SYNPAG Gear Lubricants Superior Performance in Extreme Conditions

Fort Worth, Texas (PRWEB) December 22, 2007—Lubrication Engineers, Inc. (L.E.) is proud to launch their latest ‘Enhanced Lubricant’: 9705 - 9707 SYNPAG Gear Lubricants. These synthetic Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) based gear lubricants are particularly known for their extreme pressure (EP) characteristics & ability to prevent micropitting. They have been specially formulated to provide strong corrosion resistance, wear protection & thermal stability. SYNPAG Gear Lubricants are outstanding lubricants for all types of industrial gears and plain and anti-friction bearings under extreme severe service conditions. They are available in ISO Grades of 220 (LE 9705), 320 (LE 9706) & 460 (LE 9707).

The PAG synthetic base fluid of L.E.’s new SYNPAG Gear Lubricants provides superior oxidation & thermal stability for longer lubricant life in tough operating environments. The extremely high Viscosity Indexes of 242-262 result in wide operating temperature ranges. The PAG also helps to protect against expensive micropitting of gear teeth - therefore helping to increase gear equipment life. It has outstanding extreme pressure (EP) performance with an excellent Timken OK Load of 75 lbs.

SYNPAG Gear Lubricants were also formulated for excellent corrosion prevention properties in order to protect against rust & corrosion in applications suffering from water contamination. Finally, the SYNPAG has good resistance to sludge formation - ensuring longer lubricant & equipment life as well as less downtime.

Due to the high performance capabilities of the new SYNPAG range, L.E. recommends its use for a variety of applications including: helical, bevel, planetary or worm gears as well as bearing applications calling for oil lubrication. Typical equipment types include: Textile Machines, Kiln & Oven Bearings, Roller Mills, Pellet Mills, Extruders, Chains & Conveyors and Sliding Bearings.

“We are pleased to offer our valued customers another great addition to our Gear Oil range - our new SYNPAG gear lubricants provide fantastic performance results for applications working in demanding operating conditions. The reliability of expensive gearboxes will be dramatically improved due to SYNPAG,” said Scott Schwindaman, President, Lubrication Engineers Inc.

Lubrication Engineers Inc, USA has been a leader in lubricants since 1951. L.E. manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of heavy-duty, premium quality lubricants formulated from the highest quality select base stocks. These lubricants are manufactured under an ISO9001 certified quality system at a state of the art plant in Wichita, Kansas, USA. L.E.’s objective: increase your profitability. L.E. products are designed to increase profitability through: longer equipment life, extended service intervals (reduced lubricant consumption), energy reductions, reliability (less downtime), fewer repairs (fewer parts & less labour) as well as less inventory (multi-purpose products) L.E. products are available worldwide (outside USA, Canada & Mexico) through L.E. International AG’s network of over 50 distributors.

www.le-inc.com

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Shell Develops Grease For Severe Applications

Houston - Plain and rolling element bearings operating under heavy loads and extremely slow speeds require a tough lubricating film that helps reduce wear by keeping bearing surfaces separated. Shell Lubricants has introduced Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1, a heavy-duty synthetic lithium complex grease specially developed for use in these severe applications, even when operating at high temperatures.

Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1 consists of a lithium complex soap thickener, a synthetic base fluid and a specially formulated additive package. The viscous synthetic base fluid and high performance additives give the grease excellent film strength, excellent anti-wear properties, and outstanding load-carrying capacity for effective lubrication even during conditions of extreme pressure. Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1 can be applied to applications such as rotary stokers, furnaces, hammer mills and washer bearings.

“Severe applications with extreme temperatures and heavy loads require specially designed lubricants,” said Walt Silveira, US Technical Manager. “Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1 maintains effective lubrication even in the harshest conditions.”

Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1 provides excellent corrosion and rust protection. The formulation is designed to perform under a wide range of operating temperatures (between 25°C to 120°C). Shell Albida® Grease SDS 1 joins the full line of Shell Albida® high quality greases, which include Shell Albida® Grease EP, Shell Albida Grease MP, Shell Albida® Grease MPS, Shell Albida® Grease SLC 220, and Shell Albida® Grease WR.

