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LUBExpert ON-GUARD installed on a machine to continuously check lubrication levels.

In the pursuit of operational excellence, the importance of effective lubrication supervision cannot be overstated. Yet, despite its essential role in ensuring the longevity and optimum performance of machinery, lubrication practices often lack focus, leading to costly downtime and equipment failure. Fortunately, thanks to technological advances, new lubrication management tools have emerged, promising greater efficiency and reliability. In this regard, the LUBExpert ON-GUARD is a revolutionary solution that is about to improve automatic bearing lubrication and set new standards in reliability, simplicity and safety.

Understanding the lubrication challenge

Inadequate lubrication can wreak havoc on machines, with incorrect replenishment rates and the wrong type of lubricant posing significant risks. Choosing the right lubricant isn't enough, you also need to ensure that the replenishment rate is correct. Too little grease accelerates wear, while too much leads to overheating and potential bearing failure. Striking a delicate balance is essential to maintaining optimum performance and extending equipment life.

One of the most pressing challenges in lubrication management is over-lubrication, recognized by many experts as a ubiquitous problem in industrial plants worldwide. The consequences of excessive grease application are disastrous: heat generation, agitation and, ultimately, solidification, leading to clogging of the fresh lubricant and, with no surprise, bearing failure. Bearing failures, mainly due to lubrication problems, lead to unplanned downtime, hampering production and incurring significant costs. Clearly, meticulous lubrication practices are essential to the smooth running of industrial operations.

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The LUBExpert ON-GUARD ensures that each bearing receives the right amount of grease at the right interval.

Conventional approaches to lubrication, while seemingly logical, are often unreliable. Many technicians still adhere to time-based, preventive lubrication methods, administering grease at regular intervals. While this strategy aims to limit under-lubrication and the resulting malfunctions, it often overlooks the risks associated with over-lubrication, which can accelerate bearing deterioration.

The role of ultrasound in lubrication

Lubricating bearings using ultrasound has long been considered good practice, as it provides valuable information on friction levels and the quantities of grease required. Ultrasound is a reliable indicator of bearing health, enabling maintenance professionals to accurately assess the effectiveness of lubrication efforts. By assessing friction levels, ultrasound helps determine the precise amount of grease required, mitigating the risks associated with both over- and under-lubrication.

Introducing the LUBExpert ON-GUARD

The LUBExpert ON-GUARD represents a new step in maintenance technology, harnessing the power of ultrasound measurement to deliver targeted lubrication solutions with unrivalled precision.

Long gone are the days of relying solely on time-based calculations, guesswork or manual intervention. With the LUBExpert ON-GUARD, the lubrication process is automated, ensuring that the right amount of grease is applied at precisely the right time. This device functions as a virtual "nutritionist" for machines, developing personalized, autonomous, data-driven maintenance plans that preventively address potential problems.

Imagine the peace of mind knowing that you no longer need to constantly visit each machine to ensure proper lubrication. With the LUBExpert ON-GUARD, the intricate task of bearing grease replenishment is seamlessly managed, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This not only reduces workload and minimizes grease waste but also guarantees optimal machine performance.

But what makes this device a real added value that can change the whole of a plant's practices, is that its benefits are not limited to individual machines. It's actually a versatile solution capable of transforming entire plants and lubrication programs, instilling a culture of reliability and efficiency.

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Installing the LUBExpert ON-GUARD on all your machines means transforming your entire lubrication strategy.

Indeed, the LUBExpert ON-GUARD serves as a comprehensive solution for your entire plant and lubrication program. By automating lubrication tasks with precision, thanks to the SDT LUBrain’s advanced algorithm, the device ensures that every machine receives the right amount of grease precisely when needed.

The idea is not to improve the performance of individual machines. Rather, it's about revolutionizing your entire approach to maintenance. Implementing the LUBExpert ON-GUARD solution means a change of culture and methodology. No longer bound by traditional time-based practices, you'll be able to take condition monitoring and lubrication strategies to the next level.

In other words, it's not just another set of components assembled and installed on machines. The LUBExpert ON-GUARD represents a complete solution to combat poor lubrication practices and promote reliability in your operations. It's an all-in-one package designed to establish new quality practices, where precision, efficiency and reliability come together to deliver unrivalled performance.

Text and photos : SDT