Tag: Micro-Lube

Developing A Balanced Lubrication Contamination Prevention Program

Developing A Balanced Lubrication Contamination Prevention Program To understand the importance of a perfect lubrication program we first need to understand why machines fail. The simple answer is that they fail because they wear out. Functional machine parts come in contact with each other twice or thrice every machine cycle. The continuous frictional force can damage the machine parts making them non-functional. Lubricants save them from this frictional damage and enable them to perform their function properly for a long time. Hence you need to understand the types of industrial lubrication and their uses to have better machine maintenance and protection. However, what happens when the lubricant you use is not pure and contaminated? In Simple words, your equipment will wear out. Lubrication contamination makes up almost 90% of the mechanical wear of your industrial equipment. Therefore, to avoid sudden breakdowns, and machine downtimes you need to have an efficient contamination control program for your lubricants. The following blog post provides a comprehensive guide on how you can develop a balanced lubrication contamination prevention program.

Common Oil Filtration And Lubricant Contaminants

Poorly maintained and unmonitored machines will usually end up failing due to contaminated lubricants. Particle contamination is the most common type of contamination and leads to almost all lubricant-related machine wear and failure. So, you need to keep your lubricants safe from possible contaminants to get full effectiveness. Knowing the ways your lubricants can become contaminated will help you a lot in developing a balanced contamination prevention system. Some of the common sources of lubricant contamination include;

Debris

There are several ways debris can enter your lubricant. It can be the result of unsafe atmospheric conditions, an improper transfer, or infrequent filter changes.

Air

Poor machine maintenance, design, and improper opening and closing of nozzles can give access to extra air into your lubrication system contaminating it.

Water

Leaks from faulty storage reservoirs, leaking cooling filters or heat exchangers, infiltration from direct water, and vapors from the air can all lead to water being added to your lubricants, making them ineffective.

Varnish

Thermal changes from water contamination and oxidation changes the chemical composition of lubricants causing long-term machine breakdowns.

Lubrication System Contamination Control Solutions

A predictive and proactive approach works best when it comes to developing a lubricant and oil filtration contamination control strategy. This requires you to better understand your machines, their component tolerance, and formulate a plan based on reliability. Some of the measures you can take to avoid lubrication contamination include:

Scheduling Lubrication Changes

Adding a lubrication change program to your work schedule decreases the chances of forgetting to change the lubricant at the required time. However, know that changing the lubricants too often increases the chances of debris introduction in the lubricants. While changing the lubricants infrequently can decrease the functionality and cause damages. So, proper lubricant change can help you avoid the adverse effects of too often or infrequent lubricant changes.

Monitoring

Excessive air in your lubrication system is considered the worst for your equipment. Therefore, the system should be monitored and tested for any signs of foaming in the lubricants to avoid air contamination and particle damage.

Adequate Ventilation

Make sure that the atmosphere in your working area is filtered and well-ventilated. You can install a facility air-filtration system and design the facility so that the ventilation is effective. This will help you avoid debris contamination coming from the atmosphere.

Oil Analysis

Used oil analysis can be used as the very first indication of a looming contamination threat within your lubrication system. The analysis tells you a lot about what is happening in the system and helps you take preventive measures to have better lubrication system health in the long run.

About Us

Micro-lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company providing quality products to its customers in Edmonton. We are committed to providing genuine, professional, personalized, and affordable services to our customers. Our services and product quality speak for themselves. We ensure to fulfill your needs and requirements entirely and precisely. If you want to get in touch with us, contact us here.

The Importance Of Timely Draining A Lubricant

The Importance Of Timely Draining A Lubricant The oil in an industrial machine does not wear out which means that the oil does not generally deteriorate. But this being said the oil gradually loses its ability to carry out the basic functions of reducing friction, dissipating heat, and lubricating the parts of the machine. This loss in oil quality that reduces the lubrications’ quality is caused by the self-generated contamination of the various components that are present within the oil. Factors such as the viscosity changes caused by futile oxidation or dilution, oxidation due to overheating, water entry into the system, and the gradual depletion of the additive package play an important role in deteriorating the oil. Apart from these factors, there are other components as well that play a role in oil degradation to a lesser degree such as lean air-fuel ratios, operation of equipment in over-cooled conditions, poor quality fuel, and disconnection or malfunctioning of emission control systems. You can avoid all of this by doing timely oil drains. In this blog post, we will describe the conditions that contribute to oil degradation and the importance of regular oil drains.

