GRAPHALLOY^®

  GRAPHALLOY Bearings FDA Accepted for Food Processing Applications

YONKERS, NY (August 2010) — Graphite Metallizing Corporation, the manufacturer of GRAPHALLOY® bearings and bushings, announces that FDA accepted grades are available for food processing and commercial baking applications.

GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, is formed from molten metal, graphite and carbon. It is a uniform, solid, self-lubricating bushing and bearing material. GRAPHALLOY is widely used in bakery ovens, dryers, roasters, mixers, conveyors, freezers, sterilizers, grills, pumps, bottling plants and packaging equipment — anywhere grease/oil lubricated bearings or plastic bearings might fail.

Self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY bearings and bushings perform in temperature extremes (-450˚F to +750˚F and above/-240˚C to +400˚C and above ) where conventional materials often fail. GRAPHALLOY bearings require minimal maintenance and can reduce downtime, resulting in uninterrupted production of food contact equipment. With a low coefficient of friction and high strength, GRAPHALLOY bearings deliver long life and are not subject to seizures, binding or sudden failure.

Equally important, GRAPHALLOY does not contain oil or grease and can be immersed in liquids without causing contamination of equipment or packaging. GRAPHALLOY bearings also withstand steam cleaning and pressure washing operations without any loss of lubrication or bearing performance.

GRAPHALLOY bushings are also used in municipal water systems, refineries, paper mills, waste-to-energy plants, glass plants, steel mills and power plants. Many grades are suitable for temperatures to 750˚F/400˚C in air, and special grades provide reliable service up to 1000˚F/535°C and higher in non-oxidizing atmospheres.