Setting up future success by improving hydraulics – and productivity
Across the region, we are seeing an uptick in complexity and integration in commercial industries. According to a report by PwC, one-third of CEOs were prioritising increased use of digital innovations, including predictive maintenance (37%) and AI (34%) a full year before the COVID-19 pandemic forced industries around the world to embrace digital innovation faster than ever before. Industrial operations have become more data-driven and connected, as global competition intensifies, and companies continue to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reinvent moving forward. Now, nearly half of CEOs plan to increase their rate of digital investment by 10% or more, based on PwC’s latest Annual Global CEO Survey.
Likewise, operators are experiencing more pressure than ever to redeploy capital, embrace sustainability and find new ways to do more with less in the wake of a global GDP that contracted 3.5% in 2020, the worst performance since the Great Depression, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Governments, regulators and consumers in the region are also increasingly supporting sustainable business practices. According to a Deloitte report, regulators in Australia (2014), Singapore (2016), Malaysia (2017), Hong Kong (2019) and the Philippines (2019) have required public listed companies to publish an annual review of their sustainability performances.
Together, these factors combine to mean more pressure – for both your company and machinery – to bounce back, stay afloat and meet the expectations on multiple fronts in the coming months.
For overall improvement, take a second look at the basics
For solutions that fuel the business ambitions of today and tomorrow, we turn to hydraulics, the heartbeat of industry, and hydraulic oil, the blood. As critical drivers of maintenance planning, hydraulics face many challenges in ensuring efficient operations, which includes extreme loads, pressures, contamination and wide-ranging operating conditions like boiling temperatures.
Concurrently, efficient operations are increasingly the answer to consumer, customer and regulatory demands to operate more sustainably in every industry and sector.
The best way to combat these challenges is through preventative care, a vital step to avoid interruptions in production or costly repairs. That’s why the right hydraulic oil is so important – while it accounts for less than 1% of total operating costs, its presence across machinery can impact multiple factors, such as equipment wear, start-up times, energy use, cycle times deposits, maintenance, and fluid life.
Hydraulic oil oxidizes with time, forming deposits that threaten existing oil alongside filters. Without the right product, the equipment will run under par or stop running altogether, costing unscheduled downtime and increased maintenance fees.
Here, it is beneficial to keep this challenge from becoming a challenge as much as possible.
Hydraulic oil as a starting line
With over a century of lubrication experience, collaborations with over a thousand global equipment builders and over one million oil samples, Mobil’s trained, and experienced engineers are ready to bring the knowledge and skills to the table to provide bespoke solutions that addresses your operational needs. Mobil’s hydraulic inspection services, for example, details your critical hydraulic equipment, revealing opportunities to improve performance, help minimize equipment downtime and enhance system reliability.
Company Spotlight: How Mobil ServSM helped Weber Metals drive efficiency and reduce unplanned downtime
Forging company Weber Metals was looking for ways to make their 60,000-ton forging press as energy efficient as possible.
Mobil ServSM engineers worked closely with the company, reviewing every aspect of their operations. While all the mechanical aspects of its hydraulic press were optimised, there was an opportunity to enhance its pump efficiency through a high-performance hydraulic oil.
The team recommended a switch to Mobil DTE 10 Excel™ 46 in combination with Mobil Serv℠ Lubricant Analysis, a “blood test” that sends of oil samples for lab analysis. This combination of product and analysis was designed to help reduce premature equipment failures and unplanned downtime.
As a result, Mobil’s solution increased the hydraulic press pump efficiency by 4%. This helped Weber Metals reduce oil consumption by 318,000 litres over a 20-year period.
Through big-picture strategies around preventative maintenance, you can take small steps for your company to make big progress as you tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Mobil ServSM can help you find a tailored solution that fits your business needs.
To get the full Weber Metals case study, and to find out more about Mobil ServSM’s latest offers and insights, contact the Mobil ServSM team here [link to landing page].
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