Plant life matters
Although the cost of components - such as rolling element bearings, rotors and fasteners - in hydraulic pumps is usually very small, compared to the list price of the pumps themselves, the cost of stopped production and any consequential losses resulting from component failure is almost invariably significant.
Reaching the parts
Environmentally friendly and synthetic lubricants are creeping into mainstream plant applications as alternatives to conventional mineral oils – and for good, solid economic reasons, as Brian Wall reports
Oiling the wheels
Lubricants and lubrication systems re advancing more than many realise – for static and mobile plant. Dr Tom Shelley reports
Saving the earth
In the rush to save energy and reduce emissions, it's easy to forget the sheer range of potential solutions. Dr Tom Shelley reviews some of today's most powerful options
Industrial vending – vote or veto
Industrial vending machines can be used to stock a range of items and tools, but would they work on your site? Adam Offord explores the options
Keeping the ball rolling
Plant Engineer explores how to keep the ball rolling when standard bearing lubrication lets you down.
Lubricate the parts
Just a decade ago, outside the automotive industry, synthetic lubricants were in low volume production. PTFE-based lubes, for example, were expensive problem solvers, aimed only at applications where mineral oils just couldn't handle the extremes - primarily of temperature and pressure. Today, it's a very different story.
Lubrication - Smooth operator
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of lubrication-free chain products on the market - and manufacturers are continuing to develop more. But why do we need so many different types of lubrication-free chain and what precisely do manufacturers mean by the term 'lubrication-free'?
Smoothing the way
While many new developments now allow lubricant quality to be monitored continuously in situ - as well as various kits and portable equipment that enable tests and measurements to be carried out on site - it is still general practice for samples to be taken and sent off for analysis. The alternatives are to have a system that keeps pumping fresh lubricant to wherever it is required - backed up by analysis to determine how much needs to be pumped in and how often - or to design out the need for lubrication altogether.
Sound of silence
Ultrasonic tools are invaluable in detecting bearing failure, mostly because warnings appear well before any temperature rise or low frequency vibration can be seen. In fact, the technology recognises everything from early fatigue failure, through brinelling to lubricant problems.