For more information, visit www.shell.com/us/lubricants

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Luber-Finer Oil Analysis Program Includes Simple Test Kits

Luber-finer, which manufactures heavy-duty filtration products for the transportation, agriculture and automotive light truck industry, has added oil analysis kits to its Laboratory Fluid Analysis Programs to better maximize customer return on fleet investment. The oil analysis program will help keep equipment running cleaner and longer, and increase bottom-line profits.

With the new oil analysis program, Luber-finer provides an easy-to-use, cost-effective method to manage preventive and scheduled maintenance that is completed in an unbiased, independent laboratory. By performing an oil analysis that tests for wear materials that can be harmful to an engine, such as magnesium, copper, tin, lead and zinc, Luber-finer program results can help reduce equipment downtime. The oil analysis program will monitor the wear particles and the viscosity changes, along with soot levels in an engine, helping avoid engine and component failure.

The oil analysis program works by establishing an equipment database, adding equipment as required, and taking samples. Samples can be submitted to Luber-finer by simply purchasing a kit and accessories from an authorized distributor. To properly obtain a sample, a fleet manager or maintenance person should bring the equipment to operating temperature, obtain a sample from the oil reservoir and send the sample directly to the off-site laboratory.

Luber-finer’s state-of-the-art laboratory will then perform an analysis based on the component type. Upon completion, fleet managers can review the written reports that indicate the component condition and decide upon corrective actions from any abnormal and severe sample reports.

Results can even be accessed online, at www.luberfiner.com in a 24- to 48-hour turnaround time.

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New HYDAC Inline Contamination Sensor

The CS 1220 Inline Contamination Sensor is the newest HYDAC development of continuous measurement of solid contamination of fluids on the market.

Using the latest technology and materials, the CS 1220 is a reliable measuring instrument that is permanently mounted on your mobile or industrial equipment.

The attractive cost-to-performance ratio makes it especially interesting for OEM applications.  Online, real-time condition monitoring allows you to have total predictive maintenance.

Features:  IP67 Protection, Display with ISO Code, Maximum Pressure 4,350 psi, Voltage Supply 9-36 VDC, Data Output 4-20mA and 2.9 lbs.

HYDAC Technology Corporation – HYCON Division
2260 City Line Road
Bethlehem, PA 18017
http//www.hydacusa.com
1-877-GO HYDAC

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Chevron’s Lubricants University Offers Archived Issues of Lubrication Magazine

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chevron’s Lubricants University, an online training resource offering information on technologies and trends in the lubrication and maintenance industry, announced that archived issues of Lubrication magazine are now available free of charge on its site – www.LubricantsUniversity.com

Lubrication magazine, a trusted source of information for almost a century, has published nearly 1,000 issues since 1911. The magazine has a history of providing in-depth knowledge and analysis of the lubricants industry, with each issue presenting a thorough look at a subject of interest. With a large portion of the Lubrication archive now available online, interested parties are able to research a particular lubrication area from previous years to increase understanding of the changes in additive chemistry, manufacturing and equipment maintenance.

“By making past Lubrication issues available online, we have created a central area for lubrication research to thrive,” said Virginia Moser, training coordinator, Chevron Products Company. “Our site is a resource for maintenance and lubrication professionals to increase their knowledge regarding the development and application of lubricants. The addition of this extraordinary resource increases the value of the experience we offer to our users and gives new life to one of the most respected, and historically significant, publications in this market.”

Over 650 issues of this valuable industry resource, dating back to 1920, have been made available on the Lubricants University web site. Lubrication practitioners and maintenance and reliability personnel worldwide now have access to decades of in-depth articles on a wide variety of lubrication-related topics. The archived issues are indexed by five- or 10-year increments for easy reference and research purposes.

A wide range of topics are covered in the archived issues of Lubrication, including the lubrication of industrial bearings, the characteristics and uses of grease, diesel tractor lubrication and the lubrication of underground mining machinery. Specifically, issues covering topics like used oil analysis could be valuable for some certification exams like those offered by the Society of Tribology and Lubrication Engineers (STLE).

