Filter Focus provides peace of mind to industry through superior lubrication
 | Filter Focus provides peace of mind to industry through superior lubrication | 33.5 KB | Download |
 Preview | Filter Focus chief operating officer Craig FitzGerald | 1.2 MB | Download |
 Preview | Pyroshield® – a heavy duty synthetic oil designed to provide protection for high-load, heavy-shock applications | 974.4 KB | Download |
 Preview | Spray pattern after applying Pyroshield | 19.68 KB | Download |
 Preview | Spray pattern before applying Pyroshield | 18.68 KB | Download |
Filter Focus Chief Operating Officer Craig FitzGerald says that a well thought out lubrication reliability program has the ability to not only reduce operating costs, but also reduce energy consumption, emissions and Carbon footprints.
In an environment whereby stricter government regulations are in direct contradiction to reducing operating costs, more manufacturing plants should be turning their attention to lubrication reliability best practices.
Speaking on lubrication in large open gear systems, FitzGerald says: “Historically, manufacturing plants with open gear systems have made use of asphaltic compounds that provide a ‘cushioning’ effect. A vast majority of these open gear compounds contained lead, which ultimately provided protection for the gears. However, in recent years, many of these lead-containing products have been removed from the market due to it being classified as hazardous waste material. The resulting products have led to diminished performance characteristics with less protection for gears.”
What’s more, FitzGerald adds that where asphaltic products have traditionally been used, there is often a build-up of hardened lubricant product in the roots of the gears. This build-up presents multiple problems related to cleaning and mechanical interference that can result in root build-up or stress on the pedestal mountings. Modern large gear systems are often overloaded and to attempt to cope with the problem, operators apply increased amounts of lubricant – usually two to three times more than recommended by the American Gear Manufacturers Association.
In response to the problems associated with traditional open gear lubricants, global leading lubrication manufacturer Lubrication Engineers (LE) specifically developed Pyroshield® – a heavy duty synthetic oil designed to provide protection for high-load, heavy-shock applications, such as large shrouded open gears that are used in mining, mineral processing and cement industries.
As the official sub-distributor for the LE range of lubricants in South Africa, Filter Focus has been instrumental in the implementation of lubrication programmes using Pyroshield® at manufacturing plants across Southern Africa. One of many successful programs implemented by Filter Focus includes that of mining major Lonmin Platinum’s Baobab site in the Limpopo Province, whereby the team converted the concentrator’s ball mill girth gears to LE Pyroshield®.
FitzGerald says that since installing Pyroshield to the girth gears, Baobab has recorded a reduced power consumption on each 2 500 kW mill of up to 200 kW. The independent vibration analysis carried out by ABB shows a reduction in pinion vibration of up to 15%. Pyroshield® has reduced hydrocarbon contamination and increased the recovery of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) by between 0,75% to 1%. What’s more, the noise levels on site have also been reduced, which matches Lonmin’s ‘Zero Harm’ philosophy.
FitzGerald says that the Lonmin Baobab site Engineering Superintendant at the time of the project said that the superior quality of Pyroshield resulted in the site using 35% less lubricant in comparison to the inferior product previously used by Baobab.
“Through the use of Filter Focus’s filtration systems and LE lubricants, miners are provided with total asset protection, improved power efficiency, decreased environmental contamination, extended equipment life, increased production and improved reliability and availability of Plant,” concludes FitzGerald.
Lubrication Engineers Pyroshield® is leading the way towards improved Plant performance, significantly cleaner operations with a considerable financial gain for the end-user. Lubrication Engineers Pyroshield® is successfully being used on more than 140 open gear systems worldwide.
Ends.
Notes to the Editor
There are numerous photographs specific to this press release. Please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click on the Filter Focus link.
About Filter Focus
Filter Focus SA (Pty) Ltd was formed in January 2002 with the aim of establishing the concept of combination filtration and eliminating contamination related wear and failures in heavy industrial equipment.
Filter Focus Contact
Craig FitzGerald
Chief Operations Officer
Phone: (011) 315 9939
Email: cfitz [at] filterfocus [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.filterfocus.co.za
Media Contact
Kelly Farthing
NGAGE Public Relations
Phone: (011) 867-7763
Cell: 079 367 7889
Email: Kelly [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za
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