Resources for lubricant storage and handling

When to Use Hard-pipe Lubricant Dispensing

2013-04-11T08:16:20-05:00

In all the plants I have visited, the lubrication systems that seem to save the most time and labor for their maintenance personnel are machines that are hard-piped to either a large bulk oil tank or a large oil tote. While piping machines into a lube source isn’t a new concept, it is one that is rarely seen in practice. Usually you find these types of systems employed at places like power plants with large turbine systems that hold thousands of gallons of oil, but they can be used for countless other applications as well.

Piping supply lines to machines makes sense in several situations. For instance, in many refineries there are countless rows of pumps all using the same lubricant. Since these pumps are stationary and typically operated 24 hours a day, they would be good candidates to be hard-piped together to a large oil tank. Piping to a common lube oil tank greatly reduces the amount of labor required for an oil change and can save as much as 90 percent of the labor cost

Hoover Container Solutions Acquires Consult Supply AS

2013-01-18T11:28:39-06:00

Hoover Container Solutions Inc. recently acquired Consult Supply AS, an offshore container provider based in Stavanger, Norway. The expansion into the Norwegian market will add to Hoover's existing locations in Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, Abu Dhabi and the United States.

The acquisition provides Hoover an additional channel to offer its range of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), offshore containers, cargo carrying units (CCUs), container workshops and ISO tank container products for the storage and transportation of chemicals, liquids and fluids.

Established in 1989, Consult Supply currently services the European and Asian offshore markets with chemical tanks, CCUs, baskets, mudskips and custom container workshops.

"Consult is proud to have built a strong company over the past 23 years, and we believe joining the Hoover Group of companies will allow Consult to become part of a global team," said Jan Sekse, general manager of Consult Supply. &

Tips for Managing Contamination, Lube Storage and Handling

2013-01-16T16:19:45-06:00

"We are planning an effective lubrication program for a 12,900-tons-per-day cement plant. Can you offer some advice on contamination and best practices for handling and transit storage?"

In the cement industry, 12,000 tons per day is quite impressive. Considering the process it takes to make cement, there is dust everywhere. Of course, contamination isn’t just dust. It can also come in other forms such as air, water, heat and antifreeze, just to name a few.

Contamination is typically the leading cause of bearing failure, but in the cement industry, this is magnified even more. It is important to understand why dust particles, especially clinker dust, can be so destructive to your equipment.

Consider the Mohs hardness scale.

As seen in the

Advantages of Proper Lubricant Storage

2012-12-14T09:20:23-06:00

Oil storage is a very important aspect of a lubrication program that is often overlooked. Most plants receive new oil and automatically assume it is clean. Then, they may put it to use right away, keep it in a dirty environment, store it outside or leave it open and exposed to contaminants after the initial use. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the value of proper lubricant storage.

Bulk Storage

When practical, bulk storage is best if the lubricant supply can be hard-piped to a number of stationary machines that use the same lubricant or for machines with high oil consumption. In comparison to drums, which have much greater handling demands, bulk storage offers low labor costs to store and handle the lubricant. In addition, online filtration and oil analysis can be easily added to the system.

OilSafe Introduces Bulk Lubricant Storage and Dispensing System

2012-12-06T09:25:39-06:00

OilSafe recently announced the completion of its newly developed bulk system for lubrication fluid storage and dispensing. The OilSafe Work Center provides safe, compact bulk storage and contamination control to promote best practices for lean manufacturing, 5Rs, 5S and OSHA right-to-know compliance.

Each tank has its own pump and built-in filtration to prevent fluid cross-contamination and keep fluid storage areas organized, clean and free of the 55-gallon drums that are commonly used.

The Work Center along with OilSafe transfer containers, color-coding and labeling help eliminate spills and slowdowns while preventing mix-ups and cross-contamination. As a result, plants can employ lubrication best practice with a complete system that covers the entire process loop and works with any existing maintenance process.

"We recognized a need in the market to add bulk storage and dispensing to create a fully integrated system for managing lubrication from deliver

IFH Expands Production Capacity

2012-11-13T10:17:38-06:00

The IFH Group Inc. recently completed its second major expansion, increasing the company's overall square footage from 106,000 to more than 121,000 under one roof.

The most recent addition houses IFH's non-ferrous manufacturing lines, expanding the company's capability for the production of aluminum sheet steel for its reservoirs, tanks and other custom fabrications.

The addition has enabled IFH to streamline all areas of production from incoming raw materials to the shipment of completed fabrications and tanks in order to shorten lead times to customers.

"This also enables us to expand our ferrous manufacturing by creating additional capacity for steel, stainless steel and aluminized steel, increasing our capability for supplying large fabricatio

How to Transition to a New Lube Supplier

2012-10-10T08:33:08-05:00

Our company recently switched to a new lubricant supplier, and we are no longer able to buy lubricants from our previous supplier. All of our machines currently use lubricants from this previous supplier. Some of these machines are small oil compartments (gears, bearings, etc.) that need occasional top-ups and annual oil changes. Other machines are large circulating oil systems for which oil is changed "on condition" based on oil analysis. Many motor and fan bearings are grease-lubricated. Our lube storage room has products from the previous supplier, but now products from the new lubricant supplier are beginning to arrive. What are the best ways to ensure this transition does not impact compatibility and reliability?

Reliability should be the first thing considered when choosing a rep

Gear Alignment Affects Lubrication

2012-10-09T15:30:22-05:00

Worm gearing alignment affects lubrication. If the worm is located off the worm gear centerline, there may be entering corner contact. This wipes the lubricant off the worm gear teeth and the worm thread like a squeegee, causing the mesh to be starved for lubricant. The resulting wear is progressive and almost always leads to the need to replace both the worm and the worm gear.

An easy way to prevent this type of failure is to perform a contact pattern check when the worm gear and worm are installed or being replaced. Most texts on worm gearing show both acceptable and unacceptable contact patterns for this unloaded condition. If in doubt, contact the worm gear drive vendor or the drive manufacturer.

Oil analysis would show this condition as high levels of copper from the worm gear. The copper levels will increase over time rather than decrease, as is the case for normal break in. Visual inspection would show wear on the worm gear tooth from the tip to the root at the ed

Handle Lubricants with Care to Prevent Health Problems

2012-10-02T08:25:08-05:00

One of our machine operators was recently diagnosed with dermatitis. Could exposure to one of our lubricants have caused this? If so, what can be done to prevent this from happening again?

Certain lubricants can in fact cause this condition as well as more serious problems. While exposure to some oils and greases carries little to no risk of health problems, others can be quite toxic. Care should be taken every time contact with oil or grease is expected.

