Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/902206
www . machinerylubrication.com | November - December 2017 | 21 away from the dust and heat of the plant. e new dispensing system features separate pumps, filters and piping for each lubricant, and every tank utilizes desiccant breathers for ventilation. Dispensing jugs used for transfer- ring smaller quantities of fluid are also stored inside closed cabinets in the new lube room, as opposed to open shelving. For larger quan- tities, transfer pumps with filters specifically matched to the application are now used. To minimize the chances of cross-contamination, lubricant tanks and jugs are coded with a color and shape which correspond to coded tags on the lube points of various machines. Bulk lubricant storage has been another area of significant improvement. Oil barrels previously were stored both inside and outside in a very disorganized manner. e lubrication management survey also revealed many consolidation opportunities. rough consolidation and organization, the lubricant inventory has been reduced from more than 100 barrels to nearly 30. Furthermore, every new barrel of oil is sampled prior to entering the inventory. Other lubrication program improvements that have been or are being implemented include regular sampling of machinery, sealing up lubri- cation systems, improving in-line filtration, installing desiccant breathers and adding quick disconnects to facilitate clean oil transfers and lubricant filtering. e organization currently has three technicians who are trained and certi- fied as a Level I Machine Lubricant Analyst, with more to receive training in the future. When the utility first began implementing these changes, the overall state of in-service lubricants showed only 60 percent at a severity of 0 or 1 (good/acceptable) and 24 percent with a severity of 3 or 4 (bad/unacceptable). Today, 90 percent have a severity of 0 or 1, and only 3 percent remain at a severity of 3, with none in the severity 4 range. Although there is still quite a bit of work remaining to achieve world-class status, the improvements that have been made are paying off in greater equipment reliability and economic benefits. Lubricant barrels are now stored in a racking system, and a new lubricant storage and dispensing system was placed into service in 2017. The International Paper mill's most common oils are pre- filtered and stored in stackable totes, reducing the inventory of full oil drums and the need for partial drums. International Paper e International Paper mill in Port Wentworth, Georgia, manufactures specialty grades of pulp that can be found in products around the world. In 2011, the mill formed a reliability team to help eliminate lubricant contami- nation and improve overall equipment reliability, product safety and quality. One of the team's primary focuses was on lubricant storage and distri- bution. e mill had many remote lube areas, and contamination control was minimal. Lubricant labeling was either missing or not standardized. Oil also was not filtered from the drums. e reliability team developed standard operating procedures for labeling transfer containers and purchased filtration carts. A 5-S room was created for consumables such as sight glasses, breathers and filters. Battery-operated grease guns with gram counters were procured, and all the site's grease guns were calibrated. e team also worked with its lubricant supplier to consolidate its lubricants. Samples are now taken from incoming oil drums. For storing grease, shelving with clear labeling was installed, and the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method employed. In 2016, a centralized distribution system was implemented. e lube room, which came as a packaged unit, is climate-controlled and sealed to prevent contamination. e facility's most common oils are pre-filtered and stored in stackable totes. is has greatly reduced the inventory of full drums and the need for partial drums. e mill's future plans include purchasing color-coded transfer carts and staging them in the lube room. Installing hose reels and quick connects will allow these carts to be easily moved and avoid having to carry jugs of oil up and down stairs. ML After After