MINING LUBRICANTS
The new GMP will produce grease products under the trademark of Shell Gadus ® , which are used in applications such as bearings and gears . The plant will be able to produce high-quality grease product in a variety of packaging including drum , pail , and fluid bag to serve the diverse needs of customers in various industries , including mining .
Komatsu partnerships for EALs
OEMs are also playing a role in promoting latest lubricant technology . Komatsu has partnered with vendors to create environmentally acceptable lubricants ( EALs ) that meet established EPA standards without sacrificing performance .
Komatsu : “ We have developed new EALs as part of our sustainability commitment and are seeking partners to put them through real-world paces - specifically on electric rope shovels . These new , more environmentally sensitive formulations have met all Komatsu ’ s standards in our rigorous testing protocols and are ready for the field .”
Open gear lubricants ( OGLs ) and multipurpose greases help drive shovel , dragline , haul truck and drill performance in challenging environments . “ They ’ re critical to operating reliably , productively and with fuel efficiency . But they can be less environmentally sensitive and can require expensive cleanup efforts . Now , you have an opportunity to promote environmentally conscious practices without sacrificing machine performance with Komatsu ’ s environmentally acceptable lubricants ( EALs ).”
They are formulated to meet rigorous standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency : n Biodegradability : Can be broken down in the environment by microorganisms and converted to something less toxic n Non-bioaccumulative : Contain substances unlikely to accumulate in the bodies of organisms exposed to them , and in the environment n Non-toxic : More sensitive to plant , animal and human life compared to petroleum-based options n Renewable content : Derived from renewable resources , such as plant-based oils
ExxonMobil continues learnings from Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis
ExxonMobil has enhanced its Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis with the opening of a new test laboratory in Singapore . The additional facility is designed to help ensure customers can easily and effectively leverage the power of the service to monitor the in-operation performance of their Mobil™ lubricants .
“ The opening of the Singapore lab will augment our Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis offer and help our customers to save time and money , while boosting equipment reliability and productivity ,” said Glen Sharkowicz , ExxonMobil Aviation and Marine Global Marketing Manager .“ It can save users as much as 66 % of their sampling time , while providing the information they need to keep their equipment productive and minimise costly repairs .”
Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis uses sophisticated interpretation algorithms and ExxonMobil ’ s extensive used-oil analysis database , which combine to deliver outstanding insights that can help spot issues before they become problems .
Komatsu has partnered with vendors to create environmentally acceptable lubricants ( EALs ) that meet established EPA standards without sacrificing performance
Since launching its Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis platform in 2016 , the company has identified some important learnings . A single alert doesn ’ t necessarily mean the lubricant is underperforming . “ In some cases , test limits may not always indicate a cause for concern or may not account for equipment design . Operators
must look at the trend over time to understand true performance . A consistent alert over multiple sampling periods , for example , would certainly be cause for closer inspection .”
ExxonMobil adds : “ For example , the test for copper wear metal appeared consistently as a top alert in the diesel engine samples tested by ExxonMobil . However , some engines have undergone significant design and component changes in recent years . The program must adapt to changes that may affect the limits applied to properly confirm the actual engine condition , and as a result , a single copper alert may not indicate a performance issue . Instead , operators should monitor the trend to see if the copper wear increases over time .”
When evaluating UOA results , it ’ s important to consider the lubricant formulation as well as the
JULY 2024 | International Mining