We are in the process of reworking our lube oil storage, transfer, and dispensing system. Does anyone have any recommendations for vendors for the bulk storage and filtration systems?

Search internet.

Try IFH Group or Tote-A-Lube.

Has anyone in the forum ever set up a lubrication storage room and if so - can you share your experiences and what products you found to be successful?

Terry O

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...ing%20Buyers%20Guide

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...0Lubricant%20Storage

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...e%20Room%20Challenge

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...e%20Room%20Challenge

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?...e%20Room%20Challenge

note there are three articles entitled "lubricating room challenge", but they are all different.

I have set up several lube storage rooms and specifically for food processors. We have implemented the Tote-A-Lube and Oil Safe products in what we call the Lube Guard program. Everything is labelled, color coded, and enclosed to ensure a mimimal event of contamination. Lincoln Industrial also now supplies clear tube grease guns and we have used these in conjunction with colored labels and colored zerk caps to ensure minimal incident of accidental contamination. It is very simple and easily implemented as well as cost effective since all the containers are HDPE or Poly. The Tote-A-Lube is stackable and has containment. Contact my office and I can have a rep in your area do an evaluation and we can quote you. Ph: 262-781-6500

Thanks Pete - I was asking for actual experiences not consultant articles but they are interesting.

Terry O

Shaun

Thanks for your reply.

Can you let us have some more details here on the forum?

Do you have any photos you can post?

Is there a "best practice" or is every situation different?

Last but not least - are there tangible results from setting up a room as you describe above? (what are they?)

Thanks again,

Terry O

Speaking of Oil Safe, there is finally a competitor on the market. It's called iCan (see www.intelligentcan.com). Other than IFH, has anyone seen any competitors to Tote-A-Lube?

Sii (Snyder Industries, Inc) has a line of stackable poly totes as well. I was selling those prior to carrying the Tote-A-Lube line.

I have before an after photos of two installations. Both were very disorganized and had catastrophic cross filling of equipment occurred. It's amazing how a couple gallons of the wrong fluid can adversly affect lubrication. We've had all types of issue with clients in the "before" stage putting non-compatible greases together, or having mineral spirits transferred in the same container as lube oils. Sometimes the equipment will run no matter how poor the practices are, but traditionally, failure occur more often from overlubrication and contamination than lack of lubrication.

Annex_Before.jpg (210 Kb, 35 downloads) Before

Once we have in place a suitable Bulk Storage unit with Filtered Breather and Color Coded tags and proper labels, we use the Color Coded Oil Safe Containers. (Note: iCan is a suitable tool, but only the handle inserts are color coded, and Oil Safe seems to be a more viable solution)
Combined with proper tags at Reservoirs and Zerk Fittings, transport and reduction of error become much easier.
Call our office and I can have a local Rep take you through the process of conversion Ph: 262-781-6500.

Annex_Plant_After.jpg (126 Kb, 33 downloads) After

Although the color coded drums, secondary containment and filler pumps traditionally found in a "good lube room" seem sufficient and organized, there are still issues that lead to disaster.

We had a client purchasing Motor Oil for a fleet of delivery vehicles. One of the Truck Motors failed and we were called in to investigate our lubricant as a source. When directed to the 55 gallon drum of fluid we asked where the filler pump was as we would like to obtain a sample from the drum. The maintenance person guided us to a drum of diesel fuel additive which had the pump inserted in the bung. He told us they "share" this pump for the two fluids since they had not bought a pump to replace the failed unit. Knowing this type of pump holds a minimum of 1 quart of fluid in the head, we noted that every time they were topping off their fleet with oil, they were in effect adding 1 quart of diesel fuel additive to the sump. After further review of the lubricant taken from the failed motor, we found that about 30% of the fluid wasn't motor oil.

Yes, the entire Oil Safe lid is colored, but you can write on the iCan handle inserts, so you can use both text and color. I think the iCans are quite a bit less expensive too. And I know for sure that they're compatible with eachother.

You mean Oil Safe lids fit on iCan containers and visa versa?

Terry O

Terry - yes, that it what I mean.

Have a look at our best practice lube rooms, we supply containerised rooms or retro fits.

Lube_Bay_grouping.jpg (105 Kb, 40 downloads)

Re the interchangability of I can and Oil safe containers I did a test and founf if you put an I can lid on and oil safe buscket and you put water in it and turn it upside down the water leasks out ofron the lid seal. However if you an Oil safe lid on an I can buckety and do the ame test it does not leak. I maybe wrong but I think the I can lids warp.

Tester

From looking at your member profile, I see that you work for the company that is the Oil Safe distributor for Europe. I think everyone on this forum should be aware of that litte piece of information when reading your comments. The way you play the game is like a politician - may you should run for office?