January 2017Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Oil analysis, condition monitoring and reliability solutions are not static concepts or services; but rather, they constantly evolve over time to meet the ever-changing maintenance needs of industry as machinery and components are updated and redesigned.
Condition monitoring specialist WearCheck, based in South Africa and around the African continent, is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of reliability solutions and invest regularly in new laboratory equipment and training for its scientists.
Senior laboratory assistant Sheila Naidoo operates the new air release instrument.
The latest addition to the company’s Pinetown laboratory is a brand new air release tester: a sophisticated instrument that measures the ability of an oil to release entrained air by pumping air through the oil sample at predetermined conditions.
Laboratory manager Meshach Govender explains, “We record the time taken for the entrained air in the sample to reduce in volume to 0,2%. Entrained air that is not readily released from the oil can lead to spongy hydraulic action, inability to maintain oil pressure, incomplete oil films and the acceleration of oxidation of the oil.
“The new air release service was previously outsourced, and is now done in-house. This has reduced the turnaround time for sample results, and is of particular benefit to our customers with turbines and hydraulics, as well as gear oils to a lesser extent.”
WearCheck offers a variety of tests and services, including the analysis of used oil, which forms a complete condition monitoring programme, servicing com-ponents in many industries, predominantly mining, electrical, earth moving, aircraft and transport.
This year, WearCheck celebrates its 40th anniversary of condition monitoring excellence.
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