Low foaming metalworking fluid proves a winner for Stork Fokker

Citation

(2005), "Low foaming metalworking fluid proves a winner for Stork Fokker", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 57 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2005.01857cad.003

Low foaming metalworking fluid proves a winner for Stork Fokker

Low foaming metalworking fluid proves a winner for Stork Fokker

Keywords: Stork Fokker, Metalworking industry, Fluids

A low foaming cutting fluid, developed as a result of Castrol's global aerospace manufacturing experience, is today available for metalworking companies in the UK.

Fokker Aircraft, one of the world's oldest aircraft companies, began manufacturing planes in 1919. In 1928 Amelia Earhart flew a Fokker F7 Friendship when she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic, and the 1958 turboprop Fokker F27 Friendship was the world's best selling turboprop aircraft. Latterly Fokker was an associated manufacturer on the A300, the first aircraft produced by Airbus.

Stork, which took over large parts of the Fokker business (now called Stork Fokker) still manufactures the moveable parts of the A300 wing and uses Castrol Hysol XF, a soluble metalworking fluid specially developed for Fokker.

Recalling that early involvement, Jacob Vermaas Castrol's Country Manager Benelux says Fokker was having serious problems with the build-up of fungus and bacteria and had asked ten companies to offer their solutions. Castrol was one of the four companies shortlisted.

Commenting on the outcome, he says: “Hysol XF was formulated specifically to meet Fokker's requirements for a cutting fluid that would operate in a high pressure application and a soft water area. Following extensive trials, Stork Fokker selected Hysol XF because it solved the fungus and bacteria problems and was the only fluid that didn't foam”.

In the Stork Fokker factories in Amsterdam, Hoogeveen and Papendrecht, Hysol XF is used in around 100 machines with sump capacities up to 10,000l. Structural airframe components, assemblies and systems for commercial and military aircraft and helicopters are produced using aluminium alloys and steel (Plate 1).

Commenting on the main benefits of the change to Hysol XF, Jacob Vermaas says Stork Fokker had employed between two and five people just to clean and empty machine sumps and change the cutting fluid. Some machines were changed daily!

Plate 1 Hysol XF in action at Stork Fokker

With the fungus, bacteria and foaming problems solved, consumption has reduced dramatically and Hysol XF now only needs changing every 2-3 years or longer. And only one or two people are needed for the task. Machine maintenance and downtime has also been reduced and it is estimated that Hysol XF is achieving overall savings of between 40 and 50 percent.

Following its success with Stork Fokker, Hysol XF is now used by other leading aircraft component manufacturers in the Benelux countries, including Philips Aerospace.

Jacob Vermaas reports that other industries and countries have also adopted the product, which has proved just as successful with materials such as titanium and cast iron and in other machining applications, including reaming.

As he points out, drilling, turning and grinding operations are much the same in other industries as they are in aerospace, so the benefits are also the same.

He adds that the many years of experience, Castrol has gained from working in a combination of high- pressure applications and soft-water conditions is now available to metalworking operations around the world, reinforcing Castrol's claim to bring global experience to customers at a local level.

For further information, contact: E-mail: thrussc@castrol.com; web site: www.castroladvantage.com