One of the best ways to prevent this event from occurring again is through knowledge. Inform the workers who have the highest exposure risk of what the hazards are so they can take extra care when using these lubricants. Information about how dangerous a substance is to humans as well as to the environment can be found in the material

Machinery Lubrication India Now Available

2012-08-17T11:12:31-05:00

Featuring the same expertise that has made Machinery Lubrication the standard for lubricant professionals around the world, Machinery Lubrication India is now being offered for Indian readers. The new magazine will include articles from international experts as well as local content and news contributed by Indian authors from industry and academia.

Designed for lubrication professionals, manufacturers and research scientists, Machinery Lubrication India will provide Indian experts’ views, experiences and studies on subjects related to all aspects of machinery lubrication, from lubrication fundamentals and best practices for lubricant storage and handling to lubrication process development and lubricant analysis and interpretation.

Each issue of the magazine will cover in detail one industry sector, such as cement, power, steel, automotive, etc., with analysis of trends, systems, processes and procedures. The industry and product news sect

Advice for Storing Oil Drums Outside

2012-08-01T15:43:08-05:00

With the limited amount of storage space inside plants, it is common to have an outside storage area for new oil drums. This practice creates a high risk for ingression of water into the new oil if the drums are not stored properly. This is especially true during the summer months when the temperature of the drums can be upward of 150 degrees F.

As it rains, water is trapped on top of the barrels, and eventually the bungs are submerged. As a drum heats (through sunlight and ambient temperature) and cools, it actually “breathes.” That is, air is exchanged from the headspace on top of the oil into the atmosphere and vice versa. When water is sitting on top of the bungs during the “inhaling” process, it is pulled into the oil by suction. This can occur in drums that have never been op

Lube Room Essentials and Best Practices

2012-07-30T09:12:10-05:00

We are in the process of constructing a new lube room and would like to know what should be included.

Generally, a well-equipped lube room will contain the following items:

Drum storage racks (properly designed and built to hold several drums)
Oil and grease transfer pumps
Drum taps and faucets
Grease guns and oil cans
Portable equipment such as lubrication carts, sump drainers, air-powered grease guns, used oil-reclaiming systems and filter carts
Maintenance supplies such as wiping rags, grease fittings, spare filters and reservoir screens, absorbent materials to control spills and well-maintained lockers for their storage
When appropriate, a bulk tank or tanks for storage and delivery

Fourth Edition of Practical Machinery Lubrication Handbook Now Available

2012-07-23T11:33:36-05:00

Twenty years after the original release date and two minor editions later, The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication is now available in a completely rewritten fourth edition.

The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication was first authored by Lloyd “Tex” Leugner, president of Maintenance Technology International Inc., to provide the industry with a blueprint for lubrication fundamentals.

Robert Scott, a Noria course instructor and 30-year thought leader in the lubrication industry, authored much of the most recent installment of the book, which addresses specific new topics such as oil properties and testing, oil analysis, grease applications, journal bearings, compressors, contamination control, storage and handling, wear

Prevent Additive Settling in Stored Oil

2012-06-22T08:05:03-05:00

"Do you feel that it is necessary to agitate oil that is stored in larger containers such as drums to avoid a situation where some of the critical additives may settle in the bottom of the container?"

It is quite possible to agitate or mix the oil in a drum to redissolve additives, but if you are aware that additives have settled out of the oil, you should seriously consider returning the drum (or any container) of oil back to the supplier.

With the exception of certain gear oils that contain solid, suspended extreme pressure (EP) additives, most additives in lube oils are liquids, which easily dissolve into the base oil with a little heat and mixing during the blending process. A few additives may be in the oil as a suspension (for example, silicone-based anti-foam additives

10 Lubrication Best Practices for Improved Equipment Reliability

2012-06-11T09:04:19-05:00

Lubrication has a direct effect on equipment reliability. If you have a good lubrication strategy, you will improve your plant and equipment uptime.

For any given plant, there are a number of important steps that, if implemented, will increase equipment reliability. The following 10 lubrication best practices can help companies achieve the optimal result in maintenance costs compared to production reliability.

1. Assessment/Benchmarking

In this process, you assess the things that you do right as well as the things you need to do better.

2. Organization and Planning

This step is about ensuring that all lubrication tasks in the plant are completed at the right time with the right lubricant and the right quantity while using the right processes. For this, most companies use software to control and report the activity.

3. Identification

Options for Lubricant Storage and Handling

2012-05-21T08:29:58-05:00

"How do you decide what size storage and handling containers to use for lubricants?"

There are many different approaches to storage and handling of lubricants that could be considered based on plant needs, handling equipment availability and personnel availability.

Some options include:

Low volume:

sealed gallon or smaller containers
sealed grease tubes
sealed single application tubes
pails (up to 7 gallons)
kegs (up to 16 gallons)

High volume:

fixed high-volume tanks
intermediate bulk containers (3- to 10-drum capacity)
reusable drums
one-way drums
small storage rack containers (

When and How to Clean a Sealable, Reusable Container

2012-04-16T14:07:17-05:00

Sealable and reusable (S&R) containers are becoming more and more popular in the lubrication industry. These containers, which come in many different styles and sizes to fit your needs, can have a quick impact on your lubrication program, helping to prevent particle ingression into new oils and cross-contamination of different oils.

Maintaining S&R Containers

In the majority of cases where an S&R container is utilized to transport and distribute fluids, the system is open and the container can be cleaned with traditional cleaning methods using detergents or soluble compounds. There are several “green” formulations as well as acidic-based (lemon juice, etc.) solutions that when combined with elevated rinse temperatures will leave a minimal residue within the drum and nozzle. For these methods, the drum and nozzle should be detached and wiped down, then rinsed at an elevated tem

How Oil Lifecycle Costs are Calculated

2012-03-21T10:57:40-05:00

"What is the meaning of ‘the lifecycle cost of oil’ and how is it calculated?"

Sometimes a higher performance product costs less than a commodity-type product, even though the price is higher. To gauge whether this will be the case, you should look at the product lifecycle cost rather than the purchase price.

The lifecycle cost of oil is effectively the total long-term use cost for a given product from oil change to oil change. There are a variety of indirect, but nonetheless valid, costs and time commitments that factor into an oil change, including the following:

1. Oil specification.

2. Oil purchase, including purchase document generation and sending the purchase document.

3. Cost of the oil itself.

4. Oil receipt a

Storing Grease to Avoid Bleed and Separation

2012-02-16T09:48:06-06:00

When storing grease and even during use, a certain amount of oil bleed will develop. Although it is common, the rate at which this bleeding occurs can be controlled through proper storage and usage techniques. Before looking at these strategies, it is important to understand the make-up of grease and the types of oil release that can take place.

