Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/490438
www.machinerylubrication.com | March - April 2015 | 41 product names. This allows it to remain valid even if lubricant brands are changed. The system provides a generic specification for a particular lubricant, which can then be matched by a new lubri- cant supplier to ensure similar products will be used, thus reducing the risk of machine failure caused by applying a lubricant that isn't suited for a specific application. As technology advances and the use of handheld devices for maintenance activities becomes more prevalent, lube tags may come to be even more important in the future. Many of these handheld devices are able to read barcodes, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and a list of other coding options. Combining your lube tags with these types of codes could allow the lube technician to scan a piece of equipment and see the lubri- cant type as well as any outstanding work orders. This provides the opportunity to integrate all of these systems together with a single tag. The lube tag's construction material should be aligned with the operating context of the equipment on which it will be attached. Steel offers many advantages over other materials, as it holds up to extreme temperatures and caustic environments much better than plastics and other metals. However, steel is hard to form to fit machines unless it is thin. Therefore, consider plastic, aluminum or vinyl for equipment that doesn't operate in such harsh environments. These other materials are much easier to bend, which helps them stick to rounded equipment faces. Like- wise, the adhesive to be used should be matched to the operating conditions, along with any UV coating for tags that will be exposed to direct sunlight. A lube tagging system is a great way to mitigate failures caused by lubricant cross-contamination as well as introduce barcodes or similar items into the field. Keep in mind that you want to label all products that will potentially touch a lubricant, not just equip- ment. With a robust tagging system, you can ensure that even an inexperienced technician will be able to put the proper lubricant in the right place. About the Author Wes Cash is a senior technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He holds a Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certification and a Machine Lubricant Analyst (ML A) Level III certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Wes at wcash@noria.com to learn how Noria can improve your lubricant identification system. ML LIS labels implemented in a lube room 38% of plants do not use lube tags to prevent adding the wrong oil, based on a recent survey at machinerylubrication.com Where Lube Tags Should Be Used • storage tanks • drums, tote bins, pails • grease guns • Top-up containers • filter carts • waste oil containers • machines • drum pumps • portable transfer hoses • funnels • portable sampling hardware