MechChem Africa November 2018

SKF has announced the introduction of its LRM2 lubrication remote monitor. Compatible with oil or grease, the monitor is designed for use with lubrication systems that cannot be checked daily due to the nature or position of the application. The company’s key accounts manager for commercial vehicles, Ettienne Schoeman, talks about this and other novel lubrication solutions from SKF in partnership with Lincoln Lubrication Solutions. Remote monitors and novel lubrication solutions

S KF’s new LRM2 lubrication monitor can be used on single-line, dual-line and progressive lubrication systems and can communicatewith a pump or group of pumps on a systemof the same type. Themonitor utilises a SIMcard such as those found in cell phones to send and receive text messages via iOS or android mobile devices or via e-mail to a computer. Featuring two digital inputs and outputs, the LRM2 sends both low-level and faultmes- sages. The monitor can be used to start an additional lubrication cycle and can be reset simply by sending a message from a mobile

at a time on the production line for heavy- duty vehicle trailer axles was causing the manufacturer severe delays. In addition to the impact on customer delivery times, the existing lubrication system for this single component was proving to be very expensive both in terms of time andmoney as it was not dispensing the correct amount of lubricant at one time; the systemwas either over lubricat- ingandwasting lubricant or under lubricating, which required the process to be repeated. The innovative lubrication system deliv- eredbySKFandLincolnLubricationallowsfor eight bearings tobepre-lubricated simultane- ously. “Our solution enabled our customer to run its bearing pre-lubricant line eight times

ing savings for SKF’s customer. Importantly, the significant increase inproduction timehas led to vastly improved delivery times for the manufacturer. Inaddition, the correct amount of lubricant is now being dispensed per bear- ing, significantly reducing lubrication costs. According to Schoeman the customer reports total satisfactionwith the systemand is now looking for special lubricating systems to fit onto its new trailers, which Lincoln Lubrication is also able to supply. “The success of this lubrication system, the first to be supplied by SKF and Lincoln Lubrication, has strengthened our relation- shipwith our customer,” says Schoeman. “We are extremely proud of this solution, which is in perfect alignmentwith our relentless focus on providing product and service solutions thatcontributetoourcustomers’productivity and profitability,” he concludes. Combining more than 100 years of SKF and Lincoln expertise, SKF offers the indus- try’s most complete portfolio of innovative lubrication solutions – from manual lu- bricators and tools, to themost advanced centralised and automatic lubrication systems. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17 000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2017 were SEK 77 938 million and the number of employees was 45 678. q

SKF LRM2 lubrication remote monitor is compatible with oil or grease and can be used on single, dual-line and progressive lubrication systems.

device or computer. In addition, no special software is required as system information can be accessed using a web browser. The LRM2 is suitable for wind energy, railroad wayside, cable car and wastewater treatment applications, amongst others. Also, the LRM2 module is available without an en- closureforapplicationsthatrequiremounting in an existing control box. A seamless bearing lubrication solution from SKF, in partnership with Lincoln Lubrication SouthAfrica, has helped to significantly speed up the production line for a key OEM cus- tomer and leading local trailer manufacturer and supplier. The ability to lubricate only one bearing Innovative lubrication system eight times faster

SKF has also recently introduced its Lincoln

Lubrication pinion LP2 for efficiently lubricating open gear wheels and gear racks.

faster,” says Ettienne Schoeman. The ground-breaking system is powered by a 180 kg St Louis 50:1 pneumatic grease pump, driving an SSV 8 Progressive distribu- tionblock,whichdelivers0.2gramsperoutlet, per cycle. These outlets are individually con- nected to each of the eight VKN 550 bearing holders, which lubricate the HM 518445 bearings. The system, implemented in April 2018, is already showing positive results and deliver-

12 ¦ MechChem Africa • November 2018