Longer-term biodegradable lubricants more favorable to total cost of artwork

The fact that ever-higher requirements are being placed on lubricants is something the lubrication specialists at Van Meeuwen Lubrication only applaud. “Indeed,” says Technical Director Taco Mets, “we see it precisely as an inspiration for innovation.”

“Without lubricants, the world stands still,” Mets continues. “Without the right lubricants that must be suitable for the application, taking into account the operating conditions, achieving the technical and economic lifespan is impossible. Reliable lubrication maintenance is essential to keep bridges, locks, pumping stations and dams functioning optimally.” At Van Meeuwen Lubrication, everything revolves around lubrication technology. That goes beyond simply supplying oils, greases and pastes. The family business has its own lubrication maintenance software. It carries out lubrication maintenance and refreshment projects with its own Lubrication Engineers, advises and installs automatic lubrication systems and offers extensive analysis capabilities for oils and greases. In the more than 90 years that the company has been in business, much has changed in the field of lubricants. Especially in recent years, the requirements have increased significantly. The result: biodegradable lubricants today perform at least as well as and often even better than conventional mineral oils.

Innovation

Developments are not standing still within Van Meeuwen itself either. For example, the company developed a new lubricant that meets the strict requirements of the EU Ecolabel, which has since been used in various art and water works. In addition, together with partners, the family business developed various automatic lubrication systems that ensure that each application is lubricated at the right time, with the right amount and with the right lubricant. This prevents over-lubrication. This reduces lubricant consumption by up to 30 percent, extends component life and significantly reduces the risk of downtime or damage. Looking to the future, Mets is even aiming for a complete package where a biodegradable lubricant is available for every application.

Longer-term benefits

Yet the switch to biodegradable lubricants is not always obvious to companies. Ronald Kransse, Technical Account Manager, explains, “Looking purely at the price per liter, synthetic biodegradable lubricants are generally not cheaper. But if you look at the longer term, the benefits far outweigh them. They are better for the environment, last longer, cause less wear and tear and need fewer changes. That leads to fewer breakdowns, lower consumption and fewer maintenance intervals - an important benefit in times of scarcity of technical staff. All in all, by making smart choices and choosing high quality biodegradable lubricants have a positive effect on the Total Cost of Ownership of a work of art.”

Lubrication puzzle

Choosing the right lubricant is no easy task; it is purely customized. Every material, application and working environment has different requirements: from temperature and load to safety, moisture, dirt and hard-to-reach lubrication points. Besides renewing lubrication systems and using biodegradable lubricants from, for example, Shell PANOLIN, BioMax and its own Green Point line, Van Meeuwen is also increasingly involved in the design phase of an installation. Kransse aptly describes it as “a lubrication engineering puzzle, where we search for - and arrive at - the right solution down to the smallest details. There are so many possibilities and choices to be made. What are the operating conditions, temperatures, loads, desired service life, which lubricant are we going to use, how are we going to apply the lubricant, and if automatic, how many hours do you need to assemble the lubrication system? With the customer we enter into a trajectory to achieve a success story together. Not for nothing is our motto: Improving Industries.”