Grease Composition

Grease = 70 to 95 percent base oil + 3 to 30 percent thickener system + 0 to 10 percent additives.

In general, a grease is a solid to semifluid product that consists of a dispersion of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant. This thickener system can be made up of either simple or complex metal soaps of lithium, calcium, aluminum, barium or sodium, or non-soap such as clay (bentone) or polyurea. The thickener system can be thought of as a sponge that contains a matrix of

Tips for Reducing Wrong Oil Mistakes

2012-02-10T11:15:31-06:00

"Is there any way to tell if an improper lubricant is being used without performing an oil analysis or without a part or system failure? We currently have an oil analysis program in place, but I still find that wrong oils and fluids are being used from time to time in between the oil analysis."

The most effective way to determine if wrong oil has been used is by oil analysis, by looking at either a change in viscosity and/or a change in additive concentration, etc. Unless there is a significant difference in oil type (viscosity, base oil type, additives, etc.) or any dye that may be used in the oil or grease, it is unlikely that a sensory inspection is sufficient.

However, your problem probably has little to do with oil analysis but is more of a procedural issue. The bottom l

DuPont’s Nesselroad Paves the Way at Washington Works Plant

2011-12-19T07:30:31-06:00

Name: John Nesselroad

Age: 61

Title: Lubrication Technician

Company: DuPont

Location: Washington, W.Va.

Years of Service: 24 years

John Nesselroad got his start in machinery lubrication in 1989, serving as a production operator, training coordinator and lubrication technician for DuPont’s Washington Works plant in Washington, W.Va. He has also worked as an equipment operator for Universal Glass, as an operator for Shell Chemical and as a production machinist for Gould. Since 2008, he has served as a lubrication technician, helping his team improve the company lubrication program and develop a proactive approach to lubrication practices.

Pre-Flush for Better Oil Samples

2011-12-19T06:58:26-06:00

It is important to recognize that the amount of tubing, the size of the sample port and the volume of static oil in relation to the location of the sample port can all disturb the overall quality of the sample. For an effective, data-rich sample, appropriate pre-sample flushing volumes should be included in sampling procedures and should be specific for each individual sample port. The industry rule of thumb is to pre-flush six to 10 times the total volume of static oil in a sample tube, port, port adapter and any dead legs of pipe in the systems upstream of the sample port location.

Upgrade to a High-efficiency Filter

One of the biggest culprits for letting dirt into hydraulic and oil reservoirs is the air breather. Many systems come with a st

Keeping Lube Pails Clean

2011-12-05T14:17:53-06:00

"Is there an effective method for cleaning 5-gallon stainless-steel containers which are used to transport and store oil in our plant?"

Many companies prefer to use 5-gallon plastic buckets (also known as popcorn pails) because oil doesn't tend to stick but flows out readily and is easy to wipe down. Others use disposable, off-the-shelf plastic liners, similar to what is used in the food industry.

If you must use and clean stainless-steel buckets, you may need a standard parts-cleaner/degreaser, the kind mechanics use in garages and rebuild shops. Either petroleum or nonpetroleum-based solvents are preferred. The final cleanup is often with a common dishwasher using water and detergents. Filtered water is best.

Machinery Lubrication’s 2011 Lube Room Challenge

2011-10-19T09:58:30-05:00

Machinery Lubrication recently issued its annual Lube Room Challenge for readers to submit exceptional lube rooms that incorporate best-practice features. Several readers met the challenge with evidence of how their lubricant storage and dispensing methods have been transformed. The following entries showcase how designing a proper lube room is one of the first steps to achieving lubrication excellence.

Agrium

Tim Johnson at Agrium’s Conda phosphate operation in Soda Springs, Idaho, was just waiting for a chance to show the improvement that had been made to his plant’s lubrication program. The photos below illustrate just how far the company has come in a relatively short period of time.

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6 Steps to Update Your Lubrication Program

2011-10-18T10:54:05-05:00

In today’s culture of looking for high returns on investments, there are not many that can compare to a comprehensive lubrication program. Tremendous financial savings can be enjoyed by eliminating poor lubrication practices from an organization. Numerous financial losses are attributable to poor and inadequate lubrication programs and techniques, and most of the losses are not going to jump out at you. This is why it is important to think of every aspect of lubrication. Just working on one area will not yield the financial results you desire. It is all or nothing. This article will offer valuable guidance as to why and how to look at the big picture when updating your lubrication program.

1. Benchmarking

To understand where your lubrication program needs to be, you must first find out where it currently stands. In order to accomplish this, an in-depth benchmarking process must be performed to compare your current program to industry best practices in key areas o

Lubricant Consolidation

2011-06-07T15:12:24-05:00

In the interest of reducing purchasing costs and streamlining storage and handling, many organizations have substantially slashed the number of lubricant SKUs (stock keeping units) they use. They have also re-engineered the precision of their lubricant specification. There are many real and a couple of somewhat imaginary benefits to these consolidation initiatives. Let’s start with the real benefits.

These include:

Reducing stale inventory by directing more turnover (usage) across fewer lubricant products
Purging discontinued or hard-to-find lubricants from lubricant storerooms
Sole sourcing lubricants to a single distributor and perhaps brand to simplify the purchasing function and leverage volume buying (see figure 1)
Enhance usage conv

10 Ways to Improve Lubricant Storage and Handling

2011-04-13T10:37:28-05:00

Proper lubrication isn't just about the right amount at the right time in the right place, it's also about keeping lubricants clean, cool and identified.

ALS Tribology opens new facility

2011-04-07T14:55:55-05:00

Mobile lubrication system now available

2011-04-07T08:30:22-05:00

Oil Storage, Handling and Decontamination Can Decide Program Fate

2011-03-03T11:43:43-06:00

Far too many times, I see plants facing the same challenges over and over. They start at the wrong part of developing a lubrication program. They start by either changing lubricant suppliers, changing greasing intervals and/or changing products, and then hope to see successes and immediate returns on their investments from these emotion-driven changes.

Lubrication excellence is a full-circle game that must be played to its capacity to ensure present and future successes, meaning we must start with determining the right products, address storage and handling flaws, and then work our way to the machines to carry out the actual lubrication task.

Lubrication excellence is not just about lubricating; it is about everything that must go into lubricating properly. This article will discuss some of the main reasons why lubrication programs fail. Namely, it comes down to storage, handling and decontamination.

Delaware Company to Pay $40,000 Penalty for Inadequate Oil Spill Prevention

2010-12-06T15:54:51-06:00

In a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Service Energy LLC, headquartered in Dover, Del., has agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty for alleged violations of oil spill prevention regulations at two oil storage facilities located at 33852 Clay Road in Lewes, and 20141 Cedar Beach Road in Sussex.

