MACHINERY LUBRICATION- INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 | Page 14

PERSPECTIVE single lubricant with special properties for a specific application, a lubricant specification document should be produced just for it. Lubricant Specifications Product Environmental Health and Safety Lubricant Selection Strategy Lubricant Approval Procedure Supporting Information This information supplements the specifications’ technical descriptions. It may include a glossary of terms, ISO viscosity grades, NLGI classifications and ASTM standards. Creating Lubricant Specifications The process of creating lubricant specifications should first begin by developing or updating the database of machines, lubrication points and lubricants in the plant or fleet. Product recommendations will come primarily from OEMs, lubricant suppliers, consulting companies or internal experience. Other technical references may also be consulted, such as the AGMA, ISO, NLGI and others. For critical machines, additional validation may be needed to ensure the selected lubricant fulfills the lubrication requirements based on the equipment’s current operating conditions. 12 | September - October 2019 | Database of Lubricants and Lubrication Points Lubricant Supplier Approval Process Once the database of lubricants and lubrication points has been completed, it is time to consider product consolidation. The goal is to minimize the number of lubricants used in the plant while still maintaining appropriate lubrication of all machines. The consolidation process should help identify products that are equivalent, lubricants that have similar specifications, machines that can utilize multi-purpose lubricants and when it is practical to use a higher quality lubricant. At this point, a consolidated list of lubricants can be generated, including all equipment applications for each product. The next step is to create specifications for every lubricant or lubricant family. Whenever possible, the information should be categorized by product family, i.e., all lubricants that have similar properties but differ only by viscosity grade. If there is a www.machinerylubricationindia.com Creating these specifications may involve several different departments such as engineering, maintenance and pur­chasing. Lubrication know­ledge will be required as well as access to equipment manuals and lubricant requirements. Expert out­ sourcing support can be employed when internal resources are limited. Keep in mind that the specifications as well as the database of lubricants and lubrication points must be updated whenever there is an equipment change or new product option. An overall review of the system should also be conducted on a yearly basis. This system may be part of an overall lubricant selection initiative as illustrated on the left. In conclusion, lubricant specifications are effective guidelines for selecting and using the right lubricants in the right applications. These documents not only can help ensure quality products are acquired at the best possible price, but they can also provide guidance to lubricant suppliers, simplify lubricant handling and application, improve lubricant management, and reduce costs at different levels of your organization. About the Author Alejandro Meza is a senior technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He has more than 20 years of experience in the lubricant industry, technical services, quality assurance, training, consulting and development in the United States, Brazil, Mexico and the Americas region. Contact Alejandro at [email protected] to learn how Noria can help you select the proper lubricants for your machinery.