A vast inventory catering for different hydraulic oil specifications can be very expensive!

What if you could use a different specification hydraulic oil? How much do you think you could save in consolidating your hydraulic fluid stock holding?

To many this would seem like a nonsensical question, but to a company with a large fleet of earth moving equipment, keeping a comprehensive hydraulic fluid inventory can be a nightmare.

As an example,

Where do you use solid-film lubricants and what are their advantages?

Solid-film lubricants are much more than low friction coatings: They can be used for metal wear protection, too. Especially when surface contact is severe and localized. This is the time when lubrication, not hardness alone, is key. Just think of the valves and seats in your car.

A variety of solid materials with inherent lubricating capability are available for use in solid-film lubricants. The most commonly used are

You cannot mix Synthetic oil and mineral oil – or, can you?

Are "old" and new technologies compatible?

Many people will have you believe that the consequences of mixing synthetic and mineral oils are catastrophic.

But the truth is, the effect or consequence, depends on the types of synthetic bases that are mixed with the mineral bases. Polyalphaolefin and diester synthetic bases can quite happily be mixed with mineral oil bases. This is actually how “blended” products are created.

When should synthetic oil and mineral oil not be mixed?

Polyalkylene glycol (PAG) bases should not

Incorrect handling of lubricants can lead to quite serious health problems.

While exposure to some oils and greases carries little to no risk of health problems, incorrect handling of industrial lubricants could lead to health problems such as dermatitis and even respiratory problems.

Workers, such as automotive technicians, who come into contact with lubricants on a daily basis should be trained and given the correct safety equipment in order to handle lubricants while preventing health problems

Knowledge is power when handling lubricants safely.

One of the best ways to prevent