Gearboxes are an essential machinery component, and they need to be correctly lubricated in order to function efficiently and for their expected lifespan. However, choosing the right lubricant for a particular gearbox can seem daunting. National Sales Manager for Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa, Llewellyn Owen, says that the first
Correctly maintaining conveyor belts at manufacturing and mining facilities can be challenging, but a local lubrication company has developed a decision-making tool to help facilitate the correct lubrication to keep these critical assets performing optimally. The LETS strategy, established by Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa, refers to load, environment, temperature
Oxidation, rust, corrosion, and water exposure can be significantly higher along South Africa’s coastal belt. So much so that coastal conditions are often classified as “extreme condition environments”. This doesn’t have to mean, however, that components operating in coastal plants will always have a shorter lifespan or run less efficiently
A lubricant’s viscosity is arguably its most important property – its resistance to flow and shear. Viscosity can be influenced by several factors, from contamination to temperature. Multi-viscosity oils have been developed to cater to a wider range of grades and temperatures. Ford explains that the Society of Automotive Engineers
Worm gears are specifically designed to transmit motion and power between nonintersecting shafts (such as shafts at right angles to each other). Because worm gears work differently to other gears, they require specialist lubrication. Unlike other gears, the worm can easily turn the gear, but the gear cannot turn the
Gears, like any mechanical element, are subject to wear and, if not addressed, even failure. Callum Ford, National Marketing Manager at Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa, says that during the first inspection of a set of gears that are properly installed and lubricated, the combined action of rolling and sliding
The best way to protect your equipment is to apply the right lubricant at the right time and in the right quantities. This is the philosophy at Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa. But, says Callum Ford, National Marketing Manager, there’s one more principal worth bearing in mind: a good lubricant
Some of the toughest maintenance challenges at operations are presented by large belt-driven conveyor systems. These critical assets require gear oil for their gearboxes, electric motor grease for the motors, and grease for multiple lubrication points – particularly bearings. Improper lubrication and contamination can cause premature wear, or even worse,
When most people think of the word “gear”, they might think of a vehicle gearbox or of a simple round machine element with teeth cut around it. However, those in technical fields know that there are numerous different types of gears, each with different properties and applications. They also have
Open gears need to perform well in extreme operating conditions, often running for long hours and in high-contamination environments. This is especially true in mineral processing applications where pinion gears are a core part of processing activities. Impala Platinum (Implats), one of the world’s largest producers of platinum and associated
