OILS & LUBRICANTS
Beyond the molecule
Paul Moore spoke to Mathieu Lacombe , Field Technical Advisor at Mobil Lubricants , to get an insight into its offer , relationships with mining customers and potential for asset management in the future .
Q How does your role within Mobil involve interaction with the mining industry ? A I am part of the sales team for our lubricant products , specifically in field engineering support ( FES ). Within this I cover the mining sector , which equates to about 90 % of the business I handle – mainly gold mining in western Quebec and Nunavut where there is a lot of mine expansion and greenfield project development ongoing . This includes Baffinland Iron , the most northerly mine currently in Canada , which produces the highest grade of direct shipping iron ore in the world .
Q How important are synthetic lubricants and carbon neutral products in mining today ? A It is definitely something that is growing and is more relevant to customers in recent years . For some time we have had energy efficiency certified products , proven both in the lab and in the field , but we are trying now to show customers what this means in terms of proven performance in engines , transmissions , differentials , drivelines etc as synthetic lubricants can bring additional friction reductions as well as help you get the most horsepower for the fuel you are putting in the engine , both of which can equate to major maintenance cost savings in a big operation . And of course they are also helping decarbonise mining operations .
Q What do premium lubricants bring to mining in terms of potential cost savings ? A Most mines will spend only 1 % of their maintenance budget on the purchasing of lubricants but the effect of bad lubrication can negatively affect your maintenance budget to the tune of 30 %, so the leverage we have as a major lubricant supplier to mining in terms of potential benefit versus cost is a lot stronger than any other supplied consumables including tyres and fuel . In fact , on some mining accounts I am able to return TCO savings that are more significant than what they are spending on the entire lubricant budget in the first place . Where we are going with this is far beyond just being a lubricant supplier to being a solution provider – what I like to call going beyond the molecule .
Q What does beyond the molecule mean in terms of strategy and approach ? A Its no longer just about what we make in our blend plant and what oils do you put in your mining equipment . Now we are looking at integrating all the different mining assets that you have using sensors to track information and connect that data plus aggregate it and turn it into real insights for predictive maintenance . We want to be in this space and already have our Mobil Serv Asset Management , which is a cloud-based software that takes in and combines data on oil analysis , vibration , GPS location , acceleration , fuel burn , engine idling etc to build up a reliability centred picture but one supported by human input and oversight to achieve business goals . It will ultimately also lead to automated purchasing and work order capability . And while it won ’ t be a fit for everyone , another solution involves live , continuously monitored oil analysis .
Q API CK-4 standards for oils were introduced to establish new industry standards to deliver improvements in engine protection & fuel economy . What was achieved and what ’ s next ? A Synthetics replacing mineral oils started at least ten years ago and most of our mining customers now understand the benefits , both in performance and environmental terms . CK-4 helped customers , the API , engine OEMs and lubricant suppliers get together and ensure that new oils would work effectively with the latest Tier 4 Final engines . The standard allowed the oils to last a lot longer in terms of oxidation stability and has been in place since 2016 . The next standard will come into play in 2027 .
Q What differentiates the Mobil approach versus other global lubricant majors for mining ? A Supply strength of your sales and service network , price and reliability to execute order - these are all a given for everyone . You have to get beyond this . Our Mobil Serv program is one differentiator – it is a unique combination of products , services and expertise . This combines with our equipment builder groups around the world who help us stay ahead of the game in having the right products for the latest machines , engines and regulations . We are a world presence – so for larger mining houses we can cross-pollinate lubricant experience and insights from different mines . And our track record – in the field gives credibility in understanding the types of problems customers may experience and how to deal with those situations .
Q Lastly as mining shifts to greater electrification – how is Mobil preparing for this ? A We have already launched the Mobil EV suite of products which covers thermal management and integrated E-motor fluids , as well as reduction gearbox lubricants and specialty greases . Mobil EV products contain molecules carefully selected and blended to enhance EV performance . These are currently aimed at the passenger vehicle and onroad freight EV market , and there is potential for these to be used in other industries in the future .
industry where any unplanned downtime can have a negative impact on a business ’ bottom line , mining fleets are expected to run reliably , efficiently and safely on sites that are active 24 hours a day , seven days a week . For mining fleet managers looking to improve equipment performance , marginal gains in reliability and efficiency can have a significant impact . It is therefore important to consider the effect that prolonged engine idling can have on equipment .”
Susinski adds that mining fleet vehicles often spend a large proportion of their time idling , with Komatsu estimating that the average idle time for heavy equipment is 40 %. Given the nature of the mining industry , it is safe to assume that this figure could be even higher . “ It is estimated that a large diesel engine can
46 International Mining | JULY 2021