Readers Administer an Ample Amount of Applicable Advice

2010-12-03T10:38:21-06:00

The “Lube-Tips” section of Machinery Lubrication magazine features innovative ideas submitted by our readers. This edition features helpful tips from lubrication pros at Georgia Pacific, Howe Sound Pulp and Paper, ConocoPhillips, Sun Chemical and Holcim (US).

Look Both Ways Before Lubricating That Machine!

2010-12-03T10:13:51-06:00

Stephen Sumerlin describes how to set up a world-class lubrication identification system and shows how a proper LIS aids your lubricant consolidation and awareness efforts.

How to Care for Your Hydraulic Inventory

2010-12-03T10:05:44-06:00

Hydraulic components are expensive, so you want to make sure that your inventory isn’t deteriorating in the warehouse. This article provides pointers for effective long-term storage.

Battle Plans: INVISTA's Documented Path to Lubrication Excellence

2010-12-03T09:59:47-06:00

An INVISTA chemical facility’s documented path to lubrication excellence has won the site praise from corporate management, the admiration of its sister plants and the ICML’s John R. Battle Award. ML’s Paul V. Arnold provides all of the details in this in-depth case study.

Pennsylvania Power Plant Gives Oil Storage Room a Much-needed Makeover

2010-08-06T15:17:59-05:00

Lubricant Storage - Don’t Miss Your Opportunities to Improve

2010-06-09T10:29:05-05:00

Proper lubrication is not only about the right amount at the right time at the right place; it also is about keeping lubricants clean, cool and properly identified.

Noria Offers Limited-Time Discount on Video-Based Lubrication Training

2010-06-09T09:10:42-05:00

Now you can provide best practice lubrication training plant- or company-wide with Noria's five training videos - and save up to 30% when you purchase by June 30, 2010.

Oil Skimming Material Called into Fight against Gulf Oil Spill

2010-05-07T14:34:06-05:00

Abanaki Corporation's patent-pending Fuzzy2 material is being put to work off the coast of Louisiana on a disk skimmer cleaning up oil from the Gulf oil spill disaster. The new Fuzzy2 material has triple the oil removal capacity of standard disk skimming material, and this is the first time it has been used on such a large scale project.

10 Tips for Maintaining Grease Guns and Fittings

2010-05-05T08:43:35-05:00

Use grease gun nozzle caps to help keep contamination out.

Wipe fitting before use to clear debris. Use clean shop rag or lint free cloth to clear debris.
Inspect grease fitting. Replace defective or damaged fittings.
Where possible, standardize on fitting type.
Conspicuously mark the grease fitting with the type of grease being used. Avoid changes where possible.
Learn proper grease gun operation and know the delivery volume per shot. Have grease guns calibrated occasionally to insure proper volume delivery.

PM Improvements at Toyota Lift Truck Plant

2010-04-08T14:35:39-05:00

Like Toyota's car plants, the TIEM factory in Indiana is noteworthy for several reasons, including:

its never-ending efforts to continuously improve its processes and people;
its all-hands-on-deck approach to maintenance; and,
its pursuit to efficiently and effectively use every bit of its time and resources.

The examples and comments in this cover story may well change your game plan for preventive maintenance and machinery lubrication. Who knows? It may change the way you look at forklift manufacturing.

Ban the Can: Sealable, Reusable Oil Containers are Smarter Option

2010-04-08T10:01:39-05:00

The oil can was in need of a major redo years ago. It was grossly outdated in terms of modern views and needs relating to lubrication and machinery reliability. Fortunately, new products sporting highly advanced features have emerged on the market. For clarification, I’ll refer to the historic products as “oil cans” and their modern replacements as S&R containers. S&R is short for “sealable and reusable”.

Despite the obsolescence, the oil can still seems to prevail undeterred in many user organizations like a bad rash. You think it’s finally gone and then it just comes right back. Either these companies that use such archaic products are Neanderthals or they simply do not understand the business case for ditching the old in favor of the new. This column was written to provide a gentle nudge to those who seem to have trouble getting or understanding this important message. In the world of machine reliability, this message is not trivial bu

Tips on Managing Your Lube Room

2010-03-08T08:25:40-06:00

Whatever you’re machining, you have to find a way to store, handle and dispense lubricants that is efficient, cost-effective, clean, safe and compliant with the standards and practices of your shop.

Valero Energy's Lubrication Transformation

2010-02-19T09:10:01-06:00

Valero Energy’s 950-acre refinery in Paulsboro, N.J., was preoccupied, busy, absorbed with its primary task of converting more than 175,000 barrels of sour crude oil every day into polished lubricant base-stocks, liquefied petroleum gases, gasolines, jet fuels, mid-distillate products, asphalt, petroleum coke and molten sulfur. The management mantra “nothing is wasted from a barrel of crude” was established to underscore the business goals of efficiency, productivity and profitability. Valero paid great attention to the oil products being refined and then sold by the company. However, opportunities existed to upgrade the refinery’s system for purchasing, storing and dispensing oil products for use in production equipment at the site.

Outdoor Lubricant Storage Tip

2010-02-18T07:24:09-06:00

To minimize water and particulate contamination from entering new drums of oil, it is preferred to keep drums indoors and stacked horizontally. However, when it is necessary to store drums outdoors and uncovered, here is a technique that may be used to remove water from the top of a drum:

Attach a paper towel to the top of the drum. In the accompanying photo, a magnetic clip was used. Allow the paper towel to hang over the edge of the drum so that the water wicks through the towel and down the side of the drum. Water will continue to travel from the top of the drum to the ground, so that breathing of water through the bungs is reduced.

Lubricant Storage Best Practices

2010-02-14T16:52:16-06:00

A necessary step to achieve lubrication excellence is designing a best-practice lubricant storage and dispensing room.

One plant transformed its lubricant dispensing methods to achieve a world-class lube room. P&G Paper Products in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania participated in the Lube Room Challenge, and its efforts to improve its lubrication program are discussed below.

Figure 1

Before
Shey Sterling, a technician at P&G Paper Products, took on a project to implement best-practice equipment and procedures to improve the lubrication station and to convert the shop into a world-class lube room. Figure 1 shows the original lube room where contamination was abundant, lubricants were not filtered and desiccant breathers were not used.

Figure 2 s

Accessorizing Gearboxes for Lubrication Excellence

2010-02-11T09:14:51-06:00

Achieving lubrication excellence typically requires some hardware additions or modifications to allow for oil changes, top-offs, flushing, filtration, routine inspections and oil sampling. Learn how a company modified their gearboxes in this case study.