Water Contamination

The biggest contributor of oil degradation is water contamination, hence it is your job to make sure that no water enters the system. Any water entry into the turbine or the hydraulic system can cause severe damage, typically in systems that have very low tolerances such as the hydrostatic transmission pump that is used in piston pumps. Water contamination is sometimes caused by condensation due to dramatic changes in temperatures. If the oil in the turbine or hydraulic system starts to appear milky, it is an indication that the water level in the system has increased. This means that you will need to take prompt action to protect the hydraulic and turbine system. Draining the oil is the best option to protect your turbine and hydraulic system. You can also replace the oil or remove the water from the system using a special filtration system that is primarily used for this purpose. If you have a gasoline engine then the combustion of one gallon of gasoline will produce about one gallon of water. If moisture enters the gasoline engine it will cause corrosion, rusting, separation of additives from base oils, and buildup deposits. Similarly, water entering the oil of a diesel engine is also very harmful, typically if you have used poor-quality oil. Low-quality fuel generally has a higher rate of sulfur content so when water combines with sulfur oxides, dangerous acids are formed which will immediately attack the bearings surfaces. Hence to avoid such situations you will need to carry out oil drains to reduce the chances of water contamination.

Additive Depletion

When base oils are blended and formulated using additives, these elements slowly use up the base oils and affect its performance. Due to the extreme pressure and anti-wear, agents get depleted when they are deposited on the metal surfaces. The dispersants and detergents are used up when they come in contact with the contaminated particles present in the oil. The additives are there to protect the system but become depleted when they counteract the acid formation within the oil. So if the oil is not drained and is allowed to remain in service for an extended period of time then the additive package will eventually become depleted or ineffective. Therefore to keep the additives working you will need to drain the old oils and replace them with new ones.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is one of the most trustworthy industrial lubricant providers in the Edmonton region. We have a complete range of products and offer oil filtration, dispensing, and storage products and solutions. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. For more information contact us today.

5 Ways Lubricants Help Keep The Mining Industry Moving

5 Ways Lubricants Help Keep The Mining Industry Moving The mining industry faces three key risks: they are risks of regulation changes, environmental concerns, and operational challenges. The first two of these are extraneous and uncontrollable. However, advancements in lubricant technology and analysis have made operational difficulties less. Using optimized lubricant technologies and analysis can maximize equipment efficiency, reduce environmental impact, cut energy costs, and reduce downtime and maintenance costs. This blog post explains some benefits of using quality mining lubricants in keeping the mining industry running smoothly.

1. Smaller Environmental Footprint

The most significant risk factors in the mining industry are its impact on the environment. These risks include the chances of water contamination due to mining activities and difficulties in moving to a low-carbon economy. Choosing lubricants and fluids with a long fluid life can help reduce the amount of lubricant waste a mine produces. When a lubricant lasts long you need to dispose of it less often. Combining the use of quality lubricants with a robust process can help mitigate the risk of contamination through disposal. New technologies have developed lubricants especially to reduce energy dependency. Swapping your traditional lubricants to energy-efficient mining lubricants can be a step in the right direction.

2. Productivity Optimization

Unplanned and sudden downtimes can decrease business productivity by increasing business interruptions in the mine. Lubricant analysis can help you to reduce this risk by providing a predictive and proactive approach to maintenance. Monitoring the level of oil and other greasing materials in your machinery is like a health check for your operations. Traditionally, manual labeling and processing of the oil samples made the job time-consuming and difficult. However, advancements in technology have made the process less strenuous.

