Editorial

Industry in general is still to wake up to the full energy saving potential of enhanced lubricant technology,   perhaps   because   energy   saving synthetic  lubricants  are  perceived  as  expensive, compared to traditional mineral oils. Justification for increased expenditure on lubricants can be difficult, as lubricants are often viewed as a maintenance cost, while energy is seen as an operating cost.

A recent study at a leading food manufacturer by Fuchs Lubricants, illustrates the savings that synthetic oils can offer. Energy consumption was reduced by more than 5% in hydraulic systems and bearings, > 5% in spur gears and >30% in worm gears. Trials of new synthetic lubricants on a single 100HP rotary compressor, operating on full load over three shifts, resulted in savings of

Condition monitoring of fuels and lubricants used in industrial plant and equipment has become one of the main weapons in the fight to reduce premature failure of engines, gearboxes and hydraulic systems. In particular, determining the presence of water or the gradual degradation of the TBN (Total Base Number) of the engine oil can be one of the first indicators of potentially expensive and possibly catastrophic failure of the plant.

Regular sampling and analysis of fuel, lubricating and hydraulic oils will enable maintenance engineers to assess the condition and performance of their machinery oils over time, allowing critical adjustments to be made to ensure maximum operational performance and efficiency.  Downtime is extremely costly and in most cases avoidable if proactive maintenance of critical machinery is adopted. 

Key indicators for oil condition include; Total Base Number, Total Acid Number, Water in Oil, Density, Compatibility, Viscosity, Insolubles and Pour Point.  Effective management and control of these parameters is essential to meet the daily operational requirements of the machine.

Implementing an oil analysis sampling frequency strategy is fundamentally an identical process whatever the industry.  However, this leads to the perception that the implementation is a

When Sovereign Lubricants & Seals were approached by a major UK nuclear power generation provider to supply an anti-seize for use on site to prevent stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel alloys and for use as a general grease for maintenance use there was no hesitation in recommending an immediate solution to this age old problem.
 
Sovereign (who sell the ΩMEGA range of quality lubricants) sell a product called ΩMEGA 99N which is a nuclear grade anti-seize grease. "The difference" says Sovereign M.D Steve Chesters "is that normal greases and anti-seize compounds contain high levels of sulphur, chlorides, lead and halogens which can cause stress and corrosion cracking of stainless and nickel alloys . ΩMEGA 99N is different in that it contains virtually no contaminants and as an added bonus it withstands acids, alkalis, water, salt air and most chemical fumes. The product can be used in many industries such as Oil, Chemical and Natural Gas Refineries as well as Chemical Plants and Pulp and Paper Mills, in fact anywhere where corrosion takes place

We change a lot of oil in our plants, mills, mines and factories. What are we doing to change our lubrication culture? In their book Learning to Fly, Collison and Parcell, employees of British Petroleum (BP), suggest a predictable pattern in achieving sustained culture change, which is a function of effort and time (Figure 1).

Lower-quartile performers operate in a state of "unconscious incompetence" - ignorance is bliss. It takes no effort and no time to exist in the state of unconscious incompetence. They perform poorly, and because they are unaware of it, there is no perceived need to change. When a manager or other influential member learns through some minimal effort that there is a better way to operate, the performers become aware of their shortcomings, which creates a perceived gap. Collison and Parcell call this gap "conscious incompetence." It is this new awareness that throws a wrench (spanner) in the works, forcing the organization to correct its deficiency or make a conscious decision to live with it.

 

 

Sovereign Lubricants & Seals (who have been exclusive UK distributors for the OMEGA range of quality lubricants for over 20 years) have entered a partnership with Printing Solutions (Midlands) Ltd who will become OMEGA stockists and provide lubrication solutions for all customers in the printing and packaging industry running Heidelberg presses in the Midlands area.

Says Bruce Perkins, M.D of Printing Solutions who are based in Leicester,

Wherever metal parts are in contact with each other, friction will result. Superior lubrication and sealing is paramount in today

AGRIEMACH has come up with a Fluid extractor that can truly extract or transfer any fluid, including motor oil, gear lubricant, coolant, water and any other liquid, neatly, powerfully and fast.

The Agriemach Fluid Extractor is not only essential in the workshop, but also ideal for boat, truck and farm equipment operators as well. Designed to be used in inaccessible areas or confined spaces, the extractor features a low profile spherical design with a 6 litre capacity and a handy pouring spout with 5 mm hose to fit down dipstick tubes, and has an unbeatable transfer speed of 4 litres of water per minute.

Agrimach have a simple and inexpensive answer to that problem with the introduction of their new TM series FILTERMAG which stops this problem instantaneously. By attaching either the TM180 or the TM360 to the bottom of the transmission pan, the all powerful NEODYMIUM magnets with a magnetic pull force of 25Ibs, will hold the steel particles in suspension allowing only clean oil to circulate around the transmission.