Our Love/Hate Relationship With the Filter Cart

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Over the years, dozens of articles have been written on the use of filter carts for decontaminating new and in-service oil. Though offline portable filtration for hydraulics or lubrication systems is not a new idea, it would seem that designing a filtration system for higher-viscosity systems is a relatively new thing.

For years, hydraulic shops and parts suppliers have built and sold simple filtration systems made with components intended for hydraulic systems to be used on hydraulic fluid. It all makes sense. Take this hydraulic gear pump, use this hydraulic hose and attach these hydraulic filters, and you get a filter cart built with hydraulic components to filter hydraulic fluid. This has been happening for decades, and with great success. It's easy to clean hydraulic fluid. Its relatively low viscosity makes it easy to push through ultra-fine filtration.

The success on hydraulic systems was so great that people started to imagine what an offline sys

The Hazards of Mixing Lubricants

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Common perceptions at many plants are that “oil is oil” and “grease is grease”. If that is the attitude that prevails at your plant, there could be some expensive damage, or much worse, just lurking below the horizon. Most everybody knows, or should know, that mixing lubricants is generally not a good idea. This article will focus on some instances of where lubricants should never be mixed, with some real-life examples of what could happen.

One of the common mistakes I see is using extreme pressure (EP) oils in backstops, or in gearboxes which have an internal backstop. I’m not sure what the reason for this is; all I can say is that it happens often. Most, if not all, backstops require the use of a non-EP lubricant in order to function correctly. The EP additive can prevent the backstop from working correctly. A backstop failure can have potentially fatal results (a failure could result in a conveyor dumping tons of stone or coal back

How to Spec a Filter Cart

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

A customer recently asked me to take a look at a quote he had received from a local filter distributor on a set of filter carts. As I scanned the fax for information, it became obvious that the quote was just that ... a series of numbers and letters and a price for the equipment that was represented by those numbers and letters. There was absolutely no information on the page about the filter carts’ performance or features other than the option of purchasing one or two filters.

It was apparent that one of two things happened.

It is common for a customer to call the local supplier and inquire about the supplier’s filter carts. The supplier will usually provide only three details – pump displacement in gallons per minute (GPM), price and delivery date. There is usually no mention of filter performance, viscosity limitations or possible options. Most suppliers have standard five GPM, 10 GPM and 15 GPM filter carts stocked and ready to go.

The se

Lubricant Dispensing and Storage Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

A new lubricant dispensing and storage system complements lube room procedures.

Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) is a nuclear power plant near Shippingport, Pa., 34 miles from Pittsburgh. The plant has two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors capable of producing 970 and 920 megawatts of power, respectively. It is owned by First Energy Nuclear Operating Corporation. Unit 1 has been in commercial operation since 1976, and Unit 2 commenced commercial operation in August 1987.

The plant's location on the Ohio River has the historic significance of being on the site of the United States' first nuclear power plant, which went into service on December 2, 1957. It generated 60 megawatts of electricity at full power, according to Tyrone Turner, supervisor of the tool room and metrology lab at BVPS.

In a modern, large-scale facility such as BVPS, there is large amount of machinery (such as turbines, diesel generators and a vast array of pumps), all

Advanced Dispensing Technologies Permit Precision Lubrication

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Proper lubrication of rolling bearings in rotating equipment involves delivering the right lubricant, in the right quantity, to the right location. Advanced lubricant-dispensing technologies, some recently introduced to the market, make this task easier.

These technologies include automatic lubricators, lube selection and calculation software programs, and precision metering devices. They can assist lubrication professionals in effectively targeting lubrication and improving the health and performance of rotating equipment.

More than one-third of all bearing failures can be traced to lubrication-related errors. In bearings lubricated with grease, undergreasing leads to metal-to-metal contact between bearing components during operation, resulting in eventual bearing failure. Overgreasing causes lubricant churning, increasing bearing operating temperatures and leading to a loss of lubricant viscosity.

Using excessive lubricant, m

How to Avoid Particulate Contamination

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

It is widely accepted that oil contamination is one of the major causes of component failure. When practicing proactive maintenance, it therefore makes sense to give oil cleanliness a high priority. By maintaining a high level of oil cleanliness, effects such as machinery failure, resultant downtime and expensive repair costs can be kept to a minimum.

There are many factors to consider when cleaning up your act. The first and most important place to start is at the source: the new oil. Oil could be contaminated when it leaves the refinery, during transportation or during the transfer to the end-user's or vendor's tanks. But more often than not, it is the manner in which the oil is stored by the user that results in new oil contamination.

Oil Storage

Mixing Lubricants: A Recipe For Trouble

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Making a lubricant is a bit like baking a cake. Unlike other forms of cooking, in baking, measuring ingredients with "a sprinkle of this and a pinch of that" doesn't cut it - they need to be precisely measured and combined. Mixing lubricants is similar to taking two cake recipes and attempting to combine them; sometimes it works, other times it flops. This is where the analogy ends, because a wrong lubricant mixture can result in a lot more trouble than a flopped cake.

In my experience working in different plants, I'm amazed at how endemic lubricant mixing can be. In a study conducted by BHP Billiton, it was found that 23 percent of gearbox failures were attributed to "wrong lubricants and lack of oil."

While I am not aware of the percentage of wrong lubricants as opposed to low oil levels, there is no doubt that using the wrong lubricant, including mixtures of lubricants, is a major cause of machine and lubricant failure.

In most c

Is Your Lube Room Up to Par?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

My job takes me all over North America to client sites which are attempting to become more reliable and efficient through best practice machinery lubrication, oil analysis and contamination control. While on-site, my job is to assess and benchmark the practices the plant has employed that either promote their initiatives or identify the habits hindering their progress. I often run into lubricators who are happy, if not excited, to discuss what they have done to promote progress in the above-mentioned areas. I typically see sample ports, desiccant breathers, or maybe even a filter cart capable of performing the job it was intended to do! At times, I am impressed … then the survey grinds to a halt in the lube room.

In my line of business, the lube room is the nucleus of reliability in the plant. This is where the reliability of a rotating component can be strengthened, or the life of a component reduced. Most people don't realize, or conveniently overlook, the importance o

Lubricant Lifecycle Management - Part 2

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Error-proofing Lubrication

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The world's worst air disaster occurred in 1977 on the Spanish Island of Tenerife. The accident which claimed the lives of 583 people onboard two Boeing 747s was attributed to a series of unfortunate coincidences and mistakes, the most heinous being the decision by one of the pilots to initiate an unauthorized takeoff on a runway where the second plane was taxiing. As a result of this accident, new rules were established for cockpit communication between pilot and first officer, which until 1977, allowed for a dogmatic style of command where the second officer was not permitted to challenge or second-guess any pilot decision. This, along with other changes, was immediately implemented in an attempt to prevent a similar catastrophe from recurring.

