
Texas territory lubrication engineer for Mobil, Jonathan Leland, recently spoke out on some of the innovations in lubrication that are saving both money and time in the mining industry.
He explained to a source that innovation has had a critical role to play in how lubricant technologies have evolved in the sector. He cited automated lubrication systems that have improved equipment reliability resulting in reduced operational downtime. Leland also listed the development of lubrication solutions with higher viscosity indexes (VI) that are vital for the high-quality transmission oil and gas engine oil used in many types of mining equipment.
He added that substantial efficiency and performance gains has been driven by advances in engine longevity and fuel efficiency. When mining equipment is correctly lubricated, it can run far more smoothly and effectively and, as a result, consumes less energy, lowering costs for operators.
According to statistics supplied by Mobil, proper lubrication can create fuel economy improvements of up to 5.1 per cent and a massive reduction in terms of waste oil consumption.
Engine rebuild and oil change intervals are also greatly decreased because of increasingly accurate monitoring of mechanical wear, underlining the crucial role modern lubrication plays in improving operational efficiency in the mining industry.
For close to six years, Leland has served as a specialist in synthetic lubricants for Mobil, but was previously employed in the refining sector. In his present role, he works with mine operators, helping them optimise their maintenance and lubrication programmes to enhance equipment safety, performance and dependability onsite.