Efficient Plant June 2018 - 32

feature | lubrication strategies

The amount
of storage
space
required for
lubricants
and
chemicals
depends on
the usage
factor and
product
turnover
rate.

32

facilities can store numerous items, including:
+ new lubricants-oils (lubricating, hydraulic, cutting), greases, pastes, and
waxes
+ used lubricants-used oils for
recycling that must be stored separately by oil type, and viscosity
chemicals-cleaning and production chemicals requiring special
handling
+ bulk-storage tanks for new lubricants-may be custom-designed
and color-coded tanks complete
with specialized metering and dispensing attachments or they made be
simple large-capacity tote bins
+ shelving-for storage of oil drums and
grease pails
+ fireproof cabinets-for storing dispensing
containers, sprays, and small specialty-lube
products
+ spill-containment equipment
+ motorized and manual transfer-cart parking area
+ lube-truck parking area
+ fork-lift parking and maneuver area
+ fire-safety equipment
+ eye-wash safety equipment.
The amount of storage space required for lubricants and chemicals will greatly depend on the annual usage factor and product turnover rate. This
will require knowledge of your current lubricant
catalog and purchase history.
If your company has been through a recent
lubricant-consolidation exercise, this information
will be readily attainable. If not, prior to breaking
ground on your lubricant-storage area, perform a
lubricant-consolidation exercise with the assistance of a reputable lubrication consultant or your
primary lubricant supplier/manufacturer.
Now that the number of products and usage are
known, decisions can be made based on economy
of bulk purchase (this requires a larger footprint) versus the additional cost of purchasing in
smaller, more manageable container sizes that will
always assure fresh lubricant. Although most

| EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM

lubricant products have shelf lives of more than
a year if stored in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled environment, always strive to rotate stock
within a six-month timeframe.

DESIGN PROCESS
Once the real-estate decisions are made, the
task to design the most efficient and ergonomic
lubricant-storage facility can begin. For a storage
facility to operate successfully, it must have the
following attributes:
S close access to bulk and barrel delivery and
used-oil pickup station (if not part of the building design)
S tow-truck maneuverability access to promote
FIFO (first-in, first-out) stock rotation and to
move totes and new/used barrels in and out of
the facility
S protection from outside elements such as rain,
snow, wind, excess cold and heat-all of which
can easily contaminate lubricants with dirt and/
or water
S access to electricity and water
S ability to support a concrete slab and footing walls (berms, low-point drains, high-point
entrance thresholds) for environmental-spill
containment.
The real-estate decision may end up with a
segregated outdoor facility or an integrated indoor
facility. Each has their pros and cons. For example, in Northern climates, cold winters require
insulated and heated outdoor facilities. Indoor
facilities are naturally heated to plant temperature,
but air exchange and filtering must be piped to the
outside of the plant. In both cases, good lubrication-room design points will include:
S good lighting-intrinsically safe (fixtures
designed to eliminate sparking)
S air-quality sensors
S spill-control design
S temperature control
S access control
S ventilation air-exchange system
S eye-wash station
S grounded fixtures
S fire-proofing

JUNE 2018
http://www.EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Efficient Plant June 2018