Error Proofing
Like most accidents involving commercial transportation, as soon as the route causes have been determined, regulatory bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Lubricant Lifecycle Management - Part 1

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lube Room Challenge

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Designing a best-practice lubricant storage and dispensing room is one of the first steps in achieving lubrication excellence.

Several readers met the challenge of transforming their lubricant dispensing methods to best-practice. Here are a couple of the "Honorable Mentions" who have achieved a world-class lube room in their facilities.

Green Triangle Forest Products
Paul Brooker, condition monitoring coordinator at the Green Triangle Forest Products plant, uses colored stickers to organize the equipment in his lube room in efforts to diminish the cross-contamination of oils. Brooker has attached colored stickers to each gearbox on-site and has coordinated oil containers to display the same color as the gearbox in which is it used(Figure 1).

Figure 1

Fluid Filter and Transfer Carts Buyers Guide

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lubrication excellence requires the right tools for the right job. Lubricant filter carts and transfer carts are vital tools that need to be designed for the task at hand. This buyers guide takes a look at what manufacturers offer and what options are available.

Lubricant filter carts and transfer carts are both included in this buyers guide because of their similarity and the fact that one unit can serve as both a filter cart and a transfer cart. By definition, a filter cart is a portable filtration system that can be used to filter lubricant from a reservoir. A transfer cart is a portable cart that transfers lubricant from a supply source (tote or drums for instance) to the equipment sump or reservoir.

This buyers guide focuses on options available on these carts. The sections are as follows:

Customized carts - It is often important to design the cart to the specifications needed. This column indicates whethe

Custom Lube Truck Ensures Delivery of Clean Oils

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lube Room Challenge

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Designing a best-practice lubricant storage and dispensing room is one of the first steps in achieving lubrication excellence.

Several readers met the challenge of transforming their lubricant dispensing methods to best-practice. Here is one such company who has achieved a world-class lube room.

Since 2003, John Hyser has worked to upgrade the lube rooms in the Coors facility where he is employed. Through its vendor partnership program with ChevronTexaco, Coors is attempting to achieve a world-class lubrication program, beginning with lube storage and handling.

In striving t

Bulk Lubricant Storage

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lubricant Storage and Dispensing Buyers Guide

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lubricant storage and dispensing is an important part of any lubrication program. Without proper storage and dispensing containers, lubricants may become heavily contaminated. Lubricant containers must be sized to fit the demand and the availability of the lubricant. The container material should also be compatible with the environment and the lubricant to prevent failure. Other factors that affect the selection of containers are accessibility and the ability to identify different lubricants.

Drums and Tote Bins
Properly sizing the containers for their application is important. Bulk storage - containers having a capacity greater than 150 gallons - is important for lubricants that have a high dema

Strategies for Lubricant Consolidation

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Controlling the Risk of Lube Oil-related Fires

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Q: What weighs more than a locomotive and spins at 3,600 rpm?

A: The rotor in a large steam turbine generator.

Turbines are supported by a series of forcefed plain bearings. The sump used to supply the necessary quantities of lubricant to these bearings can range from a few thousand to as much as 20,000 gallons. If there is a break anywhere in the oil supply system, then the turbine must trip off or will likely suffer catastrophic damage. In addition to the obvious mechanical dam

World-class Oil Handling is Safe and Effective

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The successful control of contamination for any equipment (such as hydraulic, gearbox, turbine, electric motor, etc.), must begin with safe and effective oil handling practices.

Safe, because if it is not a clean, simple and safe way of handling oils, personnel will look for shortcuts that could jeopardize the overall success of oil cleanliness. If it is difficult, messy and cumbersome to merely transfer or filter oil, it is nearly impossible to achieve consistency in the target ISO cleanliness program.

Effective oil handling contributes to controlling contamination, rather than allowing contamination to control the oils. Filter carts often sit idle in many facilities because they are messy and usually ineffective at reducing contamination. That’s unfortunate, because off-line filtration is one of the best methods

Bama Foods Improves Lubrication Program

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Do You Know Where Your Used Oil Goes?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Bulk Lubricant Storage and Handling

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

A lot can happen to the lubricant between bulk delivery and dispensing to the machine application. Employing some general recommended practices for the storage and handling of bulk lubricants can greatly improve the chances of having healthy machines with long service lives.

Managing Used Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Three Sizes of Oil Storage

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

A Little Football Fun with Oil Handling

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Editor’s Note
College bowl games are winding down and the professional football leagues are approaching the season finale - the Super Bowl. It seems fitting that this issue of Practicing Oil Analysis magazine should include this fun article comparing oil analysis strategies to football strategies. So, here is a chance for you armchair coaches to incorporate your strategies into your oil analysis and contamination control program. Good luck!

Your Oil is the Football
How well you handle your oil determines who is in possession of it, you or your opponent: contamination. We know that oil has a useful life and does not last forever, but getting our oils to l

Zinc-Based Additives Continue to Deliver

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease Relubrication Improvements at a Duracell Plant

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Constructing a World-Class Lube Room

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Question: “How does our plant stand on lubrication issues?”

Answer: “We are doing at least one thing right - we are using grease and oil.”

Clopay Corporation Plastics Products is located 50 minutes east of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport along the Ohio River in Augusta, Kentucky. Our historic town is known more as the hometown of actor George Clooney than as a leader in the plastics industry. Clopay also has plants in Tennessee, Germany and Brazil. The company manufactures diaper film, breathable film, house wrap and other healthcare products.

Delivery is Not a Commodity! - Your Distributor Plays a Crucial Role in Ensuring That the oil You Receive has the Quality You Paid For

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Reservoirs of Opportunity - Setting Up a Tank for Contamination Control and Oil Analysis

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Operators and managers often overlook the critical role played by lube-oil reservoirs that support rotating machinery, hydraulics and mechanical power transmissions. Often viewed as lifeless metal tanks and sumps, half-hidden from sight and inaccessible, reservoirs are not only treasure chests of information, but they offer a convenient stage from which to perform remedial tasks.