3. Reduce Maintenance

Mineworkers have the highest chances of facing worksite accidents, injuries, and even sometimes death. While it is difficult to control the natural and environmental causes of accidents, you can surely limit the manual or machine-caused safety hazards. Reducing the amount of equipment maintenance and increasing machine life can help to reduce the risk of personal safety and productivity. Heavy-duty mining machines experience extensive wear and tear on metal surfaces due to friction and continuous contact with hard rock surfaces. One way to decrease metal wear and tear is to use boundary lubricants like graphite or molybdenum disulfide. These help reduce the amount of friction between the metal and hard surfaces. Gear and axles can also fall victim to excessive friction. The use of special gear lubricants such as gear mate mining lubricants can help you avoid premature gear failures caused by shocks and friction.

4. Lower Costs

With tax and mining royalties reaching high on the horizon, cost savings are delivered by using quality and correct mining lubricants. These also decrease maintenance costs, and energy consumption which also make a significant difference in mining budgets. Moreover, the optimum use of lubricants saves cost by eradicating unplanned downtimes, machine breakdowns, making a difference in the industry’s bottom line.

5. Improved Safety

Many mining industry hazards and accidents stem from human and machine interaction. Using a lubricant that decreases downtime and machine maintenance, means decreasing the time your employees will spend in hazardous situations. A mining lubricant with long lubrication intervals and a long drain can also increase your worker’s safety by decreasing the number of times they have to carry out these maintenance activities.

About Us

Micro-lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company. We have international experience and a genuine commitment to serve our wide range of customers from various industries at an affordable rate in a personalized manner. Our staff is well-trained and has a hand on more than ten years of experience in the conveyor and chain lubrication industry. We have a wide range of reliable products including filtration systems, mining lubricants, chain & conveyors, manufacturing machinery maintenance products, and more. Visit our website or contact us now to get the best and reliable conveyor and lubrication products and services.

How To Manage Unintended Consequences During An Oil Change

How To Manage Unintended Consequences During An Oil Change Oil changes play an important part in keeping your machines in good working condition. But sometimes during oil change, technicians face unintended consequences. They see problems that never occurred before, you need knowledge and skills to tackle such problems. For instance, after a full-fledged successful lubrication program when you rinse the fluid with a new fluid fill you may see the new fluid become dark soon after the flush. For many, this can be an eye-opener and may come as a shock. Everyone knows the importance of oil cleanliness but many technicians are unaware of how to deal with such problems. You may think that this was due to the new debris within the system or may assume that the new oil was cleaning the system. Whatever the issue was you will have to quickly narrow it down as the new fluid can ruin the whole system. In this blog, we will explain the unintended consequences of oil changes.

New Problems

As this is a new problem for you, just like many other technicians, you may be confused. After experiencing such a problem the first thing you should do is change the filter in order to filter the dark fluid. Changing the filter might clean up the fluid after the chemical flush but keep in mind that it can become a problem of its own. If the filter is not working then you will need to send the pressure elements for analysis in order to find out the composition of the debris. Once you have done a filter analysis you will be able to figure out which elements were the cause of the problem. After detecting the elements you will now need to plan the next step in order to tackle the new problem. Moreover, there is a chance that not all the materials that were detected were the cause of the problem, maybe only a few reacted with the new fluid. So you will have to find out which material reacted against the new fluid.

Electrostatic Filtration

If changing the final filter did not work the next thing you should do is try electrostatic filtration. It has been seen that many industries have used electrostatic filtration and have seen excellent results. But this process is not cost effective and you will need to spend some extra money. Before you start electrostatic filtration it is important that you consider the fluid’s water content. As electrostatic filtration will not work effectively when the water levels are more than 500 ppm. So if the water level is high in the fluid then this process will not give effective results. But if the water level is in the range then you can carry out the electrostatic filtration process. Once you have decided to do electrostatic filtration you will have to decide which type of filtration you need to do. There are two types of electrostatic filtration that are used for industrial lubricants. One is known as a collector type and the other BCA (balanced charge agglomeration). BCA is usually tried on the second unit. As it consists of a mixing chamber and a pre-filter that starts the agglomeration process by charging the particles. In this method, the big agglomerated particles are filtered out in the final filter. You can also use the collector type of electrostatic filtration. The collector’s method takes a few months to show results. If after months you see the oil change color and notice a decrease in the weight of the patch, the electrostatic filtration has worked.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is one of the most trustworthy industrial lubricant providers in the Edmonton region. We have a complete range of products and offer oil filtration, dispensing, and storage products and solutions. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. For more information visit our website or contact us today.

