Mining equipment has evolved over the years; becoming some of the most fascinating functional mechanical structures known to man. The equipment has to perform at the top of its game in a tough environment under incredible stress. This poses quite a challenge in an industry where just one mechanical failure can shut down a whole operation in an instant! It is, thus, important to use high-performance mining lubricants that are formulated to reduce the risk of equipment failure. Consequently, as far as specialist lubricants for mining machinery are concerned, FUCHS Lubricants South Africa (FUCHS) does not only have high-quality lubricants to keep your equipment functionally in top shape but they have international best practices based lubricant technological know-how. What’s more, they are lubricating the South African lubricants industry with exciting developments!
FUCHS has been a trusted partner of the global mining industry for more than 85 years. “Our comprehensive range of lubricants for surface and underground applications meets even the most extreme demands. Continuous product development and optimisation underline our mission to achieve technical perfection,” says FUCHS. According to the company, a subsidiary of German-based FUCHS Petrolub SE, their products are premium lubricants that can help mining companies reduce the total cost of ownership. FUCHS adds that although machinery lubricants can take up a significant part of the maintenance budget, getting them right has a positive impact on an operation’s profitability.
High-performance lubricants help reduce maintenance costs
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) revolutionising business sectors across the world, lubricant manufacturers continue to strive to improve their products to meet the needs of bigger, faster machines. Although most lubricant suppliers are not lubrication system specialists, many, like FUCHS, have the resources to provide technical support, offering sound advice for selecting the products best suited for the applications. Lubrication products commonly used in mining equipment can be divided into three groups. These are heavy-duty lubrication oils, multipurpose, circulating and hydraulic oils for engines bearing lubrication and fluid power as well as general-purpose grease for normal industrial bearing applications and specialised mining products. Says FUCHS: “Our high-performance lubricants and greases help maintain equipment and mine output while reducing maintenance costs.”
Meanwhile, FUCHS is upping the ante in the lubricants game in the sub-Saharan African region in general and South Africa in particular. The company shares that it has been experiencing growth in the region such that it is upgrading its existing lubricants plant in South Africa. “We anticipate more positive growth and, as that continues, we will consider further expansion to continually improve quality, efficiency and plant capacity,” FUCHS shares. This will augur well for the international brand given that the lubricants industry is witnessing a continued interest from a multitude of local and international independent lubricant businesses who are keen on establishing themselves in the South African market.
But FUCHS isn’t flustered because it is already at the top. “With this influx, the average business requiring lubricants needs an understanding of what quality and approved products are, to make an informed decision. We believe that the ability to assist the market with technical queries and training is more important than ever. Unfortunately, there is still a misconception that a lubricant is a lubricant. Customer education on the evolution of lubricants over the years is important and the sophistication in the equipment being sold today calls for ever-increasing technology from their lubricant provider,” the company enlightens.
“The South African venture is well on schedule. Although the upgrades were started during the first 2020 lockdown, it has not been impacted by the pandemic,” reveals FUCHS. It adds that a new warehouse system will provide much-needed storage space and modernisation of systems as well as enhanced efficiencies. “In terms of the modernisation systems to be installed in the warehouse, all products will be wrapped with 100% selectivity and batch controlled. The latest material handling equipment will be implemented – such as narrow-a isle lift trucks, stacking to 17m high – and the warehouse system will be based on a fully integrated barcoding system using SAP. Also, a fire protection system is being designed to the latest international best practices.
While FUCHS acknowledges the negative impact wrought on by the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses and clients in the sector, the company has, thankfully, largely been unscathed. Indeed, the demand for lubricants decreased somewhat in 2020 but it is slowly inching up, back to the pre-pandemic levels of supply and demand. FUCHS anticipates that this upward trajectory will continue in 2021 as the year gradually picks up speed. “As original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) keep pushing their technologies forward, so will the demand on the lubricants industry to meet the more stringent requirements these OEMs place on products used. Economic projections at the end of 2020 were for a steady increase in demand placing strain on many supply chains globally which ultimately feed into the local South African market,” FUCHS concludes.
