Using specialist high-performance lubricants, and using them properly has proven to increase tool life considerably. When multiplying the saving over many expensive tools, the operational cost-saving can be significant. To support this, FUCHS LUBRICANTS (UK) plc has now added to its popular ECOCOOL range of water-miscible cooling lubricants manufactured at its manufacturing plant in Stoke-on-Trent.
The new member of the product family, the ECOCOOL GLOBAL 1000 is a water-miscible cutting and grinding fluid designed especially for the aerospace industry. Alex Holmes, the UK Industrial Product Manager, said: “Customers have reported up to 43% reduction in tooling costs when using the latest ECOCOOL ‘Global’ platform with existing tooling. Greater savings can be realised when tools are optimised for the process. In other studies, tool life increases of up to 150% have been recorded.”
“In the FUCHS UK R&D laboratory, cutting speeds have been increased to provide productivity gains whilst maintaining excellent tool life. The rate of metal removal can also be increased. Results have indicated a 16% increase in cutting speed is possible. We are excited to lift the lid on the ECOCOOL GLOBAL 1000.”
FUCHS also offers its innovative FLUIDS CONNECT system. Already utilised by more than 100 companies globally, FLUIDS CONNECT is an android based software package designed to schedule, record, track and report KPI measurements associated with effective machining. The system provides real-time data with immediate and remote access to data showcasing the current condition of fluids in use.
Within two hours of the collection of data under FLUIDS LIVE, information can be updated for engineers to make informed decisions on maintenance scheduling and production planning.
For an average production facility, lubricant purchases normally amount to only 3% of a maintenance budget, but lubrication-related activities can influence an estimated 30% of total maintenance costs, highlighting how crucial this process can be. FLUIDS CONNECT is constantly evolving with recent innovations including the development of an API to enable the live measurements to be recorded on a customer’s data boards. Increasingly sophisticated recording procedures are also set to be introduced soon.