How Can You Achieve Lubrication Excellence?

  Lubricating your machines and other equipment is necessary to make them function properly. A high-quality industrial lubricant not only improves the functionality of the machine but also makes it last longer. Achieving lubrication excellence is necessary, so you know you are using the right product with the right method. When we talk about excellence in the lubrication method, it means knowing the right methods and developing a sound lubrication program for your facility or equipment. This helps improve the service and lifetime of a machine. Forming industrial lubricant excellence also requires you to know your machines well and their requirements. This will help design an effective lubrication plan to achieve lubrication excellence. This blog post mentions some tips that might help you with achieving lubrication excellence.

Don’t Overgrease

Overgreasing might have the same negative effects as that of under greasing. There is no use in over greasing your machines and using excessive amounts of lubricants. Greasing is a way of filtering contaminants from the bearings. If you overuse your lubricant, it can affect the function of the machine.

Key Points For Not Overgreasing

If you are greasing a bearing, it is important to know its geometry and dimensions. There is a misconception to apply more grease to purge out the contaminants, which is not true. The right way to achieve lubrication excellence is to apply a fraction of the calculated quantity at shorter intervals. The technician or the machine operator must know how much grease to add at the right time and calibrate the automatic lubrication system accordingly.

Testing New Deliveries

It is a wise choice to test the quality of new lubricant deliveries, especially when equipment reliability is your prime concern. A little deviation from your original lubricant to opt for a new one can have a devastating impact on your machine. This is because there can be variations in the chemical and physical properties of a lubricant. Moreover, your Industrial lubricant supplier can also help you select the right lubricant for your machine.

Opt For The Condition-based Oil Changing Method

You might sometimes think that your machine needs an oil change, but actually, it doesn’t. Many organizations change their oil based on intervals. These intervals include considerations, such as the calendar, operating hours (meter), fuel consumed, miles/kilometers driven, or production/work performed. A condition-based oil changing strategy is useful to reduce oil consumption and save costs. The most important pre-step for a condition-based oil change is oil analysis. The analysis of the oil’s condition can tell you whether it is time to change oil or not.

Educate Your Team

The maintenance team is responsible for maintaining the machines and ensuring their proper lubrication. If the maintenance team is not well-informed about the necessary practices and the right lubrication methods, their wrong methods of lubrication can negatively impact the machines. Lubricating and achieving excellence in it is an extensive procedure that demands dedication and relevant knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to educate your maintenance team so lubrication standards can be achieved and they can enhance their competencies.

Interpret Oil Analysis Reports

Oil analysis is an important part of condition-based oil changing. Many teams and plant personnel who receive oil analysis reports do not understand how to interpret them. Oil analysis is a report with a summary section with recommendations written in layman’s terms. They might not be precisely tailored according to the condition of the machine. The oil maintenance team must know all the facts and important information about the machine to interpret the oil analysis report. This is necessary to achieve lubrication excellence.

Avoid Lubrication Starvation

Lubrication starvation must be avoided at all costs. Shortage of lubricants can put a strain on the machine and make it hard for it to function properly. There must be some kind of alarm system installed that alerts you once the lubricant levels have gone down beyond a certain point. Your machines are dependent on lubricants, and they need an adequate and sustained supply of the right lubricant to keep operating at an optimum level.

About Micro Lube

Micro Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication Company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information.

Why Are Industrial Filtration Systems Important For Manufacturing?

