Smarter lubrication for a better environment

In the renovation and maintenance of bridges, locks and other structures, one aspect is rarely in the spotlight, but is critical: lubrication. Without the right lubricant, moving parts can wear out, jam or cause environmental damage. "One liter of oil can contaminate a million liters of water," warns Ronald Kransse, Technical Account Manager at Van Meeuwen Lubrication. "And so in the vicinity of open water, you just have to be ALWAYS careful."

Van Meeuwen Lubrication has been providing lubrication solutions since 1934. In recent years, the importance of biodegradable lubricants has strongly increased, partly due to stricter environmental requirements and increasing sustainability awareness among clients such as the Department of Public Works. Kransse: "Conventional lubricants are almost no longer used on engineering structures. If a lubricant can come into contact with open water, biodegradable lubricants are applied almost without exception. Viewed properly, it is an environmental crime if you knowingly apply conventional lubricants in an application where the product will end up in the environment through leakage or that, because of a specific construction, it is unavoidable that this will happen."

Organic and better

According to Kransse, the latest biodegradable lubricants are among the top of the market. "People still sometimes think that bio means you have to compromise on quality. But that is really outdated. The products we supply are technically equivalent or even better than their mineral counterparts." By this he is referring, among other things, to the BIOMAX™ line with Synerlec® additive technology. "These oils and greases are not only more environmentally friendly, but also reduce wear while extending drain intervals, saving significantly on maintenance, time and unnecessary costs."

Among other things, Van Meeuwen supplies biodegradable lubricants for hydraulic systems, gearboxes, bearings and open gears of bridges and locks. Kransse: "Our lubricants are resistant to the heaviest loads, UV radiation, salt and fresh water and temperature differences from -40 to +140 degrees Celsius. Just what you need with engineering structures that sometimes lie idle for months and then suddenly start moving intensively."

From revision to innovation

The increasing maintenance task for Rijkswaterstaat, which will have to renovate hundreds of artworks in the coming decades, also means extra work for parties like Van Meeuwen. "For every overhaul, it is now standard practice to check whether biodegradable products can and/or must be used. Rijkswaterstaat has even drawn up specific documents containing requirements that lubricants must meet."

Van Meeuwen is regularly ahead of these requirements. Kransse explains how his team recently worked with Technical Director Taco Mets to develop a new lubricant that met the strict EU Ecolabel. "That is the highest level in terms of environmental friendliness. These products must not only be biodegradable, but also non-toxic, i.e. free of hazardous substances, non-bio-accumulative and also technically effective. We had that product extensively tested and received EU Ecolabel certification. It is now in use in several places."

Switching with policy

Replacing conventional with biodegradable lubricants is not a matter of "just swapping". "You always have to properly identify the operating conditions and application first. Based on that, you choose the right type of biodegradable lubricant. In addition, in the inventory you have to check whether the seals and materials in, for example, a gearbox are compatible with the new bio-product," Kransse explains. "It is also wise to clean or flush the system and monitor with oil sample analyses what the switch does to both the lubricant and the system."

Yet that switch ultimately delivers more than just environmental gains. "Long service life, reduced wear and tear and fewer lubrication changes also mean less work, less product consumption, longer equipment life and thus lower costs in the long run. There are also many gains to be made on CO2 emissions and waste streams."

Having doubts? Test it out.

For companies in doubt, Van Meeuwen has a proven method. "We can do comparative field tests with our Falex test rig. With this we show exactly how a conventional product behaves compared to a bio-alternative under high load and possible presence of water. And time after time you see that due to less wear and tear the biodegradable variant scores better. Such a demonstration really opens the eyes of our customers."

Future is renewable

The next step? Fully renewable lubricants. "We want to get rid of fossil oil. The BIOMAX™ lubricants are renewable and fit into that vision. In addition, we are working with partners who do not burn used oil, but can re-refine it, allowing the product to re-enter the chain as base oil. That too is sustainability."

Kransse concludes with an appeal: "Everyone needs to be convinced of the advantages of biodegradable lubricants. Not just because of regulations, but because it is technically possible and economically very interesting. We are ready to show that to everyone."