In many industrial environments, the conditions can be tough on pneumatic equipment – but few places are harder on machinery than a meat processing plant. One of our long-standing customers in the meat industry was experiencing ongoing failures with their pneumatic cylinders, specifically in the front nose seal area.

The Problem
The meatworks’ production line operated in an environment with heavy exposure to blood, fat, and chemical washdowns. These factors combined to create a perfect storm of wear and tear on their pneumatic cylinders.

The original cylinders in use suffered from:

• Front nose seals constantly leaking and popping out
• Loss of lubrication due to harsh chemical washdowns
• Frequent breakdowns and downtime, resulting in lost production hours

The root cause was clear — the grease on the cylinder rods was being stripped away by cleaning chemicals, blood and fats leaving the seals unprotected and vulnerable to rapid failure.

The Solution

Air Products supplied and installed Festo cylinders featuring unlubricated seals made from Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). These seals are specifically designed for environments where lubrication cannot be guaranteed and where aggressive cleaning agents are regularly used.

UHMWPE offers exceptional resistance to wear, chemicals, and moisture — making it ideal for food processing and washdown areas. The unlubricated design also means there’s no reliance on external grease, which completely eliminated the problem caused by the cleaning process.

The Result

Since the upgrade, the site has experienced zero seal failures and no unplanned downtime related to their cylinders. The maintenance team reports smoother operation, extended service life, and most importantly — a more reliable and hygienic production line.

“Production has never been better,” the maintenance supervisor told us.

“The Festo cylinders have completely solved an issue we battled with for years.”

Key Takeaways

• Problem: Frequent seal failures due to grease washout and harsh cleaning chemicals.
• Solution: Festo cylinders with UHMWPE unlubricated seals.
• Result: Zero seal failures, reduced maintenance, and continuous production.

At Air Products, we specialise in identifying and solving real-world pneumatic challenges with long-term, reliable solutions.

If your production environment is tough on cylinders, contact our team to find out how Festo’s advanced sealing technology can help you achieve the same results.