Lubricants continue to drive equipment performance

South African petrochemicals major Engen’s Engen Gengear XEP and the PETRONAS Grease LiX Syn series are just two recent additions to the range of lubricants that form part of its Fluidlink solutions to deal with equipment lubrication-related concerns and maintenance.

Engen Fluidlink provides value for clients by preventing unnecessary costs caused by equipment failure and downtime, as a result of poor lubrication, and creates opportunities for savings through effective lubrication, and basic condition monitoring and product realisation, says Engen Fluidlink key accounts executive Philip Loock.

“The Engen Gengear XEP range has been developed using the latest technology specifically aimed at the complex demands of modern industrial gearboxes and the environments in which they operate, while the PETRONAS Grease LiX Syn series is a nanotechnology- based range of greases which provide an extremely low-friction regime and wear,” he tells Engineering News.

Engen is also providing high- performance lubrication solutions for industrial gearboxes with the Gengear XEP series.

“Modern gearboxes are smaller and designed with a higher power density, smaller sumps and a higher load capacity, which puts enormous pressure on the lubricant. Therefore, modern gear oils must be formulated with higher-quality components designed to excel under these strenuous conditions,” adds Loock.

Engen’s Gengear XEP series has been developed using the latest technology so that it offers protection against micropitting wear and resistance to foaming. It also ensures compatibility with seal elastomers, he notes.

Meanwhile, Loock also tells Engineering News that the PETRONAS Grease LiX Syn series of greases contains functional bismuth naphthenate which significantly reduces friction, resulting in the equipment running temperature culminating in less oxidation and an extension in grease life.

Therefore, consumers benefit from longer relubrication intervals, as the functional bismuth technology gives the grease improved mechanical stability and enables the grease to run constantly at higher temperatures, compared with grease containing conventional bismuth carboxylate.

The all-round properties and wide temperature range of the PETRONAS Grease LiX Syn series make it ideal for various types of bearing applications, including high- and low-temperature conditions. The PETRONAS grease LiX Syn series also offers energy-saving potential as it reduces operating temperatures further, adds Loock.

Engen notes that the two product ranges have received positive market acceptance and have been demonstrating their value across several industries since they were introduced onto the market.

About Engen Fluidlink

The Engen Fluidlink range of solutions comprises flexible on-site services, processes and products, which ensure that lubrication- related problems are efficiently addressed.

Engen has provided Fluidlink services for industrial and mining clients for more than 15 years, ensuring the reduction of downtime and the increased life span of equipment through the implementation and management of world-class lubrication and dispensing practices.

These services include full-time, on-site plant lubrication, periodic consultation on lubrication requirements and focus on the reduction of operating costs through the application of engineering and associated services, from system redesign and operation through to inspections and recommendations.

Engen Fluidlink concentrates on implementing performance-driven lubrication programmes that reduce unscheduled stoppages with associated repair costs. These services enable customers to save money and ensure maximum plant availability, which results in cost- effective production.

The company’s modular approach to this service offering means that Fluidlink is tailored to each client’s requirements and operational conditions.