The Lubrication archives are available free of charge, to anyone visiting the Lubricants University web site. Articles are available in PDF format and can be viewed online, printed or saved from the web site.

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PANalytical XRF's, Very Effective at Predicting Machine Wear

Leading analytical X-ray specialist, PANalytical, has published new data on the MiniPal 4 energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and Axios-Petro wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometers that show their effectiveness and value in predictive machine maintenance programs.

As metal surfaces within a machine undergo physical and chemical wear, trace concentrations of the component metals appear in the lubricant. Elemental analysis of the lubricating oil provides a fingerprint of the worn component and enables its rapid identification. For example, Ni and Fe levels indicate worn pistons, rings and crankshaft wear, whilst Cu and Sn are associated with bearing and bush wear.

By enabling accurate, precise quantification of wear metals in lubricating oils, PANalytical systems, such as MiniPal 4 and Axios, can help to significantly improve predictive maintenance programs and scheduled down-time planning, minimize repair costs and increase safety margins by reducing the chance of catastrophic machine failure.

New application notes illustrate the detection limits, accuracy, precision and long-term stability of MiniPal 4 and Axios. Importantly, XRF is a non-destructive technique that requires only simple sample preparation.

www.panalytical.com

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Looking for a smarter way to dispense?

EZI-action™ Drum Pumps

Pumping technology for dispensing a wide range of liquid products is winning high praise from users according to Trico Corporation.

Proven in the industrial markets, EZI-action Drum Pumps minimize waste and improve safe handling methods for a wide variety of liquid products.  Contents are being emptied from 5 gallon to 55 gallon containers with a simple one-hand operation. The innovative adaptors ensure simple installation and a secure fitting, container after container.

EZI-action Drum Pumps dispense fluid on both the up and down stroke with only two moving parts.  Patented zero-friction design provides effortless flow of viscous fluids up to 8,800 cps.  They dispense a wide range of liquids including strong acids, alkalis, mild solvents, lubricants, oils, and diesel to name a few.

The unique design of the Safety Strap protects against accidental discharge of liquids when not in use.  Optional color-coding of the Safety Strap, when used in conjunction with fluid transferring and dispensing containers minimize the risk of fluid cross-contamination and errors.

For more information on EZI-action Drum Pumps visit www.tricocorp.com or call 800-558-7008.

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Some Perspective about Differences in Lubricant Brands

Successful machinery lubrication practices are not expressly dependent on the brand that has been selected. It doesn’t matter if the brand selected was Chevron GST 32 or Emma Sue’s ECO-Recycle 32 if the lubricant condition is taken for granted.  Brand is not un-important, but brand alone does not represent a ‘quality’ machinery lubrication plan.

A bit of perspective on Differences in Lubricant Quality
Successful machinery lubrication practices are not expressly dependent on the brand that has been selected. It doesn’t matter if the brand selected was Chevron GST 32 or Emma Sue’s ECO-Recycle 32 if the lubricant condition is taken for granted.  Obviously, a quality product like the GST 32 can age more graciously, but ultimately the degree of protection that the lubricant provides will depend on the state of the practice in place at the plant to manage that lubricant throughout its lifecycle. 

Success in machine lubrication is dependent on what is done with whatever lubricant happens to be in place.  Getting any one of the many quality brand’s into the plant is only the beginning of the process.  Managing the selection, application and renewal of the selected lubricant will determine whether reliability is going to be improved or degraded by plant lubrication practices. 

Reducing the use-cost of machine lubrication (not to be confused with the purchase price) is also dependent on improving lubricant management.  As a line-item, lubricants represent between one and three percent of the typical industrial (steel, tire/rubber, paper, cement, chemical, automotive, mining, etc…) budget.  Plants that use process lubricants (aluminum and steel works, metal working applications) will tend toward the three percent, while the great majority will be well under two percent. 

The use-cost of machine lubrication represents ALL the other costs that are either directly or indirectly influenced by how the lubricant is managed.  Regrettably, this sliver of a line-item in the budget directly, and often negatively, effects 50 percent of the balance of the budget line-item costs (lubricated component replacement at 15%, overtime labor at 10%, and standard labor at 25% of the budget respectively. (These are round numbers.  It these numbers don’t seem right then take a look at your own and let me know what you find).

