Case Study - Success for Flat Glass Customer with FUCHS

Project Overview

A leading manufacturer of flat glass approached FUCHS for support in improving lubrication on-site and to increase production reliability and safety through the FUCHS best practice lubrication program. The FUCHS team carried out a lubrication survey to understand and recommend various technical and reliability improvements that would meet customer demands and improve site operations. This also included the implementation of two FUCHS products - VITROLIS GB 24 and UNIFLOR 8172.

The Problem

In recent years there has been an increase in demand from the construction industry for glass and therefore the customer had increased its production capacity to meet the market demands for a variety of flat glass products and solutions. In order to increase production reliability and safety in line with production capacity, the customer had identified a number of areas where improvement could be made including;

• Reducing the number of lubricant vendors on site
• Rationalising the lubricants used on site
• Improving glass-cutting operations and end block lubrication
• Implementing quality lubrication training for both maintenance and production teams

Solution

• Use of VITROLIS GB 24 - a premium oil that improves cutting operations
• More efficient and globally available UNIFLOR 8172 grease
• CENT system to support preventative maintenance practices
• Analysis training for employees to promote best practice solutions

Results 

• FUCHS to become sole supplier of lubrication products, offering a wide range of lubricants for every application
• 50% reduction in lubricant grades used on site
• Reduced amount of deliveries, lowering delivery costs and improving carbon footprint