Do you know one of the biggest challenges fleet managers, heavy equipment operators, and industrial plant managers face? Inadequate lubrication. Poor lubrication can be deadly to any piece of equipment with moving parts like rollers, gears, ball bearings, or other moving components. Improper lubrication causes these moving parts to wear down faster and fall apart, leading to equipment downtime and costly repairs.

Lubricating moving parts is a tough job, especially on industrial or heavy-duty equipment. Unfortunately, many businesses still manually lubricate their equipment which can be messy, ineffective, time-consuming, and dangerous for mechanics. It’s also tricky to figure out a proper lubrication schedule for your equipment. You have to take into account how you use the equipment and the conditions it runs in. It’s not a standard process. You can’t just follow the manual schedule. Instead, you have to customize how often you lubricate your equipment’s needs to maximize efficiency and productivity.

Let’s look at some examples. A farmer may need to adjust his lubrication schedule during a busy harvest season. He’ll need to consider how long he is running the equipment for, the type of conditions he’s working in, and even the type of crops he’s harvesting. A wet harvest can cause engine damage with water contamination, while a dry harvest can introduce increased dirt and grime into the engine which can also cause bearing failures. All of that information and more needs to be accounted for when planning a lubrication schedule for equipment. It’s a lot to figure out!

Now, let’s contrast that example against the manager of a small bottle processing facility. His industrial equipment needs constant cleaning to be safe for food processing. So, the lubrication challenges he will face include high water contamination from frequent cleaning. He may also have lots of lubricant points for all his machinery. It could take hours or even days to shut down everything to lubricate each part! During that time, his plant won’t produce and will lose precious working hours on costly equipment repairs and maintenance.

So what can these business owners do to keep their equipment adequately lubricated without all this hassle? We know that consistent lubrication can save time, money, and equipment downtime. So instead of doing it all manually, these business owners can invest in an automatic lubrication system. An automated lubrication system takes care of the lubricating process independently. There are three basic types of systems you can use.

  1. Single line parallel: This is an injector-type delivery system that is easy to install. You line it up with each lubrication point, and then you can automatically adjust how often the lubricant is dispensed. You can easily add or remove lubrication points, but it can be difficult to tell if each point is adequately serviced.
  2. Dual Line Parallel: This system is similar to a single line parallel system but can have more lubrication points as there is another separate line.
  3. Single Line Progressive system: This is the most advanced automatic system. It’s specifically engineered to meet each lubrication point and deliver the exact amount of lubricant needed. The installation process is more complex, and the system is more expensive up front, but it can be a worthwhile preventative maintenance investment for long-term equipment health.

An automatic lubrication system is a great way to ensure that your equipment’s lubrication needs are met. These systems can be used in various industries including, industrial plants, food processing equipment, wood and paper mills, chemical processing, petrochemical, and mining industries. Or even on free-standing heavy-duty equipment! All industries can benefit from this type of lubrication. Here are a few of the benefits you’ll see if you install an automatic system:

  • Reduced waste: An automatic system can help you save money on lubricant supplies. Instead of wasting supplies with incorrect application techniques, an automated system makes it easy to apply the lubricant and reduces waste. It’s also better for the environment!
  • Easier monitoring: It’s easy to install remote monitoring systems to most automatic lubricant systems. These systems make it easy to stay on top of your lubrication needs and help prevent equipment breakdowns.
  • Reduced equipment downtime: Manually applying lubricant takes time, and your equipment has to be shut down for the application. An automatic system is faster, which means you can keep your equipment running longer.
  • Increased safety: Your mechanics and technicians won’t need to climb equipment or put themselves in precarious situations for hard-to-reach lubrication points.

These are just a few of the benefits of an automatic system. But the most important is that it will extend your equipment life. Proper lubrication, especially on bearings and other moving parts, will keep your equipment running better for longer. Richard Hanley, president of Lubrication Scientifics, says that “more frequent delivery of smaller amounts of lubricant is particularly important to bearing points on high-speed equipment. This prevents overheating the bearings due to excessive lubricant buildup and ensures longer operating life.”

Installing an automatic lubricant system can be expensive at first, but over time it will help save you money, time and protect your equipment. In addition, you’ll be able to be more productive because you won’t have to waste time manually lubricating your equipment or on equipment repairs. As a fuel and lubricant supplier, we recommend automatic systems for many of our clients. It makes it easy for them to keep their equipment in good working order, and it’s easier to order their lubricant supplies because they know exactly how much they need.

If you add a remote monitoring system to your facility, you can get even more accurate lubricant data. Check out Greasepoint’s remote monitoring system. It’s a fantastic system that is easy to install. Their GreaseAlert connects with mobile devices and computers to send automatic updates on your lubricant system, including warning you of low levels or system errors. It’s suitable for on-road equipment, off-road equipment, and industrial equipment, and it has an IP65K rating!

Automatic lubricant systems are the future of lubrication. They are only going to get better and more effective, so jump in now. Install one and start using your lubricant supplies more effectively and protecting your equipment better! As your fuel and lubricants supplier, we are here to help! Give us a call today at 661-535-4900 for any questions or to get started!