Viva Energy Australia helps quarries understand and execute the key fundamentals in lubricant delivery and storage.
Contamination can significantly damage lubrication’s effectiveness. Therefore, improvements in lubricant delivery, storage, and handling are just as important as advancements in lubricant formulations.
Viva Energy, Shell Lubricant Macro Distributor in Australia, has a team of experts who can advise quarries on the best solutions for lubricant delivery, storage, and handling.
“In the construction materials industry, particulate contamination is the number one issue causing premature wear and component failures,” Silvana Farrugia, technical specialist at Viva Energy Australia, said.
Equipment and maintenance managers are adopting better preventative maintenance and lubrication practices to improve machine longevity. Correct product handling and storage are critical to reducing the risk of contamination, premature damage, misapplication and cross-contamination.
“For Shell Lubricants, the quality leaving the refinery or blending plant is closely monitored and controlled,” Farrugia said.
“Stringent care is taken in manufacture, packing, and transportation to ensure products are free from contaminants and meet or exceed specifications.”
However, once lubricants leave Shell or its agents, the continuing quality of the product for use in these applications depends on subsequent storage and handling procedures.
When it comes to delivery, the old-school practice of unloading lubricants off the delivery truck with an old tyre should be avoided.
This practice is unsafe and can contaminate the environment if spillage occurs.
Many quarrying and related businesses are investing in hydraulic lifts to help move drums of oil from one place to another in a safe and effective manner.
Farrugia recommended the use of hydraulic lifts or forklifts as method of best practice when transporting drums of oil.
“The standard 209-litre drum weighs about 185kg when filled with oil. It’s important drums must never be dropped when being unloaded or moved,” she said.
With bulk lubricants, it is essential that the correct grade is stored in the right tank, so proper supervision and tank labelling is essential. A responsible person should supervise all deliveries to the quarry, to ensure that the correct quantity and grade of lubricant is off-loaded or discharged safely.
Renee Reilly, head of lubricants sales and marketing at Viva Energy, said: “The storage of lubricants has upgraded significantly in recent decades, with colour-coded options and associated tags to minimise confusion.”
Reilly recommended work sites install satellite storage rooms and contamination control tools like desiccant breathers on machines, such as hydraulic fluid tanks. This can help provide cleaner storage facilities and prevent moisture and particles from entering and contaminating lubricants.
While such improvements require additional financial outlay, they protect a business’ investment in high-quality lubricant products.
“It starts with getting the basics right: having a clean lube room and dispensing area,” Reilly said.
“If these are not clean, then any advancements or innovations to the lubricants may not deliver their full value.”
Viva Energy’s technical team can provide expert knowledge and assistance on storing and handling lubricants correctly. •
For more information, visit vivaenergy.com.au
Sources
- ShellContentServices – Whitepaper 2024
- Shell Lubricants Storage Handling HSE Guidelines
