F. The bearings can be combined with a vast array of corrosion resistant LinearRace shafting options, including Ultra Light aluminum and plated 60 Case, 440C and 316 Stainless Steel, in order to optimize performance suited to the application’s requirements.

“Stainless Steel pillow block assemblies are a particularly significant option in food processing applications, as carbon steel will corrode over time, and even aluminum is susceptible to corrosion caused by the caustic solutions commonly used in washdown environments,” added Dwyer.