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Manufacturing Technology Insights | Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Fremont, CA: A structured lubrication management program is becoming increasingly essential, especially in the resource sector, where operations often encounter harsh and remote conditions. Beyond mining and energy, these programs offer significant benefits across various production processes that involve multiple assets. Implementing or improving a lubrication management program is an excellent way to bolster reliability initiatives, as equipment wear is a common challenge that affects every industry.
Friction is what wears out equipment. Therefore, the amount of friction that slows down moving objects will increase if the wrong lubricant is used, misapplied, or allowed to get contaminated. To overcome that friction, more energy is subsequently needed. Implementing a seven-step approach to lubrication can decrease an operation's energy expenses, lubricant stocks, consumption, spills, and cleaner equipment.
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Lubrication Consolidation
Many lubricants that have been used and purchased by sites for decades can be outperformed by modern lubricants. Depending on the business, lubricant stocks can be rapidly reduced by up to 75% or more through consolidation operations.
As a result, the lubricant application program becomes more straightforward, and the purchase and transport costs are reduced. Note that consolidation requires a company to record all the storage locations and inventory ALL the lubricants on site.
Encourage your lubricant providers to submit bids for a lubricant consolidation operation. These programs are typically provided at little or no cost in return for bulk orders that can benefit your business by lowering lubricant expenses for a predetermined amount of time.
Contamination Control
Inadequate handling, application, and storage procedures are the main causes of contamination problems. Lubricants that transfer abrasive substances to the wear surface are not well received by radial lip seals or fine-tolerance bearing surfaces.
Outdoor storage of lubricant barrels exposes them to harsh weather conditions, corroding them and retaining moisture. Additionally, it has become commonplace to employ unclean and non-specialized lubricant-transfer methods.
Filtration
Inadequate machine-filter management can result in decreased lubrication flow and the avoidance of harmful wear impurities on your bearing surfaces. Make sure that your PM program prioritizes filter replacement.
To save money on lubrication, change-out, and disposal expenses, you can utilize an external pump/filtration cart to clean and prepare your significant reservoir lubricants for reuse. For more information about this simple technique, contact your neighborhood lubrication hardware or filter supplier.
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