We all know a lot of science and testing goes into our oils, but we never really fully understand what this entails. I had the opportunity to witness it first hand at my visit to Lubrication Engineers in Wichita Kansas last week!

For four days in a classroom setting, renowned industry specialist Ray Thibault of Lubrication Training & Consulting, took our group through the depths of oil and the science behind it. This class is not for the light of heart or the light weight in the industry. Of about 40 participants I was the youngest, most inexperienced, and one of 2 women attending. Most of the class was geared towards industrial and manufacturing with little focus on transport and automobiles. Topics included:

Fundamentals of Lubrication

Bearings

Gears

Pneumatics

Transportation Lubricants

Fluid Power

Fluid Conditioning

Fluid Analysis

Metalworking

Lubricant Manufacturing

Seals

Solvents & Cleaners

Lubricant Programs, Monitoring, & Reducing

Storage, Handling, & Application

Problem Solving

I often say that I wish I’d known I was going to fall in love with this industry at a younger age so that I would have gone down a different education path, and would have been familiar with more than a few of these topics.

After three days of classroom learning, we took the CLS (Certified Lubrication Specialist) exam – 150 questions of facts, definitions, statistics, math equations, and scenarios; all meant to throw us off and challenge our knowledge. Most of the attendees admitted they had taken the exam without the class, failed, and were preparing to take it again. Only 900 people in the world retain this certification and they intend to keep that number from growing with the high level of difficulty to pass. Think of law students taking the BAR or doctorate students taking the MCAT. Once certified, you must choose how to retain your certification. Options include writing published articles, teaching numerous industry related classes, attending annual meetings, or retaking the exam.

The certification is designed and regulated by the STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers) which on its own is very beneficial to be a part of. For taking the class, I received a certificate of completion and became a member of the STLE, but sadly did not pass the test. I must wait one year to retake it and feel as though I will have no problem the second time around as long as I continue to study. Most attendees were incredibly impressed that I was there with only two years in the field, so thats something to be proud of. I will work hard to gain this certification and I am extremely grateful to Keller Heartt for sending me to the class.

The coolest part of the trip was getting to tour the Lubrication Engineers facility!

Not only do they manufacture their own products, they have an onsite lab for product analysis, and host a regular offering of trainings to other professionals in the industry.

In the Lab

Viscosity can be tested in many ways. The top picture shows ATSM-D445  Kinematic Viscosity testing at 40ºC and 100ºC. Grease is also put through rigorous testing. The picture on the bottom shows the ASTM-217 Cone Penetration test. If you look at the Technical Data sheet of an oil or grease from your supplier, both of these tests will be listed along with the results of that lubricant’s performance.

Manufacturing

This is Lube Man and I with Big Bertha! She is currently the largest grease contactor in the world. In the contactor, Saponification occurs which in layman’s terms is the process of making the soap for the grease. Soap in grease is not the same as what you would use wash with! A soap is a type of thickener added to the grease like Lithium, Aluminum, Calcium, and Sodium. Lithium is the most common complex soap in grease in North America. Simply put, Soaponification is the mixing of an acid, a base, a soap, and water. Clay, Polyurea, and Silica are Non-Soap greases.

Tubes for grease quickly moving down a conveyor, being filled from holding tanks above, and loaded into cases for purchase.

Lubricant Storage

Proper lubricant storage is vital in the quality of a product and its performance in equipment. You can see desiccant breathers are used on all tanks and drums in the above pictures – since both  have a small amount of unavoidable air leakage, the air must be filtered or particles can contaminant it. There are many different ways to store and dispense lubricants, but correct labeling and secondary containment measures must be implemented. If you would like to add desiccant breathers to your equipment or need labels, I can help!

This was a wonderful experience for me and I can’t wait to pass the test next fall so that I can officially be a Certified Lubrication Specialist (and possibly the youngest ever)!

This week’s winner is:

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