Automated Lube System Helps Truck Manufacturer Improve Product Quality & Reduce Oil Consumption by 25%
Automated Lube System Helps Truck Manufacturer Improve Product Quality & Reduce Oil Consumption by 25%
Problem:
Freightliner Trucks, a leading North American manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks, needed to coat 24" (609 mm) wide sheets of feed stock with lubricant prior to a stamping operation. The previous lubrication system did not apply the oil on the metal sheet evenly and caused quality problems. The system also generated wasteful overspray and covered nearby equipment and floors with oil, creating a slippery, hazardous work environment.
Solution:
An AutoJet® Lube System from Spraying Systems Co. has eliminated Freightliner's oil application problems. The system features a 36" (914 mm) coil lubricator which uses six hydraulic UniJet® nozzles for uniform coverage of the sheet. Each nozzle is supplied individually by an L210 air-actuated piston pump. All of the nozzles are contained within the coil lubricator unit.
An oil mist extractor is used in the coil lubricator to prevent worker inhalation and safety problems. The system also recirculates the oil, minimizing lubricant use. Automatic solenoid valves ensure excess oil is returned from the coil lubricator back to the supply tank. The oil is filtered on the suction lines to ensure no contaminants enter the system.
Results:
The AutoJet® Lube System has improved Freightliner's product quality. Scrap resulting from uneven lubrication has been reduced by 10%. Oil use has decreased by 25% - a significant reduction in operating costs. Another important benefit provided by the system is improved worker safety due to the elimination of overspray. Together, these factors save Freightliner an estimated US$10,000 per year. The payback on the new lubrication system was about nine months.
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