Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1356397
22 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com 22 | March - April 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com LUBRICATION RECEPTION & STORAGE Product Inspection Inspecting products is one of the easiest steps in the quality process, yet it is the step that is most often missed. Lubricants can be delivered in many ways. Greases are generally delivered in small boxes containing several tubes, while lubricating oils can be delivered in bulk by a truck, bulk totes, barrels, buckets and even quart jugs. If you are receiving bulk lubricants, it is critical that you obtain a quality control certificate as most vendors will not let you detain their truck to further examine the lubricant they are delivering. However, there are a few things that can be done before the lubricant is offloaded. You can verify that the pump they will offload with has been properly flushed and ensure that any other lubricant transfer equipment is capped or stored in a way that reduces the possibility of introducing contaminants. Inspection of Packaging Greases and the other smaller oil-filled containers mentioned above, such as barrels and buckets, also need to undergo an inspection. Key things to look for include the product name, expiration date and any physical abnormalities of the container. e product name should match exactly what was ordered, and if a viscosity is listed, it should also match. e expiration date should not be passed and in general should be more than a year in the future. Improper bung fit and rust on the threads should be questioned on oil barrels, as well as any missing seals on barrels and buckets. When inspecting a grease package, check the box for oil, as this is most likely a sign of the oil leaking out of the grease thickener and should be cause for concern. Lubricant Analysis Depending on factors such as the number of lubricants, criticality of equipment and availability of on-site laboratory equipment, we can go a step further than an inspection of the package and perform lubri- cant analysis on lubricants received. e level of analysis performed also depends on the previously mentioned factors. For instance, if you only have two lubricants on site totaling 200 gallons, it is probably not cost-effective to have a laboratory full of oil analysis equipment. With that being said, there are some inexpensive tools that can be used to measure different properties of a lubricant, which can then be used as indicators of whether or not the lubricant supplied meets expectations. Viscosity is the most important physical property of a lubricant; every delivered lubricant should be tested to make sure it has the right viscosity. As I stated earlier, making lubricants is a long process and it is not unheard of to have a lubricant arrive that has a different viscosity than the one mentioned on its container. A simple visgage or viscosity comparator can be used on each delivery for a quick "go/ no-go" acceptance test. Depending on the size of your program, another tool you can use to test incoming lubricants is a particle counter. is will tell you how clean your oil is—remember, not all new oils are clean oils. For more critical machines, you might even decide to send samples to an offsite laboratory before putting newly-delivered lubricants into service. An oil analysis laboratory can give you a deeper understanding of the lubricant to confirm that it is up to specifications. Post-Assessment Steps So, what happens when abnormalities are found with lubricant deliveries? is is usually going to depend on the contract terms that you have with your lubricant vendor and what the issue is with the lubricants. If there were problems found with the packaging such as broken seals or base oil leaking out of grease tubes, you can probably ask for a straight exchange for the same product. When it comes to more in-depth inspections such as an oil analysis report, if the report came up showing a different viscosity or incorrect additives, these should be sent back. Risks like this are a good reason to quarantine your lubricants while they are being analyzed; if you fill a bulk tank with bad lubricant, you could potentially cascade the issue and now at least have more problematic oil than just the initial barrel, even if the contamination isn't spread into your plant's machines. If you have a cleanliness contract with your vendor stating how clean your lubricants should be when they arrive, and they bring them to you with a higher level of contaminants, you might be able to filter them yourself and get a credit towards your next purchase. is is generally done because the problem can be fixed, and a barrel exchange can be avoided. Implementing a quality control process at your plant can save time, money and potential headaches. Creating a step-by-step guide that details the key members and their roles in the process will help to ensure it is a success. ML About the Author Travis Richardson is a technical consultant for Noria Corporation. He holds a Level II Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) certification and a Level II Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Travis at trichardson@noria.com. START YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION machinerylubrication.com