The Top 5 things that companies can focus on and pointing
to the fact that cutting back on oils and lubrication during tough
economic times is a false economy that can cost you dear

Fluid management expert Boccard UK Ltd has produced a free whitepaper highlighting ways in which hard-pressed manufacturers can avoid production downtime, improve efficiency and increase competitive advantage in the marketplace by focusing on an area that many take for granted - oils and lubricants.

The company, which is the preferred fluid management partner for Shell UK Oil Products Ltd, is listing the Top 5 things that companies can focus on and pointing to the fact that cutting back on oils and lubrication during tough economic times is a false economy that can cost you dear.

"There is no debating that the economic crisis and the high cost of base oil is a genuine concern for many companies," explains business development manager, Alex Brain.  "However, cutting back on lubricant management and using cheaper oils really can cost you more both in the short and long term and has the potential to harm one of your most expensive assets - your machinery."

Boccard recommends a robust lubrication process and the use of advanced oils such as Shell Tellus EE, which is proven to reduce energy consumption by up to 8%* and can actually improve efficiency, decrease waste and reduce the amount of raw materials needed to run machinery in the first place.

"I can't think of any company that wouldn't benefit from an 8% reduction in their monthly energy bills," adds Brain, "businesses really can save money through proper lubrication maintenance and increase their bottom line."

Top of the Boccard list of tips is an audit of existing practices to highlight what is working and areas that can be improved. This should cover every aspect of your maintenance programme including training, logistics and materials.

"A proper audit of current practices should consider not only the equipment and tools used, but also the planning and management of your maintenance regimes and look at everything from the start of the process right through to waste handling," says Brain.

Once you know your starting point you can implement a Total Fluid Management plan, which is essentially a comprehensive programme aimed at maximising the efficiency and life of machines, whilst extending maintenance periods to increase productivity and reduce energy consumption.

A key part of this is the use of synthetic lubricants such as Shell Tellus EE, the food-grade Shell Cassida range or Shell Omala HD gear oils, rather than mineral oils, which although cheaper, do not afford the same protection and need changing much more often, increasing downtime, maintenance costs and waste.

An essential element of any production facility is training as it will ensure that new practices are fully understood and - equally important - accepted by staff and this is sometimes where companies believe savings can be made. 
It can be tempting to make savings by undertaking training internally but hiring in professional and experienced trainers can help implement any changes more effectively and ensure that any expenditure adds genuine value to your business.

Correctly run systems require the support of experienced maintenance technicians; and while in-house support can provide valuable full-time assistance and an insider's knowledge of a business's specific fluid management systems, there are drawbacks.

Although a cost-effective solution for sites which anticipate a lot of activity, often the cost of employing a full-time in house specialist far outweighs the needs of a business; particularly for SMEs. 

Additionally, in-house maintenance programmes can become rigid, with in-house maintenance teams running the risk of missing out on innovative ideas and the latest best practice due to their lack of interaction with other practitioners. 

So the final tip in Boccard's Top 5 is to consider outsourcing your fluid management programme as this option can not only provide small and medium business managers with peace of mind that their machines are being managed effectively at a reasonable price - it also frees up valuable time to allow them to concentrate on the crucial matter of running their business.

From effective health and safety management procedures, reduced maintenance and operational costs, greater manufacturing efficiencies, improved product quality and environmental compliance to continual improvement and reviews, the advice from Boccard points to a comprehensive programme aimed at maximising your business.

"Effective fluid management can help to deliver strategic changes to drive your businesses forward, ready to face the next set of challenges that are sure to arise when the economy begins to recover," ends Brain.

Boccard UK's free whitepaper which provides tips on avoiding production downtime and offers organisations the inside track on developing simple techniques to ensure continuous operation can be read in full at:  www.boccard.co.uk

For further information, e-mail: alex.brain@boccard.co.uk

Stainless steel bevel gears are stocked in 24 sizes in modules 1.5~3

Precision 20º pressure angle stainless steel bevel gears from Quality Transmission Components (QTC) are stocked in 24 sizes in modules 1.5~3. These gears, identified as the SUB Series, are made of SUS303 and conform to precision grade JIS B 1704 grade 3 standards. They are stocked in sizes ranging from Module1.5 to Module 3. Number of teeth range from 15 to 45. Bore sizes range from 8 mm to 20 mm and hub diameters from 25 mm to 80 mm. In addition to these stainless steel bevel gears, QTC stocks a wide variety of bevel gears in other materials including: plastic, injection molded, sintered metal, steel, and in specialized types including: Bevel gears and pinion shafts, finished bore, and spiral bevel gear types.
 
At the new QTC eStore you can get immediate quotes, download 3D models, and place online orders. Go to: http://www.qtcgears.com/RFQ/default2.asp Other power transmission solutions provided by QTC include over 9,000 off-the-shelf timing belt pulleys, belts, belt and roller chain tensioners and other components for prototypes and production applications.

Complete technical specifications are contained in catalogue Q420, which is available to users of metric gears free upon request from Quality Transmission Components, Division of Designatronics, Inc., 125 Railroad Avenue, Garden City Park, NY, USA 11040-5016.

For further information, Tel: 516-437-6700, Fax: 516-328-3343, or view website: http://www.qtcgears.com/QTCPress/SSBevelGears.htm   Refer to page 176

Elastopipe™ growth met by increased Trelleborg factory capacity

To meet continuing high demand for its innovative ELASTOPIPE™ offshore and marine fire safety prevention system, Trelleborg Offshore Norway AS has invested in increased production capacity. Output volume has been doubled by building a completely new factory and production line inside its existing premises at Krokstadelva, 50 km /30 miles south of Oslo, Norway. 

"Demand for Trelleborg's ELASTOPIPE™ corrosion proof seawater deluge system, and its many other applications including hydrocarbons and gas transport, has rocketed despite the recession," comments Thor Hegg Eriksen, president of Trelleborg Offshore Norway AS. "Contractors and operators are realising its minimal maintenance and low lifetime cost benefits, and 80 per cent of our output is now exported."