Whichever industry you work in, correct selection and application of lubricants can improve uptime and efficiency, and reduce maintenance needs for plant machinery. Despite this, many managers are content to use the same products they have always used or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, perhaps unaware of the advantages they could gain by taking a closer interest in the oils and greases that are helping their machines to function.
Broughton Lubricants has supplied oils, greases and other products for over 100 years, and our experts have detailed technical knowledge that enables them to provide bespoke product recommendations for any number of applications. Here, we break down some of the primary considerations you should make when choosing a lubricant product yourself. If you have any questions, or would like tailored advice about a specific solution, call us on 03300 555 655.
Choosing a product
Many lubricants are designed for specific applications, so it is worthwhile to start by looking at products that are engineered for the purpose you have in mind. Some lubricants will be functional across multiple applications, but each product is different in terms of its additives and chemical composition. Choosing an oil or grease that delivers specific benefits for your application is a great starting point for getting more out of your machinery. This applies even more so to applications where an all-purpose lubricant will not be effective, or those where a specific product is mandated - food production, for example, where food-grade products must be used at all times.
You may feel that the improvements delivered by specific additives will be minimal compared to using an all-purpose lubricant and that it would be easier to stick with the product you are currently using. However, the advantages of using a specifically designed product will become noticeable over time. For example, some lubricants will operate better at extreme temperatures, which will reduce the need for maintenance and reapplication over time. This can also save costs by reducing how much of the product you need to apply. Even if a product targeted at your application costs more up front than an all-purpose lubricant, you will save money in the long run by significantly reducing how much of the product you are using with each application.
Researching products made for your specific requirements can also help you to understand what you need. For example, you may not have considered that a product designed to generate less foam while in operation, or with adhesive properties that prevent debris being generated, could help to fine-tune your operation, or even that such products are available to facilitate this. If, when researching, you find that the lubricants that are designed for your application offer these advantages, you can gain a better understanding of the relationship between the product you use and the benefits it offers in terms of greater efficiency and reduced downtime.
Applying products correctly
To make the most of your lubricants after you have selected the appropriate products for your needs, you should use a labelling system. When you have selected the right product for each use, it is important that they continue to be applied correctly according to the specifications you have chosen. This will help to ensure you get the most benefit from each product. The best way to do this is to ensure that products are labelled or colour-coded according to their purpose - even if they are kept in their original packaging, it is useful to implement your own system of colour-coding or labelling to keep things as clear as possible.
For some uses, you will need an application tool to access the areas you need to lubricate, and these should also be labelled, or thoroughly cleaned between uses. If the latter is the case, you should also make sure to use proper dispensing equipment that is designed for the right purpose. Using the right tools and using a labelling system will not only prevent products from being applied incorrectly, but will also help to prevent the problems that can arise when lubricants are cross-contaminated - in other words, when different lubricants are mixed together, either because they are inadvertently applied in the wrong place or because the same tools are being used with multiple products.
The consequences of this can be serious in some cases, because different products have different chemical compositions and contain different combinations of additives that are designed for specific purposes. These additives can interact and react with each other when lubricants are mixed together, and in some cases, will destabilise or neutralise each other. This means that you could lose the benefits that the additives bring to the oil, which may be the reason you chose the oil for this application in the first place, and can also create adverse effects - if, for example, a lubricant product has adhesive properties that cause a build-up of debris inside a machine because it is the wrong product for that application.
As we have suggested above, this type of labelling system is a must-have in any food or pharmaceutical production facility because of the high standards of lubricants that are needed for these applications, and it can particularly benefit any plant or factory that needs multiple different types of lubricants. Bearing in mind that there are thousands of different lubricant products designed for different industries or pieces of machinery, most facilities could make use of multiple types of lubricant to make their operations more efficient, if they do not do so already.
By applying this advice, you can benefit from cost savings - thanks both to increased uptime and reduced maintenance needs - and greater efficiency of operations, no matter the industry or sector you work in. For advice on choosing the right lubricant for a specific application, or replacing a lubricant that is no longer on the market, call our expert team on 03300 555 655.
