Zero contimination for Illovo with SKF Lubrication System

Zero contimination for Illovo with SKF Lubrication System SKEFKO Pietermaritzburg was recently called upon to replace an existing lubrication system at the Illovo Noordsburg sugar refinery, a key client that has been a loyal customer with SKF and now SKEFKO, for over eight years. Part of SKF South Africa's BBBEE initiative, the Pietermaritzburg operation was officially launched on 18th August 2006 and management is the capable hands of SKEFKO Director, Ahmed Ismail. "We occupy 500m2, including offices and warehouse and employ eight very committed staff members", says Ismail. "The refinery uses centrifuges to separate crystals from sap. This is an extremely high speed process that also places high demands on bearings which, in order to operate smoothly, require adequate lubrication. The bearings are situated directly above the sugar basket, so contamination is simply not an option," explains Ismail. "In order to be more cost effective and to solve contamination problems, we replaced the existing Vogel lubrication system that has served the refinery faithfully for many years, with the latest state-of-the-art Vogel system. The oil/air mist solution offered by this modern lubrication system eliminates any risk of contamination and is ideal for the demands placed on equipment by the refinery's high speed processes. Lubrication cost was clearly a major consideration for the customer and we were more than able to meet this demand. The new system ensures precise metering of units for lubrication exactly where and when needed so there is no wastage. Oil volumes are minute, i.e.17 ml per hour, so our customer immediately realised significant savings on this expensive commodity, states Ismail". The correct lubrication system is essential, not only for a smooth, uninterrupted production line, but also for extended bearing life. Bearing failure can be attributed to a number of factors such as harsh environmental conditions, contamination ingress as well as under- or over-lubrication, rather than to bearing design. Premature bearing failure and the resultant unplanned interruption to production lines, can be prevented by using the right lubrication, at the right place, at the right time. An oil lubrication-based system is ideal for industries where abnormal ingress into the lubrication circuits of liquids, such as sap for example, is quite common place. SKF's oil-based system incorporates a unique circular oil tank with special separator plates for efficient dispersal of air and oil. The circular design is extremely cost effective as it reduces reservoir capacity as well as oil retention time before circulation. The new lubrication system for Illovo's Noordsberg refinery was custom designed by SKF engineers and was installed at the end of March 2007. The lubrication system operates so effectively and uses such small quantities of oil that Illovo plant engineers called SKEFKO and voiced their concerns that ¡®there was something amiss' with the brand new system as it was, in their opinion, ¡®using far too little oil'. "We were pleased to set their minds at rest by explaining that the lube system was specifically designed to operate with minimum use of oil, not only to eliminate contamination but to allow significant saving on the lubrication bill," concludes Ismail.