DYNAMAXIndustrial selection is not one universal oil per industry. Identify circuit and duty, then viscosity, performance and materials. Incidental food-contact risks also require applicable H1 or other requirements.
Industry sectors are not lubricant categories
One plant may contain hydraulic units, reducers, compressors, bearings, refrigeration and machine tools. Food, rubber, cement and power generation are application sectors, not mutually exclusive fluid categories. Treating sectors as oil types can conceal multiple circuits in one machine. Identify lubrication points by asset, component, circuit and function rather than “industrial oil”.
Reference: Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids · NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
Viscosity grades, performance standards, OEM approvals and food-use registration answer different questions. ISO VG identifies viscosity; performance specifications define tests; H1 addresses incidental contact. ISO 9001 management certification or a generic API claim cannot establish suitability for every industrial duty or replace food-contact requirements.
Reference: NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification · Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids
Separate circuits by component
| Item | Decision and action |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic unit | Power transmission and pump/valve lubrication; check fluid type and operating viscosity. |
| Reducers/open gears | Load and delivery differ; open-gear spray products are not enclosed-gear oils. |
| Circulating bearings/compressors | Verify circulation, water separation, air release and component requirements. |
| Metalworking/process oils | One supports machining, the other compound formulation; neither is a maintenance-oil substitute. |
| Refrigeration/transformer fluids | Refrigerant compatibility and dielectric duties require separate management. |
Reference: Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids · NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
H1 means incidental contact, not edible
NSF classifies H1 for incidental contact and H2 for no food contact. H1 does not authorize deliberate addition to food or unrestricted quantities. Food-safety and maintenance teams should assess leaks, drips, splash and handling contamination, then define required categories, minimum necessary application and leak prevention. Direct process-contact uses cannot be justified by the H1 name alone.
Reference: NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification · NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration Category Codes
ISO 21469 addresses hygienic formulation, manufacture and use of lubricants that may contact food; it relates to H1 but is a separate certification. Verify exact product, viscosity variant, manufacturer, status and scope. Registration of one item does not extend automatically to its whole series, other grades or other brands.
Reference: NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
Purchasing and quotation inputs
Provide asset/component models, current product, viscosity, specifications, capacity, temperature range, load, top-up rate and contamination history. For food equipment add lubrication locations, contact-risk assessment, category and traceability documents. For PTT enquiries ask DYNAMAX Petrochemical LTD. to verify current candidate data sheets and exact suitability; matching viscosity or serving many industries does not prove approval.
Reference: Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids · NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
Acceptance should match container labels, batch, product and document revision and inspect package integrity and moisture exposure. Segregate stock by fluid and food use, with dedicated labeled transfer tools to prevent ordinary oils contaminating H1 supplies. New oil still needs equipment-specific cleanliness/filtration; sealed packaging does not establish the tightest system target.
Reference: Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids · NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
Changes, contamination and stop conditions
Before changing formulations confirm compatibility, residual tolerance, seals and flushing, then plan shutdown and acceptance. For water, particles or wrong fluid, distinguish equipment condition from food risk using samples, leak checks and batch traceability; simply replacing oil is not closure. Refer suspected food contamination to food-safety procedures and hydraulic leakage, overheating or critical alarms to site shutdown rules.
Reference: Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids · NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification
Example handover for a food-production line
For a food conveyor, distinguish reducer oil, bearing grease and any hydraulic points, then assess incidental food-contact potential at each. An H1 requirement calls for registration verification of the exact product, not just a brand or food-grade label; viscosity, load and seal compatibility remain separate checks. Label products and quantities at points to avoid excess leakage. Actual contact with food requires isolation and assessment under food-safety procedures; H1 is not direct-addition permission. Retain registration, technical data and point mapping for shared procurement and site acceptance.
Reference: NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification · NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration Category Codes · Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Must every food-plant point use H1?
Decide by contact risk, equipment needs and site food-safety policy. H2 is unsuitable where contact is possible, and H1 does not replace equipment specifications.
Q2. Does bio-based mean food-grade?
No. Feedstock, biodegradability and food use are separate properties; verify registration or certification.
Q3. Are equal ISO VG oils interchangeable?
Equal viscosity can hide different formulations, performance, seals or uses; confirm equipment and conversion requirements.
Sources and applicable limits
- Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic fluids — Hydraulic functions and mineral, environmentally acceptable and fire-resistant categories. (Accessed 2026-10-08)
- NSF: Food-Grade Lubricants and ISO 21469 Certification — H1 incidental food contact, H2 and hygiene certification. (Accessed 2026-10-08)
- NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration Category Codes — H1/H2 categories; historical category sheet does not establish current product registration. (Accessed 2026-10-08)
