Lubrication maintenance serves several purposes

Lubrication simply means applying a layer of grease or oil (the lubricating film) between surfaces that move relative to each other. This layer has three functions: reducing friction, dissipating heat and dirt particles, and preserving these surfaces. 

Lubricate well

So proper lubrication is of great importance and depends on:

1. The right lubricant. A lubricant must fit the specific application. Extremes in an application may lie in high or low temperatures, high pressures and an environment that may be dirty, wet or dusty.

2. The right amount of lubricant. Optimal lubrication is achieved only with the right amount of lubricant. Too little lubricant leads to component seizing and heat build-up. However, too much lubricant can be just as disastrous due to increasing pressures and temperatures and thus increasing friction.

3. Proper frequency of lubrication. Depending on machine construction, conditions, load and environment, lubricants last longer or less time. Too little lubrication leads to increased friction, heat generation and eventual seizure. Too frequent lubrication especially leads to unnecessarily high maintenance and material costs.

Consequences of poor lubrication maintenance

Lack of or poor lubrication can lead to several types of problems. First, safety: when bearings or other moving parts seize due to a lack of lubrication, it can lead to component damage and abrupt machine downtime with potentially dislodging parts. Furthermore, temperatures can run high and possibly cause a fire.

A major consequence of poor lubrication maintenance is a decrease in efficiency and, with it, increased energy consumption. Many companies estimate that this increase is "peanuts," but nothing could be further from the truth. Research by diverse organizations worldwide shows that an average of 20% of global energy consumption is spent on overcoming friction. Frictionless will never be completely, but the gains from reducing friction are great: lower energy consumption but also longer component life. Bearing manufacturers, for example, have figured out that of all the cases where bearings fail prematurely, about half are due to faulty lubrication maintenance.

Finally, proper lubrication maintenance contributes to machine availability and reliability. A minimal chance of jamming results in less unplanned downtime, less production loss and thus lower maintenance costs. In addition, a well-lubricated machine will contribute to the quality of the final product.

But how?

Those who do not yet have their lubrication maintenance in order can tackle this step by step. It all starts with an inventory of all lubrication points: where are these points located and what is their function on site? This information can be stored in a maintenance management program where each lubrication point is linked to the correct lubricant and the optimal frequency of lubrication. Based on this, an initial maintenance plan can be created. After each activity, the program reports back that the lubrication has been carried out but also what the findings are. Possibly supplemented with visual material. With this feedback, the lubrication maintenance can be improved in steps by possibly changing the frequency of lubrication or possibly choosing a different lubricant. For lubrication points that are difficult to reach, it is advisable to install an automatic lubrication system. This minimizes the chance of "forgetting".