  Industrial filtration systems are important in many fields and industries including manufacturing facilities. From food processing to power generation to pharmaceuticals industries, each industry uses specialized equipment. The equipment including its vacuum pumps, blowers, gen-sets, etc must be protected to ensure maximum uptime and long machinery lifetime and effectiveness. Many industrial processes require cleanliness and filtration not just to protect the equipment and machinery but to also protect the work environment.

What Is The Purpose Of Filtration?

The most common uses of industrial filtration include:
  • Protecting equipment from contacting and ingesting harmful contaminants.
  • Isolating and separating undesirable products from the air stream.
  • Protecting personal and work environments
  • Removing contaminants for purifying air and gas streams.
This blog explains some of the main purposes of using industrial filtration systems along with machinery and equipment filtration systems.

Protecting Equipment From Ingesting Contaminants

Contaminants that are released during the manufacturing process are highly damaging to the equipment. The main purpose of an industrial filtration system is to contain these contaminants for proper disposal. In pharmaceutical and other chemical industries, the manufacturing process can emit dangerous chemicals and by-product vapors, and aerosols which could lead to vacuum pump failure and in some cases induce a combustion event. Therefore, it is important to have an industrial filtration system in place that removes these harmful byproducts and can keep the machines running and upright. In this case, a vapor condensing trap would be used to make sure the vapors are condensed and removed effectively.

Removing Contaminants From The Air And Gas Stream

Industrial filtration is crucial in manufacturing applications including additive manufacturing, pneumatic conveying, and landfill gas collection. It helps to keep the gas and air free from contaminants during the production process, and also helps in ensuring the purity of the products formed in the process. Gas and air filtration must be thorough to ensure that all harmful and undesirable products are removed from the environment. If manufactured products contain slight impurities they will become unusable causing financial losses. Hence, filtration is an important part of any industry. Often times airborne contaminants and dust particle ingestion can cause the rejection of entire batches. To save this from happening industries use an inlet air filtration or a combination of an inlet air filter and a silencer, to protect the protection blower and keep the air and gas stream optimized and clean.

Isolating And Separating Undesirable Products From The Air Stream

Several manufacturing processes involve the efficient separation of solids, liquids, and vapors. This is accomplished effectively by using filtration and separation systems to separate the product from the air or gas stream under vacuum conditions. These specialty and hydraulic filtration systems are used to separate the specific liquids, solids, and vapors from the air stream carried over the manufacturing process. This is often key to the manufacturing process. For instance, the essential oil extraction process must separate specific chemicals under the vacuum to create a usable product.

Common Industrial Air Filtration Applications

Some other common industrial air filtration system applications include:
  • Hydraulic tank breathers
  • Medical, pharmaceutical, and dental vacuum air systems.
  • Elimination of oil mist from the discharge or exhaust of vacuum pumps
  • Industrial processes that involve the use of vacuum pumps and blowers; wastewater treatment, pneumatic conveying, CNC routing, chemical vapor deposition, and steel ragging, etc.
  • Crankcase ventilation; protect the surrounding environment by trapping the oil mist vapors produced by engines and gen-sets.
  • Filtration systems are used to eliminate oil mist from different parts of rotating equipment like turbines, compressors, lube oil systems, gearboxes, and coupling guards.

About Us

Micro-lube is your one-stop shop for all high-quality and reliable industrial filtration, greasing, lubrication, storage, and oil dispensing products. Visit our website to get your desired products, if you can’t find the product you’re looking for in our inventory email or contact us.

Types Of Lubricants And Their Uses

Lubricants have a wide range of uses in industrial machinery. They are useful for reducing the interference between the machine’s parts and help them work without any resistance due to friction. However, not all lubricants are the same or can be used for every type of machine. They all serve a specific purpose so it’s important that you understand the different types of industrial lubricants and their uses. It might seem like an easy breezy task, however, it is imperative that you have a profound knowledge of the different types of lubricants and their uses. This will prevent you from using the wrong lubricant or damaging the machine. Each type of lubricant has a specific application which is why knowing what a certain lubricant is made for is important for the health of the machine. This blog post highlights the different types of industrial lubricants commonly used in machinery and their purposes. Related topic: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System