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Eurocopter selects Spectro to provide oil analysis

HAMPSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM March 1, 2007 — Multinational oil analysis company, Spectro, has been selected by Eurocopter to provide oil analysis for its helicopter fleet.

Guilhem Malric, analysis group leader of Eurocopter’s laboratory in Marseille, France, said the company’s decision to work with Spectro and sister-company Jet-Care International’s laboratories in the United States, United Kingdom, and Switzerland was based on positive feedback from Eurocopter customers who currently use Spectro for oil analysis.

“We are recommending our customers use Spectro because of its proven track record in providing analysis which can improve the long-term efficiency and maintenance of gearboxes and engines,” Malric said.

More than 9,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,500 customers in 139 countries.  Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world and has a 52 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. 

Overall, Eurocopter Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet.

“We appreciate Eurocopter’s continued confidence in the quality service Spectro and Jet-Care have been providing over their 30 year history and are delighted to be associated with Eurocopter,” said David Glass, CEO of Spectro and Jet-Care.

Last year Jet-Care was selected by Eurocopter Mexico to provide oil and debris analysis for all its engines and gearboxes. Helicopters Italia, a maintenance center that is integrated in the Eurocopter maintenance network, recently awarded a contract to Spectro Switzerland to provide oil and filter debris analysis for Turbomeca’s powered fleet in Italy.
Spectro’s and Jet-Care’s laboratories routinely analyze samples from all major original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and operators. OEMs such as Honeywell, Turbomeca, Williams International and Pratt & Whitney have given their approval to the facilities. Long-time helicopter clients include CHC Scotia, Bristow, McAlpine Helicopters, Bond Air Services, Bond Offshore, FB Heliservices and The Queen’s Flight.

“One of the biggest irritations operators face is a grounded aircraft,” Glass said.  “It’s costly, not only in direct repair costs, but in lost time, lost productivity, lost business and unhappy customers.  With three decades of experience with aviation engines and systems, we offer operators and manufacturers peace of mind.” Spectro and Jet-Care have an incomparable base of experience, providing the technology, data quality, timely response and cost effectiveness necessary for today’s competitive engine business environment.

Today, Spectro and Jet-Care monitor the health of more than 40,000 engines, in over 80 countries, seven days per week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“We can detect dozens of potential issues before they become big, expensive problems,” said Glass.  “That’s why so many owners and flight departments rely on our comprehensive engine oil, filter and gas path analysis.  They are assured of a speedy turnaround and immediate response, whenever and wherever required.

“We provide our customers not with just numbers and graphs, but with analysis borne of an extensive knowledge of all types of aircraft systems and engines.  Our experience with both wet chemistry and debris analysis helps our customers maintain their engines efficiently.”

All three of the laboratories operate to the ISO 17025 quality standard and are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Services) certified.  This allows original equipment manufacturers to use Spectro’s and Jet-Care’s services without audit.

For more information about Spectro, telephone +44 (0) 1256 704000; fax +44 (0) 1256 393507; visit www.spectro-oil.com

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Modernizing Machine Lubrication

How good is your lubrication program? 

Why do you think so? 

Join me to think about where machine lubrication fits within the reliability framework of the modern manufacturing plant, and look at a snapshot of the details needed to create an effective lubricaton plan.

How can something be both critical and obscure? Technically accurate machinery lubrication care is both critical and obscure. Few debate the importance of machine lubrication. Few debate the importance of accurate product selection and supply. Few debate the importance of lubricant condition control. At the same time, few perform these functions with much precision or have any idea how well their own plants fulfill these 'behind the scenes' activities.

I recently had an opportunity to review lubrication work practices (PM’s) at a large process plant in the heartland. From our discussions, and before setting foot inside the plant gate, I would have bet my front teeth that the work practices would only address enough of the lubrication requirement to pass a 'red-face test'. (In case you don’t know, the red-face test represents just enough quality that a review isn’t totally embarrassing.)

