Global knowledge engineering company, SKF's core technologies - bearings, lubrication, seals, power transmission, and mechatronics, equip the company with the knowledge and the tools to add value and to present complete solutions to virtually every industrial and mining application.

Effective lubrication is vitally important for any moving equipment, irrespective of application, and the SKF System 24 family of single point automatic lubricators is a very versatile product that delivers reliable lubrication solutions that extend equipment life cycle and reduce costly down time. A leading paper mill and a gearbox manufacturing company are realising prolonged equipment life as well as significant reductions on down time.

Planned and preventative maintenance goes hand in hand with optimum equipment performance and increased uptime and SKF's Maintenance Product division is well equipped to assist and advise customers about products and procedures that will increase production time.

Industry has come to rely on SKF for providing technical advice and suitable product solutions and when one of South Africa's most prominent paper mills experienced ongoing problems with SO2 or sulphur gas fans, SKF was called upon to assist. "The SO2 fans required re-balancing at least once or twice a week and the bearings and seals in the plumber blocks had to be replaced every two to three weeks," says Steve Gething, SKF Business Development Manager - Reliability Systems. He adds that every time they have to re-balance, they have to switch off the fans and, taking into account the extremely high hourly cost of running a paper mill, this frequent switching off of fans reflects negatively on the paper mill's bottom line. Another very negative effect is the serious and detrimental impact on the environment, as with every switch-off, sulphur gas escapes and pollutes the atmosphere," says Gething.

Gething and a representative from SKF responsible for the customer's sales and service requirements, scheduled a visit to the paper mill for full assessment of the application. Gething suggested a minor modification to the fan arrangement, changing the operating rotary shaft seal to a SKF taconite seal and fitting a SKF System 24 Lubricator unit. "Upon acceptance of our recommendations, we replaced the rotary seal and we mounted a System 24 Lubricator onto each housing to achieve effective lubrication of the taconite seal. The seal is purged full of grease which is in turn purged to the outside of the housing forming a protective layer that prevents dirt or SO2 gas ingress into the bearings," explains Gething.

"Results were three-fold: SKF System 24 delivered effective, correct greasing which prolonged bearing life and resolved environmental issues as SO2 fans did not go off-line every two to three weeks, limiting the release of sulphur gas into the atmosphere. The System 24 Lubricator is undoubtedly best in class and we recommend the product without any hesitation as it will perform to the highest quality standards in any application where effective greasing is required", remarks Gething and adds that reports from the paper mill indicate that bearing life has been extended from the initial three to four weeks to between nine and ten months, constituting significant savings on replacement parts and downtime. The six SO2 fans operating at the mill have implemented SKF System 24 Lubrication.

In June 2009, SKF Maintenance Products launched the MAPRO van to take SKF technology to the customer. The van, which represents some of SKF's core technologies e.g. linear, power transmission, condition monitoring, training in fitting and removal of bearings, etc., played an important role in authorised SKF distributor, Bearing Services East Rand, identifying requirements for an effective lubricating system at a leading East Rand large industrial gearbox manufacturer.



"The gearboxes, predominantly manufactured for conveyor drives in the local coal mining industry, were regularly returned with damaged seals, bearings and shafts and the manufacturer enlisted our help in finding an appropriate and immediate solution to the problem," says Gething.

Coal mining is an exceedingly harsh, dirty environment and when seals are heated through ingress of, for example coal dust, which forms a grinding paste on the shaft, it wears a massive groove on the shaft, that has to be replaced at a cost of approximately R20 000 to R30 000 per shaft. "We examined some of the returned gearboxes and came to the conclusion that a System 24 lubricator would be perfectly suited to prevent damage to shafts. We installed a System 24 Lubricator on each input and output shaft of the gearbox. With System 24 placed over each seal, only the seal is purged, even though the gearbox is oil lubricated. The success of the SKF System 24 lubricator unit is very evident in this application as the customer has not had any comebacks and every gearbox supplied to the mines is now fitted with System 24 Lubricators as standard," reports Gething.

"SKF distributors put a lot of effort into extending the SKF ethic of product and service excellence to industry and Bearing Services East Rand's knowledge and initiative in taking the MAPRO van to the customer paid off. They made the initial contact and secured the supply of Original Equipment to the gearbox manufacturer while SKF distributors, Bearing Services Middelburg and Bearing Services Witbank are putting great effort and many hours of hard work into delivering aftermarket services to the respective customers.

SKF System 24 is a very versatile product that performs with excellence in any application where effective lubrication is demanded and is rated highly by industry. However, product excellence alone does not capture markets and Bearing Services, East Rand, Witbank and Middelburg deserve credit for the upward trend in SKF System 24 Lubricators' sales. "They are doing a sterling job in keeping up with industry demands for replenishing and supplying System 24 and in delivering exemplary after sales service and keeping up with industry demands," comments Gething.

"We partner with our customers, we listen to their suggestions and because our distributors are our customers, we support them with the tools, the technology and the products necessary to meet industry requirements. The MAPRO van is part of the support system and is at their disposal at regular pre-arranged intervals".

The dedication of SKF distributors and technicians, combined with MAPRO's mobile state-of-the-art technology, has escalated the sales graphs and customer confidence is at a new high. The MAPRO van demonstrates our determination and commitment to delivering added value to customers," Gething says and sites a customer day at Middelburg Mine as another example of the MAPRO's van's success.

"A Bearing Services Middelburg representative spotted an opportunity to arrange a demonstration at the Middelburg Mine North Plant and about 40 mine personnel were taken in groups on a tour through the van. Included in the group were some of the mine's top management who expressed their appreciation in writing, 'This is what we call "Best-in-Class". See that we do this again this year'. "An excellent reference for Bearings Services Middelburg and SKF technology," concludes Gething.

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