Greasy
advantage
A smart lubricant choice not only reduces
maintenance costs but extends equipment life
too, believes Dave Garner
Billions of euros are lost each year to repair
the damage caused by mechanical wear in
food and beverage factories due to surface
degradation including mechanical wear
and fatigue - a high percentage of which is due to
lubricant degradation and problems associated with
related maintenance. The food industry is being
especially vulnerable. Given the wet nature of much
of the manufacturing process, the constant need for
wash downs and the dramatic temperature variations
from freezers to ovens, the food industry needs to pay
particular attention to the lubricants and the suppliers
they choose to employ. The wrong lubricant or the
correct lubricant applied in the wrong manner can halt
plant operations. With so much at stake, making sure
that the right lubricant is used at the right time is
critical.
Total lubrication
management
To recapture money lost through their own
maintenance efforts, many companies are beginning to
turn to outside consultants to implement
Total
Lubrication Management programmes.
Consolidating
lubricant purchases into a single, integrated
programme can enhance productivity by making it
easier to automate preventive maintenance routines,
increase the efficiency of inventory management and
use a local product supply to reduce on-site inventory
costs. While Total Lubrication Management is a
seemingly simple concept, success almost always
depends on finding the right single source of
lubrication products and services to meet complex
needs. Here's what one needs to look for:
Complete product line
The suppliers who are best equipped to meet
requirements for diverse lubricating solutions offer a
complete line of industrial lubricants, not just a "wide
range" of products. Food-grade lubricants must
perform the same technical functions as any other
lubricant, such as protection against wear, friction,
corrosion and oxidation, as well as comply with food
/ health and safety regulations. Maintenance
professionals will also want to ensure that the product
line includes lubricants suited for extreme
temperatures, especially fluids that will not degrade
due to emulsification with water.
Fluids for high-volume applications include
hydraulic, compressor and vacuum pump, gearbox and
chain and multipurpose oils. Specialised industrial
compounds such as greases, pastes, anti-friction
coatings and dispersions must be added to the mix. In
addition, a wide range of base stocks is essential.
Synthetics provide excellent resistance to emulsification
and last longer to extend maintenance intervals. Ultrahigh
purity mineral oils also resist emulsification and
promote improved additive performance, which results
in longer life than conventional mineral oils. The fullline
supplier must also be able to draw on functional
additive technologies including anti-oxidant, anti-wear
and extreme temperature additives.
....CONTD
