While selecting the right lubricant for an application is key, how that lubricant is stored between applications is an often overlooked but critical aspect of reducing contaminants in machinery across a plant or site.
Correctly storing applicants is also an important environmental consideration, as improperly stored lubricants risk contaminating surrounding areas through leaks. In contrast, when lubricants are correctly stored, they last for much longer and supplies don’t need to be replenished because of waste; saving on the overall cycle of production, transportation and waste – all of which positively benefits the environment.
Lubrication storage is not an obvious priority for companies, but it should be. Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa’s National Marketing Manager Gavin Ford says that his team suggests a more systematic approach to clients that helps them to move away from lubrication storage and dispensing that is not as well thought out as it should be. “Some simple tools and intentionality can help with good asset reliability management,” he adds.
LE has found that a “major” contamination risk lies in ineffective lubrication management, especially storage and distribution. Ford says that this means 90% of all lubrication contamination occurs before the lubricant is ever applied to a component part.
