The term oil analysis refers to the laboratory analysis of lubricant’s properties which provides a detailed view of what’s happening within your machine components during operation. It is a condition monitoring process where approximately 100 milliliters of an oil sample is taken from a machine while it is in use and subject to all kinds of internal elements such as a variety of chemicals. Examining used oils is a great way to understand contamination issues and current health of your equipment.

A key part of achieving dependable plant operations is to ensure a well-funded and well-organized lubrication program. What can you do to ensure plant reliability and safety? How can you overcome problems that lead to poor plant performance and downtime? Using the best lubrication and maintenance practices across the board is the only way to ensure plant reliability.

Many companies use stationary and mobile filtration systems to enhance the reliability and performance of their machines and equipment. Reliability professionals must think beyond oil cleanliness and focus on developing a culture where priority is to achieve lubrication excellence. In order to develop a comprehensive reliability program, companies need to put together serious efforts starting from lubricants handling, storage, filtration and dispensing.

Every industry in the world, from manufacturing and mining to power generation and paper, has to experience oil contamination and its consequences. It’s one of the most pressing issues for many maintenance experts around the globe. To make industrial life easier, it’s critical to first understand the cleanliness requirements and then to establish the right strategies to deal with oil contamination using the right filtration systems.

The term shelf life refers to the time period during which you can store lubricants, grease, or oil and continue to use these products without going through a quality-control process. Lubricant manufacturers provide shelf life recommendations to guide the distributors or customers. However, these recommendations only work when you observe strict adherence to conditions.

Manufacturing and engineering is a fast-moving and competitive world where companies attach higher expectations to their equipment. Production machines are getting smaller, while the market demands and challenges are becoming bigger. From developing an effective maintenance program to selecting the most efficient and appropriate lubricants, companies shouldn’t make mistakes when specifying components for their maintenance processes.

The presence of contaminants such as water and particulates can badly affect the ability of lubricants to prevent wear. When the size of particles exceeds the running clearances between sliding surfaces, the wear rate increases rapidly. Particulates, therefore, is one of the reasons the service life of your lubricated equipment doesn’t meet the expectations.

Lubricant cleanliness is a broad term that usually refers to the absence of various contaminants. So far as the measurement is concerned, 1 microscopic particle is considered the most alarming form of contamination in lubricants. The presence of contaminants can seriously damage the bearing surface and decrease the service life your machines. It is also one of the most common reasons why industries face unexpected breakdowns.

Lubrication plays a key role when it comes to industrial equipment maintenance. Almost every production plant and facility needs a streamlined lubrication process to keep operations up and running. It is estimated that companies spend, on average, only 3% of their maintenance budget on lubrication purchases, while lubrication-related tasks consume 40% of the total budget. If you want to get the optimum level of utility and reliability from your lubrication program, you have to consider a number of factors.

Competent managers and maintenance technicians put great emphasis on oil cleanliness. Most companies don’t pay due attention to oil cleanliness and its role in keeping industrial equipment in good working condition for a long period of time. Unprecedented technological advancements and evolving trends make it mandatory for companies to prioritize equipment reliability. This is why better asset performance has become a top goal of effective maintenance strategies.