Category Blog

Lubricant Selection Guidelines

A yellow and blue spray bottle is placed on the ground in an industrial setting, with machinery and construction materials in the background, illuminated by warm sunlight.

Lubricants are designed for specific uses but are used in general. Within a single processing plant, there might be hundreds of different types of equipment and manufacturers. The operation of each equipment type may need specific lubricants. Each manufacturer of…

Steps in Investigating and Analyzing Bearing Failure

A collection of various metal and plastic gears and bearings arranged on a neutral background, showcasing different sizes, shapes, and designs used in mechanical and industrial applications.

Rolling bearings are precision machine components that may be used in various applications. They are usually quite dependable, even in the most adverse situations. Bearings have a significant “service life” under typical working circumstances, as either a time or the…

6 Clever Ideas to Revive a Lubrication Program

A person is taking notes in a notebook during a conference or seminar, with an audience seated and listening to a speaker at the front of the room, which is illuminated with warm lighting. Lubrication Program

Lubrication Program: The practice of neglecting lubrication has become ingrained in the maintenance culture. For these companies, more than casual intervention may be required. Instead, an ultimatum must be declared. Otherwise, past practices and bad habits will return. Six clever…

Manufacturing Process Improvement Through Kaizen

A torn piece of white paper with the word "KAIZEN" and Japanese characters underneath, placed over a layered background of brown and gray textured paper.

What is Kaizen? Over 30 years ago, Masaaki Imai wrote the groundbreaking book “Kaizen: The Key to Japan’s Competitive Success.” The book introduced the word “Kaizen,” and organizations worldwide now recognize it as a vital part of their long-term competitive…

Determining ROI for Oil Analysis Program

A person in a blue dress shirt and striped tie holding a tablet, with a digital graphic overlay showing the word "ROI" surrounded by symbols of money, such as dollar and euro signs, indicating a concept related to return on investment.

According to Noria, the financial evaluation should take into account the time value of money and produce one or all the following value indicators: Each year, calculate the net cash flow by subtracting costs from benefits. Then discount the annual cash…

Oil Varnish Analysis and Control Solutions

A close-up of industrial machinery with gears and metal components, showing oil or lubricant being applied to the gears, with some rust and wear visible on the metal parts.

What is Varnish? Oil Varnish is a polar submicron-sized soft contaminate. Varnish Issues, Testing, and Solutions  It is thought to be approximately 0.01 microns in size. Its small size has spawned a new field of study known as submicron particle…

Unveiling the Power of Dispersancy Testing

A person wearing gloves is using a tool to extract or insert a plastic bottle filled with black charcoal or a similar material, with a brick wall in the background.

Dispersancy testing is a crucial technique employed to check the dispersant properties of lubricants. It determines the ability of a lubricant to suspend and disperse contaminants, preventing their accumulation and the formation of harmful deposits. In this blog, we will…

Setting Limits and Standards for Contamination Control

A person operating an industrial control panel with a touchscreen interface in a factory or manufacturing environment. The panel has emergency stop and other control buttons, and the person is interacting with the touchscreen to monitor or adjust machinery.

Machinery lubrication plays a critical role in industrial equipment’s optimal performance and reliability. But contaminants such as solid particles and water can negatively impact the performance and lifespan of both lubricants and equipment. To mitigate these risks, it’s essential to establish limits…