Grease

Grease is a thick lubricant that is made by combining mineral oil and thickener. Lithium-based soaps are the most common thickeners, but there can be additional particles combined with the lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide, graphite, etc. At times, it also uses additional lubricants, like PTFE (Teflon). Since grease is much thicker than other types of lubricants, it adheres better to the surface. It also mixes well with other oil-based lubricants adding stickiness and allowing the lubricants to collect on the surface. Greases come in different thickness levels and work as a barrier to protect the surfaces from contaminants. The main uses of grease are:
  • They are ideal for lubricating linkages, chains, and bearings.
  • They are suitable if you want your lubricant to stick to the surface for a long time.
  • You want to seal out particles of dust from your machine.
However, grease is not suitable for parts which are fast-moving as grease can slow it down. Such thick grease will affect the mechanism, and thus, your machinery won’t function well.

Penetrating lubricants

Such types of lubricants are used for the protection of numerous stuck-bolt combatants. They cannot be used as long-lasting lubrication, and their only use is for infiltrating tiny cracks, adding lubrication, and breaking up rust. They are very thin and are often used to remove chewing gum from a surface or to loosen stuck nuts or bolts covered in rust or years of debris.

Oil

Oils are thin lubricants that are made of long polymer chains with some extra additives. Some antioxidants will keep the oil away from oxidation while some corrosion inhibitors are responsible for stopping the corrosion. It can be useful in long chains as it develops a slippery barrier between them. Such lubricants have a high boiling point, and a low freezing point, and have high resistance to oxidation and wear. Oil is a great lubricant when you don’t have to use grease and is ideal for lubricating small elements without disturbing anything else.

Dry Lubricants

The last type of lubricant is a dry lubricant that comes under the category of solid lubricants. They are a great alternative to oil and grease. They also help to protect those materials that attract dust and dirt. There are specific types of lubricants present in dry lubricants, such as silicon, molybdenum, graphite, PTFE. These tiny particles make dry lubricants super slippery. Dry lubricants are ideal for use on threaded rods, locks, hinges, or tiny parts that can’t be gunked up with grease. Moreover, they are also suitable for surfaces that have to be exposed to extremely high heat or pressure.

Get All Types Of Lubricants From Micro-Lube

Getting the right kind of lubricant is necessary to make your machines work fine for a long period. Micro-Lube is one of the finest hubs for every kind of lubricant along with various other oil and filtration product ranges. We are your trusted industrial lubricants supplier offering you a wide range of lubricants and other services. We ensure we fulfill your needs and requirements entirely and precisely. If you want to get in touch with us, contact us here.

What Does A Change In Your Oil Level Mean?

What Does A Change In Your Oil Level Mean One of the most basic ways that you can check your machines and equipment is to check its oil levels. Your machine’s oil levels are the most important part of your equipment because if its levels are too low or high they can cause damage to your machine. If the oil level is low in your machine then issues such as heat, friction, and boundary conditions may persist. On the other hand, if the oil levels are too high it can cause problems like oxidation, fluid friction, and excess heat. So, you must check the oil levels of your machine regularly and maintain a balanced oil level in your machine. You can use an oil monitoring system to keep track of the oil levels of your machine. In this blog post, we outline some of the key factors that could lead to an increase or decrease in the oil levels of your machinery.

Leaks

One of the most common concerns with fluctuating oil levels is generally leaks. Oil leaks can be easily detected if a proper inspection is done. Through proper inspection you will be able to detect the decrease in the oils levels or pressure. When inspecting, if you see a decrease in the levels of the sight glass, pressure gauge, or level gauge you will have to take immediate action to avoid damage. By taking action you will be able to identify the location of the leak and also its size and severity, this will help you avoid more damage to the machine. If the leak requires a long-term fix then the best time to address the issue would be during an outage or turnaround. Oil leaks often recur on the same equipment over time and can be easily spotted by the use of saturated mats placed below the source of the leak. If all of this is happening on your site then it’s time that you address the issue. If you perform oil level inspection regularly then you will be able to understand which assets are prone to leaks and which machines have recently been maintained and how critical the leak is.