One can just imagine how a system of poorly defined practices might become the plant gospel…
Not very long ago, in the not-to-distant CMMS implementation project, managers and contractors were overheard addressing the topic of lu-breema-fycation…
CMMS Corporate Coordinator: “Billy-Ray-Joe-Bob, did you make sure that the lube stuff was included when you put together the PM’s?”
CMMS Contract Implementer: “Uh… Yea. See here. Every machine if covered. Got grease and everything.”
Coordinator: “Good, cause that fundamental stuff is really important.”
Contractor: “Oh yea, that is one of the areas that separates us from the other experts that do this stuff for a living. Hell, we can even set you up with a lubes supply agreement to make sure you have all the right stuff here at the plant.”
Coordinator: “No, Billy-Ray, that won’t be necessary. As long as the lube practices are in the system that is all that matters.”
Contractor: “Uh…, yea. Grease and everything”.

I was disappointed with my recent plant visit. Not because I was wrong, but because the poor state of development accepted as a healthy norm. The site personnel didn't know what they didn't know, and as a consequence the lubrication plan did not support mechanical reliability.

The face of 'status quo' lubrication practices: Ignorance and Apathy
If it is the case (and I assert from experience that it is) that precise machine lubrication is critical to sustaining plant machine health and productivity, then why don’t plants have a state of precision in their lubrication practices? Two words: Ignorance and Apathy!   I wish it were not true, but it is.

Ignorance reflects nothing more than a state of low knowledge. Most maintenance managers and supervisors do not personally have time to dedicate to the study of this field such that they intuitively 'get it'. And, since managers of the same group don’t tend to apply their full political power to things that they don’t thoroughly understand (and acknowledge the benefit of), then those managers don’t require their organizations to deliver precise lubrication practices. Ignorance is correctable, but until it is corrected, ignorance breeds within the organization a lack of attention and care that can be best described as Apathy.

Apathy is a form of laziness. I personally have had clients that were apathetic about the nature of their lubrication practices. I personally have earned a lot of money from these same folks when, at an appropriate time – generally following a successful address of some maddening problem or catastrophic threat, these folks have trusted their program to my agenda for lubrication management, and have then become content to let me chart their course and own the program. That can work if the in-plant technical resource is both knowledgeable and motivated, and there clearly are some suppliers that fit that description.

Regrettably, most plant folks are not stirred from their apathy to discover a better condition until there is an emotionally invigorating event, such as a visit by the company’s CEO to inform local management that the plant will be shut down if results don’t improve within 24 months, or some facsimile thereof.

The key to this problem (of ignorance and apathy) is knowledge. Once a manager begins to realize the potential that can be derived from precise lubrication activities, and understands that the roadmap to achieving sometimes-dramatic improvements is not hard to chart, then the manager begins to understand the value of the invested effort and energy. Precision lubrication is not difficult to define. It is difficult to implement. It is seriously difficult to motivate people to change long seated habits, especially if the people aren’t convinced that there is a reason to make a change. Again, the key is knowledge. It begins with understanding the state of the lubrication plan as it exists today within the (your) plant environment. If you would like to begin the process of evaluating the state of your programs, you can find part one of a nine part on-line survey at http://www.maintenancebenchmarking.com/. Look for link to the Lubrication Practices Study.

Achieving an optimized lubrication state

Effective, meaning 'precise', machine lubrication is critical to delivering and/or sustaining maximum machine productivity. Precision lubrication entails technical accuracy in three areas:
1. Correctly matching the lubricant physical parameters to the machine’s mechanical design requirements (viscosity grades for oil and grease, additive types, NLGI grade, thickener type).
2. Correctly matching the lubricant performance capabilities to the operating conditions (wear resistance performance, moisture release, oxidation resistance, air release, use of solid film additives).
3. Correctly managing the lubricant to preserve lubricant condition (viscosity control, moisture control, air control, solid debris control, temperature control, volume control)

That’s all folks. It’s not that hard. It does, however, require leadership: vision, organization, and persistence.

The technical matters are not complicated, they are just obscure. In the coming months I will address a variety of topics that are both technical and managerial in nature with a hope that readers will catch a glimpse of the potential for this critical and overlooked area of plant operations.

I welcome your feedback. . Go Back