Just as there are various states of matter, there are different lubricant types. The four main categories are gas, liquid, cohesive (grease), and solids. In the industrial lubrication world, we deal with fluids and greases, but some operating environments make these...
Varnish is a type of deposit that forms on the surface of equipment in lubrication systems. It is caused by the oxidation of the base oil and the buildup of additives in the oil over time, forming a sticky, varnish-like substance. Lube oil varnish can cause problems...
Congratulations, new certificants! The International Council for Machinery Lubrication recognizes newly certified professionals who earned the following credentials between November 30, 2022, and January 31, 2023. ICML is a global non-profit organization dedicated to...
Those who have worked in or around maintenance and reliability have probably heard about the hidden plant. This term refers to that portion of the productivity of any industry that, for some reason, is wasted and goes completely unnoticed in the eyes of the...
What are Base Oils? Base oils are the starting material for producing lubricants, and their properties greatly influence the performance and characteristics of the finished lubricant. They are typically derived from crude oil but can also be made from synthetic or...
I have been living in Houston, Texas, for a little over three years, and to this day, when I talk to a friend, the first sentence I hear is, “Houston, we have a problem.” It’s a trendy phrase that has become an icon for the Texan city. However, as often happens, there...
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company d/b/a SOPUS Products, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell USA, Inc. (“Shell”) that comprises Shell’s US lubricants business, has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of TFH Reliability Group, LLC, the parent company of Allied Reliability...
With all that maintenance personnel must do daily in their industrial, manufacturing, and mining environments, why should management task their engineering resources to invest time, energy, and money into a ‘Precision Lubrication’ work plan? Because the industrial...
If you’re like many maintenance and reliability professionals, oil analysis is a simple routine: Take oil samples from your machines periodically. Take action if the results are flagged yellow or red. Continue to use the lubricant if the results are green. While this...
Oil analysis has a strong history of being incorporated into maintenance strategies to optimize lubricant life and protect oil-lubricated assets from wear and damage. Grease-lubricated components, which are much more widely present, are often neglected from...
