Lubrication
matters

Why is the right purchase strategy important?

A well-defined purchase strategy is essential for effective lubrication management because it ensures the selection of high-performance lubricants that align with equipment needs and operating conditions. Purchasing decisions should consider lifecycle cost, compatibility, and supplier support, not just unit price, to avoid failures and inefficiencies. This approach also supports sustainability goals by reducing lubricant waste and energy consumption.

Why is the right storage important?

Since the lubricants won’t be used immediately, proper storage is essential to prevent degradation even in sealed containers. Factors like temperature, humidity, and contamination from improper tools can compromise quality. SKF stresses the importance of climate-controlled storage, revised layouts, and color-coded, clean tools to avoid cross-contamination and maintain integrity. It also recommends first-in, first-out rotation, clear labeling, and filtration during transfer to sustain performance and extend shelf life.

• Maintenance
  Less downtime, more productivity
  Contamination-free storage extends component life by 2–3x and reduces failures and unplanned downtime.
• Operations
  Less production delays, more OEE
  Ensures consistent machine performance and fewer production delays.
• Purchase
  Less long-term costs, more ROI
  Improves inventory control and reduces waste, up to 50% longer shelf life with proper storage.
• Sustainability
  Less emissions, more life
  Optimized storage and handling can cut lubricant waste by 30%.
• Training
  Less risk, more confidence
  Facilities with proper storage protocols see 60% fewer human errors.

Why are the right transfer techniques important?

Improper transfer introduces contaminants like dirt, water, and metal particles. Reports show that up to 56% of bearing failures are caused by contamination during handling and transfer. SKF emphasizes that using sealed, filtered, and color-coded transfer containers preserves lubricant quality and prevents cross-contamination, which directly impacts equipment reliability and safety.

• Maintenance
  Less downtime, more productivity
  Minimizes contamination-related failures. Studies show that up to 56% of lubrication failures result from particle contamination during the transfer process.
• Operations
  Less production delays, more OEE
  Ensures consistent machine performance and fewer production interruptions.
• Purchase
  Less long-term costs, more ROI
  Minimizes lubricant waste and improves inventory accuracy. 25% reduction in unplanned lubricant disposal with clean transfer.
• Safety
  Less accidents, more memories
  Prevents spills and exposure to hazardous materials.
• Engineering & Reliability
  Less failure, more mean time between failures
  Maintains lubricant integrity and compatibility. Filtered transfer can double component life.
• Sustainability
  Less emissions, more life
  Cuts lubricant waste by 20–30% through clean transfer practices.
• Training
  Less risk, more confidence
  Standardizes best practices with 60% fewer human errors in facilities using proper transfer protocols.

Why selecting right method of application is important?

The 5Rs principle—Right lubricant, Right quantity, Right time, Right point, and Right method—is a foundational framework for selecting and applying lubrication systems effectively. According to SKF, this principle ensures that lubrication is not just performed, but optimized for reliability, safety, and efficiency across departments.

● The first three Rs (lubricant, quantity, time) are based on machine conditions and re-lubrication intervals.

● The fourth R (right point) involves tagging and color-coding to avoid cross-contamination.

● The fifth R (right method) helps decide between manual and automatic lubrication based on asset criticality and maintenance maturity

• Maintenance
  Less downtime, more productivity
  Reduces failures and downtime, 36% of bearing failures are due to poor lubrication.
• Operations
  Less production delays, more OEE
  Ensures smoother workflows and fewer production interruptions.
• Engineering & Reliability
  Less failure, more mean time between failures
  Choosing the right lubricant application method is vital for engineering and reliability: it prevents up to 40% of equipment failures, enhances uptime, and supports predictive maintenance. Smart systems like SKF’s CAL and SYSTEM 24 improve safety, reduce waste, and extend component life. This directly impacts KPIs like MTBF, maintenance cost, and energy efficiency
• Purchase
  Less long-term costs, more ROI
  Enables smarter procurement: SKF shows up to 40% cost reduction with right lubricant selection.
• Sustainability
  Less emissions, more life
  Reduces waste and energy use: SKF reports 30% less lubricant waste with optimized systems.
• Training
  Less risk, more confidence
  Standardizes practices—Noria shows 50–60% fewer human errors with 5Rs-based training.

Why is right monitoring important for critical equipment?

Monitoring ensures that lubricants perform as intended—protecting components, minimizing wear, and preventing failures. SKF highlights that lubricant analysis and condition-based monitoring (e.g., vibration, thermography, ultrasound) help detect early signs of contamination or misapplication. SKF research shows 56% of bearing failures are due to poor lubrication and contamination, preventable through proactive monitoring.

• Maintenance:
  Less downtime, more productivity
  SKF’s eLube systems minimize unplanned downtime with real-time alerts, reducing failure rates by up to 50%. Data from monitoring aids in root cause analysis, improving system design. Wear particle analysis and thermography can extend component life by 2 to 3 times.
• Operations
  Less production delays, more OEE
  Monitoring ensures lubrication is always optimal, reducing unexpected stoppages. Plants using condition-based lubrication report 15–20% improvement in OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).
• Engineering & Reliability
  Less failure, more mean time between failures
  Right monitoring of critical equipment enables early fault detection, reduces downtime and improves safety. It empowers engineering and reliability teams to optimize design, prioritize assets, and enhance MTBF and maintenance cost.
• Purchase
  Less long-term costs, more ROI
  Monitoring tracks actual lubricant usage and prevents over-application. SKF data shows that monitored systems can reduce lubricant consumption by 25 to 30%, lowering procurement costs.
• Safety
  Less accidents, more memories
  Monitoring detects leaks, overheating, or pressure anomalies early, preventing fire hazards and slip risks.
• Sustainability
  Less emissions, more life
  Monitoring reduces waste and emissions by ensuring lubricants are used efficiently. SKF reports 30% less lubricant waste in facilities with monitored lubrication systems.
• Training
  Less risk, more confidence
  Monitoring tools reinforce best practices and accountability. Research shows that 60% fewer human errors occur when monitoring is integrated into lubrication workflows.

Why the correct method for recondition and disposal helps save our environment?

Reconditioning used oil converts it from a waste product into a reusable resource, which can reduce environmental impact and operational costs. SKF reports that technologies such as RecondOil’s Double Separation Technology (DST) can regenerate oil to near-original condition, potentially lowering CO₂ emissions significantly, from 3,830 kg to 8.2 kg CO₂-eq per m³ of oil. A circular use of oil reduces CO2 emissions by more than 96%.

• Maintenance
  Less downtime, more productivity
  Clean reconditioned oil extends equipment life and reduces failure rates. Maintains lubricant performance and cleanliness standards (e.g. ISO 4406).
• Operations
  Less production delays, more OEE
  Fewer disruptions due to lubricant-related issues; improved uptime with minimal risks of spills, leaks, and hazardous exposure during disposal.
• Purchase
  Less long-term costs, more ROI
  Reduces oil procurement costs by up to 40% through reuse and extended life.
• Sustainability
  Less emissions, more life
  Cuts lubricant waste and CO₂ emissions: 3 tonnes saved per m³ of reused oil.
• Training
  Less risk, more confidence
  Builds awareness of safe, compliant and sustainable lubricant handling practices.