Keeping It Cool And Running!

The fact that the right choice of coolants and lubricants can not only ease the manufacturing process but lead to tremendous cost savings is illustrated in this demand and supply partnership between MotulTech and EagleBurgmann India.

- Huned Contractor

At a time when manufacturing operations worldwide are moving towards Industry 4.0 that includes, among various elements, a focus on maximising cost-efficiency in order to remain competitive, one of the segments that has come under review is the use of lubricants and coolants.

This has gained importance for the simple fact that the right choice of lubricants and coolants can help reduce cycle time as well as production downtime, increase the life span of the machinery and contribute towards safety. A case study that illustrates this is the collaborative exercise that took place between MotulTech, the manufacturer of industrial lubricants, and EagleBurgmann India, which is renowned for making mechanical seals.

“In 2015, we were contacted by EagleBurgmann to provide a solution for bio-stability issues arising out of the use of cutting oil in its machining unit. A bio-stability problem is when the cutting oil, after use, begins to smell. Also, we were approached to offer solutions to improve the status of the machines through the proper use of lubricants so that downtime would be reduced and the process could be made more economical. We first solved the problem of bio-stability. Then we turned our attention to certain other problems like rusting of the spindle for which we suggested a certain lubricant that took care of the matter. We conducted trials for over six months and this also led to improving the cost factor. When oil is mixed with water and topping is carried out, our study revealed that the cost of oil used then was working out to be three times higher as compared to the MotulTech. EagleBurgmann therefore decided that we would henceforth supply all the lubricants and coolants, especially for the new machines that they sourced from LMW and Mazak,” informs Picasso Sikdar, Assistant Manager, MotulTech - Industrial Division of Motul Group.