The 2009 National Lubricating Grease Institute annual meeting will be held June 13-16 at the Lowes Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz. Located at the foot of the Catalina Mountains, this site offers something for everyone. When not participating in one of the many NLGI organized events that are part of the three-day meeting – including technical papers, education courses and lubricant certification tests – you can check out one of the two championship golf courses on site, play tennis until dusk on the lighted tennis courts, spend a relaxing day at the full-service spa, explore the mountain trails or enjoy dinner at the Ventana Room, Tucson’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant.
The NLGI annual meeting is internationally attended by leaders in the grease industry. They represent manufacturers, chemical suppliers, engineering services, marketing organizations and end-users of grease. This vast knowledge base of grease expertise is assembled for three days and allows attendees the opportunity to network and gain knowledge far beyond any other event on the subject of lubricating greases.
Technical Papers
The conference schedule includes technical papers on subjects ranging from grease manufacturing, test procedures, environmental issues, and advancements in technological research and government regulations such as Europe’s REACH. All of the papers are available for attendees on a CD for future reference or they can be accessed in the members-only area of the NLGI Web site. The conference also offers informative panel discussions on today’s pertinent topics, along with working group meetings that can be attended by all general attendees.
Education Courses
Running concurrent with these sessions are the NLGI’s unprecedented grease education courses. Courses available are:
Basic Grease – This course covers the principles of manufacturing and marketing greases. Attendees learn the different types of greases, methods of manufacturing, testing methods and grease applications. Topics include, among others: basic grease course overview, soap-based grease, industrial applications, additives and marketing ideas.
Advanced Grease – This course provides advanced instruction regarding specifications of grease, grease chemistry and specialized applications. Topics include, among others: special tests, soap manufacturing, steel mill greases, silicone greases and food-grade lubricants.
Application / Maintenance Grease – This course covers selecting and troubleshooting greases and refining your in-plant maintenance procedures. This course is useful for lubricant buyers, maintenance personnel and lube suppliers who need practical instruction.
So whether you are a novice to greases or have been working with greases for many years, NLGI offers an education program that will further your knowledge and provide skill sets that will help you advance your career.
Certification Tests
NLGI also is pleased to offer at the conference both lubricant certification program tests: NLGI’s Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist (CLGS) exam and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers’ Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS) exam.
The CLGS exam consists of 120 multiple choice and true/false questions to be answered over a two-hour time limit. Some of the topics covered are: manufacturing, components, grease types, compatibility, applications, testing, trends and problem solving.
STLE’s CLS exam consists of a three-hour exam with 150 questions chosen at random from a stockpile of questions covering the following subjects: lubrication fundamentals, fluid conditioning, storage, handling and application of lubricants, monitoring and reducing consumption of lubricants, gears, bearings, seals, fluid power, lubricant manufacturing, pneumatics, transportation lubricants, metalworking, solvents and cleaners, problem solving, lubricant analysis, and lubrication programs.
These certification programs recognize industrial professionals who possess a high level of knowledge on greases and lubrication principles and theory.
Register
Be sure to pencil in the NLGI conference on your calendar. Visit www.nlgi.org to find additional information on the program schedule or to register online. We look forward to seeing you in Tucson.
About the Author
Bill Kersey is the new business development manager for Fuchs Lubricants Company and is the vice president of the National Lubricating Grease Institute. To learn more, visit www.nlgi.org.