www.machinerylubrication.com
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November - December 2014
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Before training, automatic lubrication was unheard of in
Lippert's plant. Now the site has more than 50 automation units in
service, not counting single-point lubers.
"It was common practice to change the oil in our critical gear-
boxes twice a year," Lippert notes. "Since changing oil brands,
adding proper filtration to the gearboxes, oil sampling and offline
filtration, we are now going on 13 years without changing the oil by
using oil analysis to determine oil condition. This has been a
tremendous savings. Although I do not have a monetary value, it is
in the thousands."
Receiving ICML certification and the two ICML awards has
changed Lippert's career and how his organization is perceived,
including by customers.
"Winning the awards was great," Lippert says. "It shows others
how hard we've worked to achieve better reliability. Especially on
customer and ISO audits, they recognize a lot of work and improve-
ment in our maintenance practices. We have several Fortune 500
companies as customers who come in and do audits. As of today,
every company that has audited the Augusta plant has labeled our
lubrication program as a benchmark and has come back to us for
guidance in setting up a world-class lubrication program."
Over the last eight years, Clopay Augusta has seen a 70-percent
drop in bearing and water pump failures. Besides improving its
lubrication program, the plant has also incorporated alignment
and vibration analysis.
"What is more impressive to us is that we have been able to
sustain the 70-percent drop in failure rates," Lippert adds. "I have
seen some companies not stay on top of maintenance programs
and fall back into old habits."
A few years ago, Lippert started receiving calls and emails from
bearing vendors wanting to know why their bearing purchases had
dropped dramatically.
"They thought I had switched vendors," he says. "I'd say this is a
true sign of lubrication excellence."
To find out how your organization can win one of ICML's recogni-
tion of excellence awards, visit www.lubecouncil.org. To submit a
nomination, email your plant information to info@lubecouncil.org.
