Many businesses are combining their lubricant purchases into a single, integrated program to increase productivity by automating preventative maintenance procedures, improving inventory management efficiency, and lowering on-site inventory expenses. The effectiveness of such a campaign will be determined by properly analyzing vendors.
Because lubrication management is critical to lowering costs and increasing productivity, success nearly always hinges on locating the best single supplier of lubrication goods and services to satisfy complicated requirements.
When creating a lubricant management program, consider the following questions:
• Does The Provider Provide A Diverse Assortment Of Products?
The vendors most suited to satisfy the demands for different lubricating solutions provide a whole line of industrial lubricants rather than just a “broad range” of goods. Hydraulic, compressor, and vacuum pump fluids, gearbox and chain fluids, and multi-purpose oils are examples of high-volume fluids. Grease, pastes, anti-friction coatings, and dispersions are examples of specialized industrial chemicals that must be added to the mix. Synthetics have great emulsification resistance and last longer, allowing maintenance intervals to be extended. Mineral oils with ultra-high purity also resist emulsification and encourage increased additive function, resulting in a longer life than regular mineral oils. The full-service provider must also have access to functional additive technologies such as anti-oxidant, anti-wear, and severe temperature additives.
• Does The Provider Know How Frequently You Should Replace Your Lubricant?
One of the most challenging components of operating an efficient, cost-effective, and safe facility is determining when to change your industrial lubricants. If you’re confused about whether to replace your lubricant, you might be squandering money by changing it too regularly or risking equipment harm by changing it seldom. The top lubricant providers will make certain that you and your employees are equipped to make educated judgments about when to change your lubricant. Your lubricant provider should provide a comprehensive analysis program that analyzes numerous essential wear-related parameters of oil in service by comparing the findings to prior reports and noting trends. It is also necessary to understand how to collect a representative sample and how to evaluate the results. Software like this can assist detect contaminants, lubricant deterioration, and excessive machine wear.
• Is The Lubricant Recommended By The Supplier Appropriate?
When comparing lubricant providers seek a product portfolio that matches the needs of every plant. These offers should be backed up by local product supply and competent technical assistance to enable maintenance personnel to avoid lubricant selection and application errors that can decrease equipment life and cause production to halt. High temperatures in air compressors, for example, intensify interactions between compressed oxygen and contaminants, leading to quick oxidation, a sudden rise in viscosity, and lubricant failure. Mineral lubricants in air compressors typically have a lifespan of 1,000 hours. In comparison, synthetic compressor oil designed specifically for air compressors can last up to 12 times as long. Such applications are understood by the competent consolidated industrial grease suppliers. Make certain that your provider reviews the material application rather than simply the existing product, which may no longer be the best kind or family of lubricants for your specific needs.
Commodity lubricants purchased from several sources are easy to overlook in a complicated industrial plant. This is a costly error that can jeopardize production and profitability. Consolidating lubricant purchases with the proper provider can assist manage and improving a critical maintenance functions.
