Preventing Equipment Downtime: How to Maintain Steel Mill Machinery Amid Labor Shortages

In the face of steel mill labor shortages, maintaining equipment is critical to prevent downtime and ensure smooth operations. According to U.S. statistics, about 80,000 workers in U.S. steel mills in February 2024, down 10% from 10 years ago. Equipment maintenance is a crucial aspect of steel production that must be considered, especially during a…

Unlocking the Value of Vacuum Dehydrators in Maintenance

Vacuum dehydrators are crucial in maintaining industrial equipment by effectively removing water and contaminants from hydraulic and lubrication systems. These devices are key in averting equipment downtime, cutting maintenance expenses, and guaranteeing machinery reliability. Let’s explore the value that vacuum dehydrators provide to maintenance managers and how they can optimize their use for maximum benefits….

Optimal Lubrication for Your Rolling Mills

The importance of optimal lubrication in rolling mills must be addressed. Proper lubrication is vital in enhancing the performance and longevity of these heavy-duty machines. Lubrication aims to mitigate wear and tear, reduce friction, and significantly lessen downtime, which can drastically cut into production schedules and increase maintenance costs. Understanding the Role of a Rolling…

Roadblocks to a Sustainable Lubrication Program

There are three main roadblocks that prevent a facility from designing and implementing a lubrication program that delivers long-term asset reliability: Lack of Management Buy-in, Constant Firefighting, and Competency Gaps.

6 Keys to Maintenance and Lubrication Planning

Maintenance and lubrication, when done correctly, can have a large impact on productivity. To ensure your machinery is operating at the highest quality-standard possible and avoiding costly shutdowns or delays, maintenance and lubrication planning is crucial. In this article, we’ll dissect the six principles of having a quality maintenance and lubrication plan.

Contamination Exclusion for Turbines and Other Applications

It is significantly more difficult and costly to remove contaminants from machinery than it is to modify and protect equipment against contaminant ingression. Especially in turbine applications with a large volume of oil, keeping possible contamination sources away from lubricated equipment and performing routine flushings are your best lines of defense. Contaminant exclusion revolves around modifying equipment to protect against solid particles, water, and other contaminants that are trying to enter your machines, thereby avoiding costly repairs and machine downtime.

8 Ways Lubrication Teams Drive Asset Reliability

A lubrication technician, or “lube tech” as they are often called, is a skilled position on maintenance and reliability teams that can involve a variety of different possible responsibilities and knowledge relating to lubrication, oil analysis, and inspections.

How much does a skilled lubrication technician cost in 2022?

A lubrication technician, or “lube tech” as they are often called, is a skilled position on maintenance and reliability teams that can involve a variety of different possible responsibilities and knowledge relating to lubrication, oil analysis, and inspections.

Keeping Contaminants Out of Small Sumps and Reservoirs

Amidst all the various components in a plant, small reservoirs often go neglected. Larger equipment tends to be deemed critical due to being high-dollar items. Smaller equipment only gets noticed when it holds up production. Reliability goals with larger equipment is usually pretty straight forward; prevent outages and increase production. Longevity of the equipment is a byproduct of our ultimate production goal, so why is this so often forgotten when it comes to the smaller stuff?

What to Know Before Outsourcing Lubrication Technicians

Outsourcing activities considered non-core is an ever-growing trend among companies. Jobs like sanitation, security, facilities maintenance, and lubrication management are commonly being handled by external companies. But is contracting lubrication out really the best strategy? It can be, but there are a few things to consider before you make the decision.

TurnKey Reliability – The New Normal in Plant Lubrication

By having a dedicated Lubrication Program Management Company to implement and focus on maintaining lubrication best practices, reliability and maintenance can focus on other areas of their job while ensuring that lubrication is properly managed.