A research study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that approximately $240 billion (6-7% of the U.S. GNP) is lost due to downtime, repairs, and damaged equipment caused by poor lubrication. “Proper lubrication is essential to a smoothly-running operation,” states Phil Grellier, Dow Corning global solutions development manager. “In many cases, less friction equals improved performance, greater reliability and lower costs.”
Dow Corning’s Molykote multi-purpose oils, synthetic and ultra-high-purity hydraulic fluids, and specialty lubricants, are used by equipment designers and plant engineers to solve or prevent all manner of industrial lubrication problems.
To improve lubricant performance, Dow Corning (www.dowcorining.com) offers these three reminders:
• Stay informed: Lubrication products and techniques are constantly changing, so understanding how a lubrication system works is among the most important ways a plant manager and staff can prevent costly downtime and repairs.
Many suppliers offer basic courses that cover the fundamentals of friction, lubricant selection, storage, handling, and dispensing, as well as advanced courses that teach oil analysis, contamination monitoring and control, wear debris monitoring, and analysis. Some are designed for mechanics, operators or others who have hands-on responsibility for lubrication; others provide a “best practices” overview for managers and supervisors who don’t require technical expertise but need enough information to plan, organize, staff, and support those who do.
• Implement an oil-analysis program: A thorough oil-analysis program can track critical wear-related characteristics of oil in service by comparing the results with previous reports and noting the trends. This will help to identify contamination, lubricant degradation, abnormal machine wear, and problems with sampling. It also can transform a lubrication program from time-based to condition-based, eliminating unnecessary changes.
• Find a qualified lubricant specialist: A good lubricant supplier should provide training and tools for maintaining a production line properly, in addition to a comprehensive product line that fills all your lubrication needs. Plant managers should expect a comprehensive suite of services from their supplier to facilitate their lubrication management. If your supplier does not offer seminars in machinery lubrication or an effective oil-analysis program, find one that does.
According to Grellier, “With a working knowledge of the basics of machinery lubrication and careful attention to the applications and conditions of their lubricants, plant managers can be well-equipped to prevent
