Lubricant storage and dispensing is an important part of any lubrication program. Without proper storage and dispensing containers, lubricants may become heavily contaminated.
Lubricant containers must be sized to fit the demand and the availability of the lubricant. The container material should also be compatible with the environment and the lubricant to prevent failure.
Other factors that affect the selection of containers are accessibility and the ability to identify different lubricants.
Drums and Tote Bins
Properly sizing the containers for their application is important. Bulk storage - containers having a capacity greater than 150 gallons - is important for lubricants that have a high demand and/or poor availability.
The lubricant stored needs to be sufficient to offset an emergency usage that may arise. Bulk storage can be either in stationary containers or in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), also referred to as totes. The stationary containers give the user the ability to use pumps and plumb the lubricant to equipment or to more accessible locations.
These containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can often be built to specifications. Totes offer versatility that is generally not available in other bulk containers. As a result, they have numerous applications in lubricants and other material handling applications.
The main advantage of the totes is their ability to be transported. Totes enable large quantities of lubricants to be moved from point to point easily, and they are generally equipped to be lifted and moved by forklift trucks.
Small storage containers with a capacity less than 100 gallons can be used for transferring lubricants to equipment, storing specialty lubricants, storing low-usage lubricants, or storing lubricant close to the point of use.
Many manufactures offer the option to equip a container with casters and a pump. They also make carts which can hold one or more containers. Best practice on these containers is to include a permanent filtration system which will ensure that the lubricant is filtered before it enters the point of use.
When multiple lubricants are stored in one location, a lubricant distribution center may be of value. These systems combine multiple containers together, either by using a rack or stacking tanks.
The tanks are plumbed to multiple spigots at one general location. With the proper accessories, these systems can be effective for controlling contamination and dispensing lubricant. Another advantage of a distribution centers is the ability to easily take inventory of lubricants from one location.
Drums are commonly used to transport oil and store oil. To ensure that the oil is properly maintained, accessories can be added. Several manufacturers offer adapters for adding quick couplers, high-quality breathers and sampling ports to a drum. There are also many varieties of drum pumps available.
Top-up Containers and Transfer Carts
Top-up containers with a capacity of less than 10 quarts serve an important role. A container must be selected to transfer the lubricant without spilling or contaminating the lubricant. These containers should be fully sealed from the environment to reduce the ingression of dust and should be equipped with a spout that is capped or sealed from the environment.
Transfer filter carts are often used to top-up or transfer lubricants between two points. Because of the diversity and customized designs of filter carts, they have not been included in this buyers guide. A buyers guide for filter carts is in the works, so any suppliers of filter carts are encouraged to notify us of your products.
There are numerous manufacturers and distributors offering storage and dispensing products.This buyers guide focuses on manufacturers. One can locate distributors by contacting the manufacturers. It should also be noted that most large industrial supply stores carry these products and more. Because this will be periodically updated, manufacturers and distributors are encouraged to notify us of any omissions or inaccuracies.
Buyer's Guide Categories
Lubricant Distribution Centers
Handheld Top-up Containers with Lids
Totes and Stationary Bulk Containers
Small Storage Containers and/or Transfer Containers
Contact Information
Alemite, LLC
1057 521 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 100 • Fort Mill, SC 29715
(866) 425-3648 • www.alemite.com
Farval
808 Aviation Parkway, Suite 1400 • Morrisville, NC 27560
(800) 227-1063 • www.farval.com
HawMan Container Services
181 Big Bay Point Road • Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 8M5
(888) 895-1449 • www.hawman.com
The IFH Group, Inc.
200 East Third Street • Rock Falls, IL 61071
(800) 435-7003 • www.ifhgroup.com
Lincoln Industrial
One Lincoln Way • St. Louis, MO 63120
(314) 679-4200 • www.lincolnindustrial.com
Liquidynamics Inc.
2211 S. Edwards St. • Wichita, KS 67213
(800) 894-3572 • www.liquidynamics.com
Lumax Lubrication Equipment
3705 Centre Circle • Fort Mill, SC 29715
(803) 548-3000 • www.lumax.com
Oil Safe Systems USA LLC
150 Kendall Point Drive, Unit H • Oswego, IL 60543
(630) 820-8930 • www.oilsafe.com
Petroleum Tank Co.
P.O. Box 393 • Hammond, LA 70404
(504) 362-5007
Plastic-Mart
(866) 310-2556 • www.plastic-mart.com
Precision IBC
8054 McGowin Drive • Fairhope, Alabama 36532
(800) 544-7069 • www.precisionibc.com
Schuetz Container Systems, Inc.
200 Aspen Hill Road • US-North Branch, NJ 08876
(908) 526-6161 • www.schuetz.net
Tote-A-lube
P.O. Box 220 • 49 Hwy 10 South • Motley, MN 56466
(218) 352-6950 • www.totealube.com
United States Plastic Corp.
1390 Neubrecht Road • Lima, OH 45801
(800) 537-9724 • www.usplastic.com
Y2K Fluid Power, Inc.
P.O. Box 246 • Stacy, MN 55079
(651) 408-7172 • www.y2kfluidpower.com
