Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1123345
Which lubrication miscon- ceptions are hurting your operations? It's well worth your time to f ind the answers. Addressing lubrication issues can provide any industrial facility with significant financial opportunities and a rapid return on investment (ROI). My specialized career as a lubri- cation expert has allowed me to travel to many diff erent manufacturing facilities, ranging from the steel industry to food and beverage, and everything in between. At several of these plants, I have observed some key lubrication misconceptions worth noting. ese myths can have extreme consequences and yet are easily remedied. Following are the top three lubrication misconceptions that can impact your production. Myth #1: Lubricating industrial equipment is simple and easy. Fact #1: It is a highly detailed and complex process that requires expertise. This misconception is deeply rooted in culture, so it's easy to see why this myth is so commonly held. ere's an old saying that "oil is oil, and grease is grease." is couldn't be further from the truth. There are endless possibilities for lubricant formulations, and each one is slightly diff erent and aff ects the machine in its own way. Aside from the correct lubricant selection is the actual appli- cation. How diffi cult can it be to hit a few fi ttings with a grease gun? e "rights" of lubrication spell it out — put the right lubricant in the right place, in the right volume, at the right frequency and using the right procedure. While this may sound simple, it isn't when you consider the sheer volume, variety and complexity of tasks required to keep industrial machinery properly lubricated. Start by asking the right ques- tions. Consider how many pieces of equipment you have in your plant. Next, look at how many separate components each one contains that involve lube-related tasks (e.g., motors, gearboxes, shaft bearings, couplings, fi lters, etc.). How many individual lube tasks are associated with each of these components? Keep in mind that some components may require many diff erent tasks that go beyond simple application of grease, such as checking fl uid levels in reservoirs, monitoring fi lters and seals or taking oil samples. In addi- tion, many of these tasks must be conducted at varying intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, annually, etc.). Across several thou- sand lube points, multiple tasks at varying frequencies can add up fast. If you haven't performed this type of assessment in your facility, the yearly totals can be a real eye-opener. It is not uncommon for a well-developed lubrication program to have hundreds of thousands or 3 Lubrication Myths Impacting Your Production LUBRICATION PROGRAMS Jeremy Wright | Advanced Technology Services "These myths can have extreme consequences and yet are easily remedied." 12 | May - June 2019 | www . machinerylubrication.com