MINING LUBRICANTS
The advanced fluid can also eliminate seasonal change-outs for hydraulics , drive trains , and transmissions without compromising lubricant performance or equipment wear . Due to the fluid ’ s ability to prolong equipment life , PRODURO TO-4 + UHP can also help support a mining operation ’ s sustainability goals . “ PRODURO TO-4 + UHP is a game changer . Working closely with our trial partner , we developed this fluid to extend transmission life and hours of service while reducing operating costs ,” said Sara Sidders , Manager , Business Segments for the Natural Resources portfolio at
Petro-Canada Lubricants . “ For years , we have been supporting mining operators and equipment owners to overcome their lubricant challenges and optimise equipment performance . This ethos and collaborative approach have been at the forefront of the innovation and development behind PRODURO TO-4 + UHP , and we are delighted to offer equipment operators the step-change in protection the transmission fluid delivers .”
FUCHS acquires LUBCON & enhances presence in South America
The FUCHS Group , which operates globally in the lubricants industry , has signed an agreement to acquire the international LUBCON Group , primarily with the aim of jointly innovating and advancing high-quality specialty lubrication solutions . The family-run German company that operates out of Maintal in Hessen , Germany has many years of experience and expertise in the development , manufacture , sale and distribution of greases , oils , and pastes . Accordingly , this step will help the FUCHS Group strengthen its product portfolio for specialty lubrication solutions , as well as boosting its global competitiveness - subject to the closing of the deal .
The LUBCON Group comprises 13 operating companies , as well as five production locations in Germany , Poland , the Philippines , India , and the US . The company ' s high-quality products are used in various sectors , including mining .
Petro-Canada Lubricants says PRODURO TO-4 + UHP can deliver significant cost savings for equipment operators
“ I feel confident that we can tap the growth potential of the LUBCON Group even more effectively on a global scale with the FUCHS network of 55 companies and 33 production facilities . We considered it extremely important to find the right partner for this and are looking forward to growing with FUCHS and safeguarding our future . As lubricant specialists , we not only operate in the same field , but are also both family-run enterprises , which strengthens our common values ,” comments Heiko Engelke , Managing Partner of the LUBCON Group .
“ With the acquisition of the LUBCON Group , we see a great opportunity for our future development . We ' re not only gaining a team of highly qualified employees with extensive technological expertise , but also extending our own product portfolio , particularly in the field of industrial lubricants and greases . This not only strengthens our existing key markets but also enables us to penetrate new sales markets . We feel certain that this strategic decision will further reinforce our position as leading supplier in the industry ," comments Stefan Fuchs , Chairman of the Executive Board at FUCHS SE .
The transaction is still pending approval from regulatory authorities . However , the parties anticipate closing the deal in the third quarter of 2024 . The LUBCON Group employs 211 staff members , with 180 in EMEA , 20 in Asia-Pacific , and 11 in the Americas . The company recorded sales revenue of around € 40 million in the financial year 2023 . The FUCHS Group has a workforce of 6,200 employees and generated sales revenue of € 3.5 billion in the financial year 2023 .
FUCHS Group has also expanded its presence in South America with the full acquisition of FUCHS LUBRICANTS SpA in Chile . On September 1 , 2023 , the joint venture seamlessly transitioned into a wholly owned subsidiary of the FUCHS Group . FUCHS LUBRICANTS SpA was founded in 2018 when FUCHS acquired the lubricants
business of Comercial Pacific Ltda in Chile and integrated it into the newly founded company – with FUCHS holding 65 % of the shares at that time and Comercial Pacific Ltda the remaining 35 %. “ We thank our joint venture partner Andre Boeck and the team of Comercial Pacific for our successful time together . With Chile being an important lubricant market in South America , this transaction is another milestone on our journey to further strengthen our business activities in the Southern part of the Americas ,” stated Dr Timo Reister , Member of the Executive Board at FUCHS and responsible for the North and South America region .
Yasser Majluf , Managing Director of FUCHS Lubricants SpA in Chile , added : “ The Chilean lubricant market offers significant potential for FUCHS . We see a strong trend towards high performance lubricants . With our growing local FUCHS team in Chile , we are happy to support our expanding customer base in segments like mining , food , wind power and automotive .”
ImmersIon cooling for mining BEV applications
Jonathan Montales , Development & Application Engineer at TotalEnergies Lubrifiants told The Electric Mine 2024 conference that immersion cooling with fluids increases the safety of the battery , regardless of the battery cell type used . He also outlined several opportunities to reduce the cost and weight of the battery system – highlighting lighter and cheaper batteries with a simplified design – plus talked about the possibilities for ultra-fast charging .
Typically , lithium batteries in mining operate in a temperature range between 15 ° C and 35 ° C to perform optimally and secure a long cycle life . However , during operation , a considerable amount of heat , especially at high rates , can be generated from the cell . At high temperature (> 35 ° C ) the lifetime of the battery is affected but above 70 ° C the use of lithium batteries can be dangerous , and thermal runaway ( TR ) may occur . So cooling management is essential .
But the current cooling technologies for mining BEVs are not adapted to the next generation of machines where a very fast charge is expected ie recharge in less than 10 minutes . Immersion cooling is a concept bringing a technological leap never seen before in the last 10 years in the world of lithium batteries . Total Energies ’ Cell-Shield has been designed to prevent thermal runaway propagation and to support the safety features of the battery with its effectiveness confirmed on various battery configurations .
Immersion cooling enables the mining equipment OEM and electric retrofit industry to simplify battery design plus it can manage any electric power demand scenario . In 2022 , TotalEnergies already made history by incorporating an immersion-cooled battery into a road-going vehicle .
JULY 2024 | International Mining 33