Vapourization

Vaporization is another less likely cause of lowered oil levels. Vaporization occurs mostly in high-temperature applications as in these applications there is less dense hydrocarbon dispersion and that results in a change in the viscosity of the oil level. If this type of issue is identified through in-field or laboratory oil analysis, then the most vital part will be good communication between the individual who conducted the analysis and the one who is reviewing the oil analysis reports, especially during shift turnovers, lubrication meetings, and work order documentation.

Improper Filling Practices

The main worry with a low oil level is with the reservoirs and sumps, but a level that is too high is concerning as well. If the lubrication is filled improperly in the system then it can lead to fluid friction, if this issue is not addressed timely it can result in oxidation. Improper filling practices can also cause boundary conditions if the oil levels are too low. Hence, it is very important to understand and review the filling practices being used in your facility. Are there any preventive maintenance tasks or work orders that need to be checked on a yearly basis? Are all the level indicators properly marked? Is there any documentation for in-field re-filling practices? You will have to monitor the filling practices at your facility keenly because if the filling practices are poor they can lead to serious damage to your equipment.

Contamination

Contamination is the last consideration for an increase in oil levels. Factors like seal and cooler leaks, cross-contamination, process chemicals, and even moisture ingression can lead to an increase in oil levels. It is very difficult to identify contamination in the field, therefore good communication between the individuals reviewing the oil analysis reports and in-field inspectors is very important.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication Company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. Contact us for more information.

Ways To Improve Lubrication Handling and Storage

If you want your lubrication program to work effectively and provide maximum return on investment, then you have to consider the whole gamut of lubrication. You have to pay proper attention to the program from its receiving to the application. There are many missed opportunities throughout this whole process, which if utilized can increase the equipment productivity and maximize the returns on your investments. Many industries and facilities are unaware of the danger improper lubricant storage and handling can bring and how it can affect the equipment’s reliability and lifespan. Proper lubrication is not only about the right amount at the right time at the right place, but it is also about keeping lubricants clean, cool, and properly identified. Industrial lubricants are dangerous and hazardous; they need proper handling and storage in order to protect the whole facility from any mishap. In this blog post, we will outline the best practices for the proper handling and storage of lubricants. Related blog: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System

Lube Room

If you want a successful lubrication program, you will need a properly designed lube room. A fully functional, expandable, and safe lube room is important for the popper handling of lubrication. The lube room will provide all the necessary handling and storage requirements that you will need to run a successful lube program. The lube room should be designed in such a way that it is able to provide maximum storage capacity without allowing for too much bulk oil and grease storage. By limiting the amount of bulk oil and grease storage you will be able to use the oils in a timely manner. While designing your lube room there are few important features that you should consider such as limited access doors. This type of door will tell you when a lube technician enters and leaves the room. There should be visible landing areas for the new lubricants which will allow you to log all new lubricant deliveries. And lastly, the lube room should have enough space for fireproof storage cabinets.

Quality Control

Quality control is one of the most important factors that make a lubricant program successful. So, your lubricants should be checked and verified when delivered by lubricant suppliers. This will ensure that the products you received are the original ones. This will also help you to ensure that the cleanliness of your lubricants is up to mark. The best way to ensure that your lubricants are meeting the standards is through using tool oil analysis. Oil analysis is a powerful tool and reveals the following things about lubricants.
  • Quality of base stocks
  • Additive quality and concentration
  • Lubricant performance properties
  • Thickener performance properties (grease)

