Gearbox Life Extended by 3 Years with Simple Oil Filtration, Plus Significant Asset Value Saved Overall
The Challenge
Since 2018, Worthington Steel, a global metals manufacturer, has collaborated with AssetWatch to continually expand its condition monitoring programs across various facilities. Initially, when oil analysis was introduced alongside existing vibration monitoring techniques, there was some uncertainty about its potential benefits. However, taking a few simple recommended steps ended up making a big difference—helping equipment last longer and saving money in the process.
For Worthington Steel’s participating facilities, AssetWatch performs holistic oil analysis using oil samples collected on a regular basis. The results go beyond pass/fail, revealing a wide range of particulates and other matter, which enable AssetWatch experts to calculate the wear rate and estimated lifespan for each asset.
As facility teams get expert help on improving filter use, sampling and other lubrication program practices, they also receive prescriptive recommendations—prioritized in terms of urgency—to help minimize wear and extend asset life.
At one facility, routine oil analysis identified moisture accumulation in a bridle gearbox. To address this, a lubrication change was implemented to eliminate water and restore proper viscosity. Additionally, a Beta 1000, 10-micron filter was installed to remove impurities. These actions transformed the gearbox’s wear rate from 46% faster than normal to 41% slower than normal, effectively extending its operational life by an estimated three years.
– Jeremie Lieb, Corporate Reliability Engineer, Worthington Steel
Promising Results & More to Come
“We’ve had great results so far, but we’ve really only scratched the surface. There’s a lot of opportunity ahead to expand and build on this success.” – Jeremie Lieb, Corporate Reliability Engineer, Worthington Steel
Discover How Simple Lubrication Changes Can Maximize Your Assets’ Value.
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Discover How Simple Lubrication Changes Can Maximize Your Assets’ Value.
Worthington Steel Cuts Downtime with Vibration & Oil Analysis
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