Total fluid management from FUCHS

Citation

(1999), "Total fluid management from FUCHS", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 51 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.1999.01851aab.004

Total fluid management from FUCHS

Total fluid management from FUCHS

Keywords FUCHS, Lubricants

At the heart of the machine, friction, heat and pressure can take their toll. Optimum performance can only be achieved if the lubricant chosen is carefully matched to its application. FUCHS Lubricants pioneered and designed a service initiative called total fluid management (TFM), claimed to be the first of its kind in the lubricant manufacturing industry, designed with the smooth running of customers' operations at its heart.

Industrial Director at FUCHS, Graham Bailey, explained: "Essentially TFM is a business strategy. We have customers as diverse as British Aerospace, Honda and CASE IH who regard TFM as a means of increasing cash efficiency. Matching customers' needs with FUCHS technology, a tailored programme is devised. Every programme, however, has four key missions:

"The first is to simplify the customers' lubricant product range. With over 11,000 specialist lubricants already developed and the constant evolution and innovation of more, our ability to perfectly match lubricant to application is greatly enhanced. With the technology of the unique FUCHS range we can usually reduce the number of products needed from between 30 and 50 to just 10. At Honda for instance, they use only four operational fluids. As a result much better control can be exercised throughout the plant.

"Second, greater technology allows the number of grades to be reduced and provides better machine care and tool efficiency. With FUCHS being the first lubricants manufacturer in the UK to be QS 9000 accredited our customers can be sure that they are using products at the cutting edge of technology.

"Third, customers often get into the habit of discarding fluids long before they need to in an attempt to avoid a confusing array of problems: rust, bacteria, fungus, 'Monday morning smells', cross-contamination, etc. TFM stops this, thereby reducing waste.

"Finally, reducing waste and lubricants used not surprisingly cuts costs. When a full TFM programme is instigated, we hire and train operatives who work full-time for our customer. Even then the total cost of lubrication falls ­ usually by around 20 per cent.

"We support TFM with two unique and essential measuring tools ­ both PC-based ­ which can be linked directly to customers' software. CENT is a sophisticated fluid analysis package that tracks the condition of both production fluids and machine tools. It allows us to predict when things might go wrong and take preventive action. PULSAR is a data warehouse that logs every machine tool and every lubricant used so those customers for the first time have accurate fluid and cost control for each machine."

For further information, please contact Lorraine Baillie at Cicero PR. Tel: +44 (0)161 876 5522; Fax: +44 (0)161 876 5533.