Bulk Oil Storage

Most of your attention should be given to bulk storage because most contamination happens due to improper bulk storage. Whether you are storing your lubricants in a 20,000-gallon tank or in a 55-gallon drum you need to make sure the quality of your products is not tainted by contamination. To ensure that the lubricants stay in optimum condition, you will need to determine how much lubricant should be stored at one time. Here are a few steps that can be employed to help you aid this process.
  • Determine the lubricants consumption rate. In order to ensure that the right amount of lubricant is being stored at the facility, you will have to determine its consumption rate. The consumption rate will depend on the industry and equipment, other factors such as leaks and excessive drain will also contribute to the consumption.
  • The next step is to determine the storage capacity. The amount of required storage capacity will depend on the consumption of the lubricants. When there is proper storage capacity it will maximize the shelf life and will also allow a certain amount of excess lubricants to be stored for emergency situations.
  • Then you will have to determine the lubricants supplier turnaround time. The turnaround time of lubricant suppliers should be a metric in helping determine the number of lubricants stored. Because if there is a long time interval between deliveries then you could run into a shortage of products.
The aforementioned steps will help ensure the best bulk oil storage resulting in a successful lubrication program.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication Company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers confidence in our products and services. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. Contact us for more information.

4 Ways To Increase The Lifespan Of Your Heavy Machinery

4 Ways To Increase The Lifespan Of Your Heavy Machinery Machines are an important part of mining projects and manufacturing units. No business wants to experience machine downtime as it affects its product manufacturing process and causes an additional monetary load. Keeping these heavy machines in working order is crucial for businesses globally. Unplanned downtime comes with enormous financial costs and may even cause your business to lose its competitive edge. Heavy machinery is the backbone of the manufacturing and mining business. Proper care of these machines will not only save you money but will also protect your workers from any mishap. Machine breakdowns are not just costly but also compromise the safety of your workers. Preventive maintenance ensures better performance, saves fuel and energy consumption, and nurtures a safe work environment. Here are 4 tips to help you maintain your heavy machines and increase their longevity.

Regular Lubricant Replacement

Lubricants increase the efficiency of machines and keep them in good working order. All heavy machines depend on lubricants to work effectively. Lubricants reduce the friction around the moving parts of the machine, which results in less wear and tear. Lubricants also help prevent soot build-up and keep the interior of the machines clean. Regular lubricant replacement is the first and the most important thing to maintain when performing maintenance checks. This will help you keep your machine in good working condition. While doing a maintenance check, keep the following in mind:
  • Check the lubricant level frequently. Also, look for excessive grease build-up and oil seal leaks regularly.
  • It’s important that you use the right amount of lubricant. Using too little lubricant will run the risk of increased friction. Whereas, using excessive lubricant, can cause build up grease and cause performance issues.
  • Make sure that you use the lubricant that is prescribed in the operations manual and recommended by the manufacturer.

Clean The Machine Thoroughly

Cleaning the machine thoroughly is as important as maintaining the lubricants levels. Thorough cleaning of your machine will increase its lifespan. Dirt, debris, and soot can clog filters, seals, cooling fans, and vents, decreasing the overall performance of your machine. The easiest way to clean your machine is with a water hose that will forcefully remove the dust and debris from your machine. However, there are few parts of the machine such as its iron chains and pins that are difficult to clean with a water hose. You will have to use special cleaning methods like pressure or power washing to clean such parts of your machine.

Check For Wear And Tear

Different factors can cause wear and tear over time such as accidents, aging, and the environment. Even if you take all the precautionary measures you can not avoid aging, with time the machines parts will start to age. Aging will affect almost all the critical components of your machine. By checking for wear and tear you will be able to change the affected parts of your machine and increase the overall lifespan of your machine.

Train Your Employees

Most wear and tear is caused by incompetent employees who do not know how to operate a machine. Unskilled employees can also cause equipment failures and injuries. An incompetent employee can cause damage to your machines and business. So it’s very important that you train your employees. Make sure all your employees know how to operate heavy machinery, what the emergency action plan is, and which safety precautions they should take when operating the machine. Training your employees is key to ensure the longevity of your equipment.

Conclusion

Heavy equipment is a substantial financial investment. The aforementioned tips will help you maintain your heavy equipment and increase its lifespan.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company, we provide professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. We offer a complete range of lubricants and help you make and implement an effective lubrication program. For more information, visit our website.

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