Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/147079
INDUSTRY FOCUS LUBRICANT STORAGE & HANDLING only grease guns used in the plant. A custom holder was fabricated to hold these grease guns, allowing users to identify which guns are currently in use. Tags were posted at each grease gun pocket, identifying the grease gun location. Only clear tubes are used to reduce cross-contamination of greases. Greases that are used for electric motor lubrication have been equipped with grease-dispensing meters. The other grease guns are calibrated and equipped with a tag, which includes the volume dispensed per pump and the date checked. A desk was dedicated to house all oil analysis equipment and procedures. A large bulletin board is used for posting all current oil analysis/filter analysis results. This allows every mechanic to have access to all the results. It also provides a "dashboard" for problematic equipment. Cloud Peak Energy's Spring Creek mine converted an After consolidating to eight lubricating oils, the mine old electrical motor-control-center trailer into a lube room. purchased eight 65-gallon containers for makeup oil reservoirs. Additional 65-gallon containers are used for larger lubricant requirements. There is also a portable cart for each oil type. The mine's greases were consolidated into six different types. Concrete was poured around the lube room to create an all-concrete loading dock. Domtar When Domtar's paper mill in Kingsport, Tenn., decided to improve its lubrication process, the goal was to become world class in managing inventory and dispensing oils. The mill's new process incorporates several best practices such as color-coding, labels, drum racks, first-in/first-out (FIFO), drum top units for oil filtering, handheld technology and new systems for transferring and dispensing lubricants. Domtar's investment in a new oil storage and dispensing system has eliminated wasted space, time and labor. Inventory is now properly maintained, and employees have a much safer and more ergonomic working environment. Inefficient lubricant 36 July - August 2013 | www.machinerylubrication.com A jib crane was added to the loading dock to allow lubricants to be moved in and out of the lube room. transfer is avoided with the new system, while clean-up from spills, labor costs and absorbent purchases have decreased. The number of in-process drums and employee downtime have also been reduced. Oil is now filtered before being dispensed, which has improved the cleanliness level. New visuals have helped to prevent cross-contamination and ensure that FIFO is followed. The job aides and work instructions also guarantee that all employees use the same process. When performing lube routes, the mill utilizes barcoding with a maintenance management system. This has eliminated crosscontamination when adding oil or greasing the equipment. The correct lubricant is displayed when the equipment is scanned during an inspection. The system also tracks usage and records inventory. Lube routes are uploaded each week with an electronic