Plant operators must have clean machines

Martin Williamson, UK director of consultancy firm Noria has called for all plant operators to set cleanliness targets. 

Speaking at the Cleanliness Summit at the National Fluid Power Centre (NFPC) in Worksop, he said: "Engineers frequently under estimate the ability of dirt to enter the system, and conversely over-estimate the ability of system filters to remove the dirt quickly."

Optimising investments in equipment boils down to proactive rather than reactive maintenance procedures.

"Specific targets should include the reduction of ingression, improved filtration and the regular measurement of contamination levels," said Williamson.

This was the message to plant owners at the Summit, hosted by Filtertechnik, the filtration division of Hydrotechnik, and organised to highlight the importance of oil and fluid system cleanliness.

Good maintenance practices should include all components being bagged and capped, while replacement oil should be pumped via a filter and not poured.

"Contamination is everywhere, it's the invisible enemy," Darren Davis, NFPC lecturer said.

"Preventing and lessening the chances of dirt entering hydraulic systems is common sense for many, but not all. Proactive maintenance can save time and money."