Hard-working lube oils travel their circuits many times depending on the quantity of oil in the system. However, every drop of oil must return to the reservoir; the time it takes the oil to return depends on the system. A reservoir is like the Indy 500 grandstand; every unit of oil passes in front of it for re

Squeezing Every Last Cent from Your Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How much value do you get from a drop of oil? Consider not just the raw cost of the oil, but rather the total benefit that one drop of oil or grease provides over its anticipated life. For argument sake, let’s say that a drop has the potential to provide $1 of value before it needs changing. How much of that $1 value do you actually recoup? Ninety cents? Eighty cents? If you’re constantly adding new make-up oil due to leakage, changing oil too frequently, stressing the oil oxidatively through elevated operating temperatures or pumping grease until it comes out of the seals, you’re throwing away valuable lubricant and wasting money (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Hidden inefficiencies and Waste in an Oil Drop

Ask Your OEM to Accessorize New Equipment for Lubrication Excellence

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Tank and Reservoir Level Management

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Catching Cross-Contamination

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

At the Phillips 66 Trainer Refinery near Philadelphia, Pa., we recently converted some turbine/gearbox lube oil circulating systems from an ISO VG 100 synthetic lube to an ISO VG 68 turbine oil.

The systems were emptied of the old fluid and flushed before the new fluid was added. After the changes were completed, oil samples were taken to establish new baseline values of analysis parameters. We established baselines of 65.3 cSt and 23 ppm phosphorus.

The analysis from one of the systems indicated potentially nonconforming values for viscosity (90.4 cSt) and phosphorus (1,969 ppm) relative to the baseline. These values were more indicative of the previous oil and we decided that the wrong oil might have been added accidentally.

Operations personnel were notified, the oil was dumped, and the equipment

Check New Oil Totes for Contamination

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

When setting up and implementing the proactive oil analysis program at Deeter Foundry, I realized the importance of ensuring the procurement and maintenance of clean oil. Obtaining clean oil from a distributor, however, proved to be more difficult than I expected.

I invited my oil distributor to talk about oil cleanliness, and he was happy to schedule an appointment. During our meeting I requested the ISO cleanliness codes for oil to be delivered to the plant. I also requested to review their bulk-tote cleaning procedures. The only cleaning procedure our distributor reported was a manual external wipe-down with a rag.

I decided to inspect the next tote our plant emptied. When it had been emptied enough to allow for the inspection, I found I was unable to empty it usi

Lubrication and Our Planet

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lubricant Consolidation and Specification Development

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Retooling Your Lubricant Storage and Handling Equipment

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

No Use Crying Over Spilled Oil

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

No Use Crying Over Spilled Oil
Have you noticed that when you open a new five-gallon pail of fluid, pull up the spout and try to pour it, that it “glugs,” spills and pours half of the first gallon down the side of the pail?

Solution: Rotate the new full pail 180 degrees, and pour with the spout at the top rather than the bottom. When you do that, not only will it keep from “glugging,” but the spout is horizontal rather than pointing upward, so nothing runs down the side of the pail. Submitted by Daryl Beatty, Dow Chemical

Managing the Risk of Mixing Lubricating Oils

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Designing the Optimum Lubricant Storeroom

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Lubricant Handling and Dispensing Case Study

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The effort to minimize the risk of contamination during lubricant handling and dispensing has been a recent priority at Sunoco Chemicals. The Frankford plant, located in Philadelphia, PA, manufactures phenol, acetone and alpha methyl styrene. It is the largest producer of these basic chemicals in North America and one of the largest in the world - operating almost 500 pumps and motors, a variety of gearboxes and a number of large air compressors. With production levels of 1.1 billion pounds (500 million kg) of phenol, 700 million pounds (300 million kg) of acetone and 70 million pounds ( 32 million kg) of alpha methyl styrene per year, downtime to resolve contamination control issues is not an option.

A few years ago, the

Lubricant Dispensing - What Not to Do

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

If this looks familiar, it may be time to redesign your oil room. This drum has a loosely inserted drum pump allowing destructive abrasives and other contaminants to enter the oil freely.

Perhaps a better solution would be a gravity-fed lube station which provides proper venting to reduce moisture and particle ingression. Depending on fluid viscosity and head, spin-on filters should be mounted on the discharge lines leading to nozzles; one per tote (or drum). Considering that dispensing is accomplished by gravity, it may be necessary to use large-can spin-on filters for higher viscosity fluids. The spin-on filter heads can b

Lubricant Storage Life Limits - Industry Needs a Standard

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

These days, anything you buy seems to have an expiration date. You’ll find a “Best if Used By” label on everything from milk to batteries, but you won’t find such a date on greases and oils.

What is the acceptable storage life for a pail of Lithium Complex EP grease, or a drum of R&O 32 Turbine Oil? What difference does the storage environment make? What should you do to guard against storing a lubricant beyond its usable date? What tests should be conducted before using a lubricant that has been stored too long? The answers to these questions are important t

Lubricant Storage Container Advice

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Sometimes the most creative ideas are the wrong ideas. Open top-up containers like this are magnets for contaminants and can wreak havoc when used on small sumps.

Consider using a convenient “one-shot” or top-up container. Some oil suppliers can deliver labeled containers filled with prefiltered oil that meets a specified cleanliness level. These disposable containers are convenient, reduce contamination, minimize product mixing and increase the likelihood of proper application (correct oil in the machine).

New Generation Reservoir Accessory Advances Oil Maintenance

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Background
The idea behind the OILmiser FILLorDRAIN dates back to the mid- 1970s. I was assigned the job of replacing a leaking cover gasket on a reservoir supplied to a local sawmill. The fix was straightforward: transfer approximately 80 gallons of oil into two empty drums. Remove the inspection cover. Replace the cover gasket. Re-attach the inspection cover. Transfer the oil back into the reservoir. Clean up the work area, and the job was done. With the assistance of sawmill personnel, I stood ready to do my part when the reservoir was drained.

Best Practices for Lubricant Storage and Handling

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Every day maintenance personnel fill systems with chemically-depleted lubricants containing particulate, chemical and moisture contamination. Poor in-plant storage often lies at the root of these occurrences.

Fluid Handling Supplier Tote-A-Lube Changes Name to FLUIDALL

2009-09-29T00:00:00-05:00

Tote-A-Lube LLC announced that effective September 1 it has changed its company name to FLUIDALL LLC.

The company will continue to manufacture and market its Tote-A-Lube and WALLSTACKER series of tanks as it has for more than 10 years.

“The product line will continue to evo

How one plant uses grease-dispensing machine

2009-06-24T00:00:00-05:00

This machine uses a Motoman robot to install a plastic piece then apply lubricating grease to five contact surfaces. A vibratory bowl feeds the plastic parts. This machine was a retrofit using a customer's existing machine base and robot.

Access this 1-minute, 34-second video by clicking on the link below.

