As industrial machines become more sophisticated and tech-savvy by the day, manufacturers are changing their tactics.
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To improve performance, reduce downtime and meet customer demands, they’re pushing their systems to greater limits than ever before.
This also means that suppliers are getting creative.
To deliver on customer expectations, they’re fine-tuning one oft-overlooked aspect of the assembly line: lubrication.
Industrial lubricants are critical to keeping all parts moving the way they should, but all products are not created equal.
With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right lubricant for your needs.
While it sounds simple, selecting the proper industrial lubricant can be challenging.
Why?
Not only are there dozens of lubricant brands, but each industry also has its own set of regulations and standards that limit the kind you can use.
Before making your selection, it’s helpful to consult with a supplier, first.
These experts can help answer questions you may have about your specific application.
Though there are many ways in which they can differ, all industrial lubricants must meet baseline criteria for performance. At a minimum, they must:
While these are standard characteristics of an industrial lubricant, your needs may require features above and beyond this list.
Your individual operating conditions and manufacturing processes will dictate the functionality you require.
Before you get ahead of yourself the selection process, your industrial lubricant provider should ask you one essential question: Do you want a general-purpose solution or a synthetic one?
If you plan to maintain your equipment’s lubrication regularly, a general-purpose solution will work.
If you want to lubricate the equipment once and have it last a long time without touch-ups, a synthetic version would be preferred.
To understand the difference between the two, let’s slide into the makeup of each.
The term “industrial lubricant” encompasses a range of products, including greases, oils, waxes or pastes. Their primary ingredients include:
A common selection, most general-purpose oils contain mineral oil distillates derived from crude oil, such as petroleum.
When you need an industrial lubrication application that lasts, synthetic solutions get the job done. Two of the most common are polyalphaolefins (PAOs) and synthetic esters.
Developers use other compounds to produce these synthetic lubricants artificially, making them more powerful and longer-lasting than their counterparts.
The result? It isn’t petroleum oil. Rather, synthetic solutions are clearer and more uniform, providing an uptick in:
When your supplier suggests a synthetic lubricant, it’s because your application requires a solution with mechanical and chemical properties superior to mineral oils.
If you plan to go back and re-lubricate as required, a general-purpose version will work if it meets the baseline features listed above.
Choosing to lubricate a machine for life is a step in the right direction.
When you go this route, your supplier should point you toward synthetic lubricants. This is because base lubricant oils are well-equipped to handle long-term wear and tear, because of:
Love synthetic lubricants, but you’re on the fence about the cost? Consider the lifespan of the product.
Both synthetic and specialty lubricants can last up to five years longer than general-purpose ones depending on the quality of the base oil used.
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With so many options at your fingertips, the key to choosing the best industrial lubricant is to determine the base oil viscosity you need.
Before they can send you to the right selection, your supplier will ask a series of questions to learn more about your question. These include:
Be thorough and specific in your answers to help make sure the right product travels home with you. During this interview process, it’s common for equipment owners to forget tiny details that can make a big difference.
Resist the urge to let price be your final deciding factor. While synthetic lubricants cost more than general-purpose ones, the return is more than worth the investment, helping your business enjoy:
Before you can choose the right industrial lubricant, you must first find a supplier you trust.
Our team of professionals will assess your situation, understand your application and help you choose the right solution for your needs.
If you’re looking for a new machine grease or oil for your workplace, you’ve come to the right place.
All the products in our legendary TW25B® synthetic lubricant series provide top-of-the-line performance, reliability and durability.
Equipment maintenance is essential to keep up with the productivity demands of any mining operation.
Operations Managers face many challenges in both surface and underground mines – from extreme hot and cold temperatures to excess debris and humidity. Selecting the correct lubricant can have a significant impact on keeping systems running efficiently, especially in harsh operating conditions. You always need the right amount of the right lubricant, in the right place, at the right time. Added to this, the equipment is relied upon to be fully operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which provides further challenges.
Here are some of the most common lubricant questions my colleagues and I have heard over the years:
Reducing the cost of production is a common goal for mine operators. Choosing the cheapest lubricants may be tempting to reduce short-term costs, but if you compromise on quality, they can be detrimental to your equipment.
A higher-quality lubricant or grease that comes directly from an oil manufacturer provides greater performance, leading to more uptime and reduced maintenance costs. In other words, choosing a lubricant that can help you reduce operational expenses over the long-term via extended drain or extended re-greasing intervals is more cost-efficient than choosing a low-quality, cheaper option.
Petro-Canada Lubricants products are developed and manufactured with ultra-pure base oils and advanced additives which provide a quality and consistency that you can trust.
Here are some of Petro-Canada Lubricants’ most relevant and top performer products to consider:
When it comes to TDTO, we let people know about PRODURO™ TO-4+ UHP. PRODURO TO-4+ UHP is a multi-purpose synthetic all-season transmission, hydraulic and driveline fluid developed to improve the performance of mining equipment operating in extreme conditions and stemmed from a specific customer collaboration. By maximizing durability and equipment protection at elevated system temperatures and in severe operating conditions, PRODURO TO-4+ UHP increases equipment productivity and decreases operating costs.
An SAE 15W-40 grade oil is the most commonly used heavy-duty diesel engine oil in the mining sector.
Our DURON™ SHP 15W-40 is a durable, synthetic blend engine oil and is specially formulated to bring outstanding shear stability combined with superior wear protection so it can keep equipment moving.
If you are looking for a high-quality lubricant to use in both high and low temperature extremes, we recommend DURON UHP 5W-40.
Even under the toughest conditions, DURON provides long-lasting protection to vital engine parts, which can reduce maintenance costs and downtime, even down to -30°C/-22°F.
While both of these products are used very successfully in mines today, it is always best to confirm with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to ensure you are using the correct product and grade for your application.
Our PEERLESS™ family of greases are premium performance, multi-application greases formulated to reduce operating costs and provides extended protection in extremely high temperatures or wet operating conditions, making them well-suited for smooth, year-round mining operations.
Our PRECISION™ greases are long-life, multi-application greases formulated to reduce operating costs and provide long-service protection over a wide range of operating temperatures.They have strong water washout resistance and EP protection that allows them to stand up to heavy loads and tough working conditions.
Additionally, our VULTREX™ line of greases delivers outstanding equipment protection over a wide temperature range, with various heavy-duty uses in off-highway equipment that operates in extreme temperatures.
VULTREX™ OGL Synthetic is a product line of a state-of-the-art open gear lubricants that provide extended service life, product consolidation and longer equipment protection across a wide range of temperatures.
Petro-Canada Lubricants has a full line of mining lubricants and greases. Contact us at any time for more information.
There is a lot to consider when selecting a lubricant for your equipment needs. Mixed fleets are common within the mining sector and when managing both surface and underground operations, it often means that the fleet has equipment from several different OEMs. This can pose a challenge when selecting a lubricant as it often means that multiple products are needed to align with the OEM’s recommendations.
By involving a lubricant technical expert in this process, the needs of all equipment can be taken into consideration, but there are some key things to keep in mind, including:
At Petro-Canada Lubricants, we do the legwork with our customers to provide you with the proper fluid recommendations and best practices for every product we manufacture. Petro-Canada Lubricants products are designed and formulated to not only meet but exceed the stringent standards set by OEMs for their various application requirements. Our experts draw on a wealth of experience and insight to select the most appropriate lubricant based on the OEM recommendations and operational environment.
Want more information on Industrial Lubricating Oils? Feel free to contact us.