LUBRICATION AUDIT IN TEXTILE MILLS

Introduction

Lubricant requirement for the textile industry is different and critical compared to other industries. Since last one decade, there is a major technological development in the design of textile machinery towards higher productivity and better quality. Most of the textile units are modernised with sophisticated machines. The speed and load on most of the vital parts of sub-assemblies of the machines have increased. In textile units, machines are exposed to conditions like fluff, chemicals, humidity, high temperature and heavy load. So the lubrication schedule and selection of lubricant have to be done to take care of these conditions. Even though the cost incurred on lubricants is much less than the cost of utilities, cost of spares, etc., lubrication carries major weightage in achieving higher production, energy conservation and better quality of end product. 

Lubrication of machine parts is done to reduce friction. Lubricant has to be of correct grade, proper quality and quantity must be applied using proper tools and apparatus, so that the life of machines can be maximised with least maintenance cost. For selection of lubricant, factors such as type of application, speed, load, temperature at which working are to be considered. Proper scheduling of lubrication activities with recording of lubricant replacement dates is a must, so that the machine parts do not starve for lubrication. At the same time, over lubrication may be avoided so as to economize on the consumption. 

 Even though machinery manufacturers suggest lubrication schedules and type of lubricant to be used, the periodical testing of lubricants is a must especially for lubricants that are topped at yearly/half yearly cycle, in order to ascertain whether lubricants retain their properties. Moreover, evaluation of lubricants over the machine is judged by various factors such as machine performance and the quality of the finished product i.e. yarn or fabric.

What service BTRA can offer? 

§            BTRA helps to draw a suitable action plan for selecting lubricant of right quality, deciding right quantity and choosing right time for application for a machinery set-up of a mill keeping in mind spares do not starve for lubrication at the same time avoiding over lubrication of machines. 

§            BTRA offers suitable training programme to the management/technical staff of a mill from maintenance point of view. 

§            BTRA offers suitable training programme to the sales/technical staff of oil companies from marketing point of view. 

§            BTRA offers complete lubrication audit service on a yearly basis which includes testing of newly purchased lubricants from time to time, attending various troubleshooting aspects of machine maintenance and poor quality, assessing the performance level of manpower involved, keeping a track on condition of dispensing equipments and storage system, etc. in consultation with the mills.

For more details, please contact – The Director, Bombay Textile Research Association, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai – 400 086. Tel. – 2500 3651 / Fax – 2500 0459 / E-mail: - btra@vsnl.com.