One-Pint Reservoir Suited to Outdoor Environments

2009-04-02T00:00:00-05:00

Oil-Rite Corporation has a U.S. patent pending on a one-pint polypropylene reservoir designed for use on engines in outdoor equipment, generators and general transport. A hand-rotated connection adapts the reservoir to differing engine designs and assembly processes. This feature can reduce engineering time and standardize a component among varying engine models, achieving efficiency and cost reductions in the manufacturing process.

The reservoir is particularly suited to the marine industry, where it can be used to store lubricant for boat eng

Bucket Project for Controlling Leaks

2009-03-31T00:00:00-05:00

Recently a cracked manifold on a piece of production equipment began leaking about 200 liters of hydraulic fluid per day. Getting a new manifold built would take six weeks, meaning we would have to spend nearly $17,000 in replacement fluid. With this in mind, we built what we call "The Green Bucket".

We installed three 3/4 inch coupled ports into the lid of a regular 20 liter plastic pail: one for an air breather, one for a feed, and one for suction. On the suction port we installed a down pipe to one inch from the bottom. On the down pipe we installed a sump float switch. When the pail fills and the float switch trips, a kidney pump sends filtered fluid back to the reservoir. When the pail empties, the switch trips and shuts off the pump.

The Green Bucket is not for all leaks - fluid contamination is a key factor. But in the right application, especially if you are in a pinch, this simple idea could help out your company and our environment.

Vertical Hand-Held Fluid Valves Improve Dispensing

2009-03-13T00:00:00-05:00

Sealant Equipment & Engineering Inc.'s new 1270-857 Series Pneumatic Vertical Handle mounted Kiss dispense valves are ideal for dispensing low- to high-viscosity one-component adhesives, sealants and lubricant materials. The manual valve is used in repetitive fluid-dispensing applications where operators dispense beads or drops of material in adhesive bonding or component sealing applications.

The manual dispense valve assembly consists of a Kiss fluid-dispense valve (either Snuf-Bak, No-Drip or Tip-Seal), a four-way pneumatic valve to start and stop fluid flow, a mounting bracket for attaching to a tool balance and a low-force trigger for the operator. The trigger grip is designed to reduce trigger pull effort and increase operator grip comfort.

The Kiss valve is designed to dispense viscous materials such as polyurethane, silicone, heat cure mastics, PVCs and grease. M

Lubricant Container Modification Reduces Contamination Risk

2009-03-03T00:00:00-06:00

We reduced the contamination during refilling of oil top-up containers by adding male quick-disconnects to the lids and female quick-disconnects to the hose coming from all the bulk oil drums. It also helps with the housekeeping since you don't have to take the lid off the top-up container to refill and there is no oil dripping from the lid or pump. We don't have the problem of figuring out where to lay the lid and pump down while refilling.

The container pictured is for hydraulic units. I installed a smaller female quick-disconnect on the top-up container hose that matches a male quick-disconnect on the reservoirs, so I don't have to open the reservoir to refill it. I am in the process of adding different size quick-disconnects to equipment that require different type oils to help prevent cross contamination with the wrong oil.

Visual Identification Helps Increase Productivity and Safety

2009-02-13T00:00:00-06:00

Many companies are developing lean manufacturing programs and protocols, designed to increase efficiency and decrease waste in production and procedures. Brady's Identification Services Team helped one industry giant start a 5S program with a complete on-site assessment of one of their plants. The company maintains the program with additional Brady labels and a GlobalMark Industrial Label Maker.

A Hydraulic Drum Rotator in Action

2009-02-12T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Drum Rotator DC-GR2 is a heavy-duty 205L drum lifter with hydraulic grab/rotation ability. With one-tonne lift capacity, this attachment is ideal for the recycle industry and for mining applications. This unit is able to pick a single drum from a pallet of four without disturbing the other three.

Hydraulic Drum Rotator DC-GR2 is fitted with quick connect couplings for connection to the third and fourth forklift hydraulic valves.

Access this 1-minute, 6-second video by clicking on the link below.

Frozen Smoke: The Ultimate Sponge for Cleaning Up Oil Spills

2009-02-11T00:00:00-06:00

Scientists in Arizona and New Jersey are reporting that aerogels, a super-lightweight solid sometimes called “frozen smoke,” may serve as the ultimate sponge for capturing oil from wastewater and effectively soaking up environmental oil spills. Their study is in ACS’ Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, a bi-weekly journal.

In the new study, Robert Pfeffer and colleagues point out that the environmental challenges of oil contamination go beyond widely publicized maritime oil spills like the Exxon Valdez incident. Experts estimate that each year people dump more than 200 million gallons of used oil into sewers, streams, and backyards, resulting in polluted wastewater that is difficult to treat. Although there are many different sorbent materials for removing used oil, such as activated carbon, they are often costly and inefficient. Hydrophobic silica aerogels are highly

Dry Cleanup Methods for Oil Spills

2009-02-02T00:00:00-06:00

Spills will still occur, but the use of dry cleanup methods will help keep contaminants out of the drain. Use shop rags for small spills. If a spill is too large to be cleaned up with a rag, a four step process should be followed. Use absorbents only when necessary. Facilities should coat the floor with a sealant to reduce the time and effort of cleanup.

Access this 3-minute video by clicking on the link below.

Oil Spill Prevention and Floor Cleanup

2009-02-02T00:00:00-06:00

Auto repair can involve spills of various products. These spills create safety hazards and contaminants can be released to the environment. Spills can be reduced by implementing spill prevention techniques, dry floor cleanup methods, and effective oil / water separator maintenance. These practices will reduce liabilities, protect the environment, community and workers, and save time and money. Most spills and leaks can be prevented or controlled through simple practices.

Access this 4-minute, 9-second video by clicking on the link below.

Form-A-Funnel is Moldable to Fit Many Tasks

2009-01-28T00:00:00-06:00

New Pig Corporation has created the Form-A-Funnel, a tool that shapes to your task. Form it into a funnel, drain, pan, tube, channel, scoop, tray, hanger - you name it - and it keeps the shape.

Access this 3-minute, 46-second video by clicking on the link below.

3 Firms Face Fine for Lack of Oil Spill Prevention Plans

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed fining three New England companies for violating federal Clean Water Act requirements to prevent and contain oil spills.

Specifically, EPA alleges that the following oil storage facilities had failed to adequately prepare and maintain “Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure” (SPCC) plans and/or Facility Response Plans (FRPs): DDLC Energy of New London, Conn.; Taylor Energy of Broad Brook, Conn; and Northeast Products Co. Inc. of Fall River, Mass.

Oil storage facilities subject to the FRP rules must prepare and implement spill response plans for worst-case discharges from their facilities, which can be upwards of tens of millions of gallons of oil.

Each facility could be subject to penalties of up to $157,500. In addition, to avoid the potential for significant environmental harm, each company must take s