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Is your lube room a chaotic mess, a labyrinth of oil drums, greasy pumps, and dusty corners? Well, fret not, because Noria's Lube Room Challenge is back, and it's your chance to turn that cluttered nightmare into a well-oiled machine!
And guess what? By participating, you stand a chance to win big — a top-of-the-line OilSafe Pro Filter Cart, along with three passes to attend Noria’s 26th annual Reliable Plant & Machinery Lubrication conference in Chicago this June 3-6 as a VIP entrant!
Now, you might wonder, why all this fuss about a lube room? Well, let us enlighten you. Degraded and contaminated lubricants are like silent saboteurs lurking in the shadows of your machinery, waiting to wreak havoc.
They are one of the prime culprits behind machine failures, costing you precious time, money, and sanity. A clean, well-organized lube room ensures that lubricants remain pristine, maintaining their effectiveness in prolonging equipment life and minimizing operational disruptions.
So, how do you embark on this transformative journey? It's simple — participate in Noria's Lube Room Challenge! Here's what you need to do:
Challenge Requirements
1. Get Organized: Whip that lube room into shape! No more tangled hoses or mystery drums lurking in the shadows — store oil drums horizontally or invest in a sleek bulk storage system. Clear labeling is key: know your oils like the back of your hand.
2. Cleanliness is Key: Say goodbye to oil spills, dirt, and dust bunnies. A sanitary lube room is a happy lube room. Keep those transfer containers, pumps, and hoses squeaky clean. And remember, grease guns deserve a cozy horizontal nap, snug in a fireproof cabinet.
3. Photos: Show off your lube room!
4. Incorporation of Best Practices: Demonstrate adherence to lube-room best practices, including:
- Horizontal storage of oil drums indoors or utilization of a bulk storage system.
- Implementation of a clear lubricant labeling system.
- Use of clean transfer containers, pumps, and hoses.
- Storage of grease guns horizontally with the plunger disengaged, preferably within a clean, fireproof cabinet.
- Maintenance of sanitary conditions, ensuring freedom from oil spills, dirt, and excessive dust.
5. Summarize Your Lube Room Journey: Highlight how you've incorporated best practices and what results you've seen from doing so. From color-coded containers to state-of-the-art filtration systems, let your improvements shine!
6. How to Enter:
- Snap a few photos of your lube room
- Prepare a short summary of your lube room (3-5 sentences)
- Sumbit your entry by May 1.
Need Further Inspiration?
To inspire and guide you in your lube room makeover journey, let's delve into examples of successful transformations from previous participants and winners:
Anheuser-Busch InBev: Recognizing the need for efficiency and organization, this brewery revamped its lube room by relocating it to a larger space and implementing standardized procedures. By consolidating lubricant varieties and instituting color-coded systems, they achieved significant reductions in lubricant usage and waste. (2018)
Calumet: By embracing change and investing in training, this refinery transformed its lube room into a well-oiled machine. From color-coded dispensers to vigilant maintenance, they bid adieu to errors and welcomed a new era of reliability. (2013)
Aleris: This foil and light-gauge aluminum sheet mill in Clayton, N.J., used the Lube Room Challenge to streamline lubricant storage, introduce color-coding, and enhance filtration methods, along with initiating a corporate reliability program which focused on lubrication to evaluate all company plants and led to the development of a technical advisory group (TAG), as well as a training manual with the assistance of Noria technical consultants. (2017)
Mosaic: In 2015, the Mosaic Four Corners phosphate mine in Florida initiated a journey towards world-class lubricant storage, prompted by a companywide push for improved practices. They transformed a storage shed into a centralized, safety-conscious area, implementing measures such as floor sealing, color-coded identification, and strict safety protocols. (2017)
Burckhardt Compression: This leading manufacturer and service provider of reciprocating compressor systems in Pune, India, identified pinpointed various areas for improvement, including focusing on standardizing lubricants, reducing inventory, and upgrading storage practices. The new lube room, with enhanced safety features and contamination prevention measures, has significantly improved equipment performance and led to a reduction in inventory by 30%. (2016)
Visy Paper: Down under in Australia, Visy Paper rolled out a blueprint for lube room perfection. With climate-controlled storage and meticulous organization, they raised the bar for cleanliness and efficiency. (2013)
AGCO Brazil: This Canoas maintenance department in Brazil revamped its lube room in response to high lubrication-related downtime. Unmarked drums and cross-contamination prompted a transformation, and a new lube room was built with filtered storage tanks and color-coded systems, significantly reducing contamination and saving $30,000 in 2013. Following an analysis of the maintenance group and an audit of the lubricants in use, an action plan was developed to implement best practices and training of the lubrication staff — leading AGCO Brazil to become a model of world-class lubrication. (2014)
Cameco: This Saskatchewan mine transformed its lubrication practices by establishing dedicated underground and surface lube rooms with a color-coding system for oil categorization. Kidney-loop filtration and sealed containers were adopted, reducing hydraulic and compressor oil varieties. Technicians are now MLT certified, ensuring sustained improvements in lubrication efficiency and equipment longevity. (2016)
Shoco Oil: Embracing industry best practices, this bulk lube facility in Colorado implemented stringent storage and handling protocols to ensure product integrity and cleanliness. Modern filtration systems and sealed containers enhanced lubricant quality and reliability. (2015)
Camso Loadstar: From Sri Lanka's shores, Camso Loadstar emerged victorious with a lube room makeover fit for royalty. With sealable containers and meticulous spill containment, they bid adieu to contamination and embraced a future of reliability. (2018)
Yanbu Cement Co.: In the heart of Saudi Arabia, Yanbu Cement Co. embarked on a journey of transformation. With closed cabinets and color-coded systems, they bid farewell to chaos and embraced a future of order and efficiency. (2018)
Ingredion: Ingredion’s Canada's Cardinal plant made an impressive transformation in lubrication management, winning Noria’s 2019 Lube Room Challenge. Their vast improvements also included a new lubrication building, new, color-coded storage units and transfer containers, as well as a lab area solely for lubrication technicians to conduct viscosity tests and manage their daily work. (2019)
What Are You Waiting For?
So, are you ready to join the ranks of these illustrious champions? The clock is ticking, and the stakes are high. Submit your entry by May 1, 2024, and who knows? You might just be the next winner of Noria's Lube Room Challenge, basking in the glory of a sleek, streamlined lube room and gearing up for an unforgettable experience at the Reliable Plant & Machinery Lubrication conference in Chicago this June 3-6.
Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers — revamp your lube room, rewrite your destiny, and seize the chance to win big!
