Why is this so important?

Machines that stand idle for an extended period undergo a degradation process and can therefore experience significant startup problems. What happens during this period of inactivity? One of the main degradation mechanisms as a result of being idle is corrosion. This involves unprotected surfaces reacting with oxygen from the air, which is accelerated by the presence of moisture. Corrosion can occur in inactive machines because the protection provided by regular lubricants and assembly pastes is generally insufficient. This phenomenon occurs especially in parts such as bearings, chains, open gears, slewing rings, cables, hinges, and hydraulic rods, couplings. In automatic grease lubrication systems, there is a risk that the oil separates from the lubricating grease (bleeding) when idle, leading to the grease thickening and hardening. This can lead to blockages of the lines and even rusting of the lubrication system.

Restarting!

During the restart of the machines, rust will come loose from the metal parts and mix with the lubricant. These particles cause excessive wear, which in many cases leads to unplanned downtime and additional costs. Even worse, parts may simply rust shut. Even if no rust formation has occurred, the existing lubricants themselves can cause problems and costs. With prolonged inactivity, the lubricant becomes thicker, and lubrication system supply lines may become blocked, or degraded lubricant can enter the machine. The result: wearing parts, or even direct blockages, leading to machine downtime and unexpected costs.

The only remedy in such cases is to shut down the machine, remove damaged and seized parts, clean the machine, and install new parts, regardless of whether it's an electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic machine. This is a time-consuming and costly process that also delays the restart of the equipment, potentially disrupting the schedule. The solution is conservation with Eurol Specialty lubricants.

To prevent problems and keep the machine in optimal condition for future use during storage, Eurol has developed a simple conservation plan for the machine. Although this plan requires some time and the right Eurol products, these efforts are minor compared to the problems that arise if conservation is neglected. Therefore, take the time to carry out this process thoroughly, using, for example, the time available when the maintenance team has less work.

Conservation plan

Cleaning: In the first step, the machines and all vulnerable parts are thoroughly cleaned. This means that all old lubricants are removed and the surfaces are freed from dirt and grease. In many cases, disassembly of parts such as chains is necessary, but do not forget to carefully clean steel cables, for example. Eurol offers several suitable cleaning products. Be careful with water-based multi-cleaners, for example. If residues of these remain and end up in the lubricant, they can negate the water-repellent properties of that lubricant.

Lubrication: Then the machine is lubricated again, but this time with Eurol Specialty's preservative lubricants suitable for the specific application and equipped with Eurol SYNGIS Technology. A characteristic of this technology is excellent adhesion and water repellency, meaning the preservative lubricant stays on even stationary machine parts and provides long-term protection against water and therefore rust formation. This prevents corrosion on the surfaces. In addition, SYNGIS Technology provides the machines with the necessary emergency lubrication upon restart. This ensures that machines, after a long standstill, run smoothly without wear and can be deployed immediately.