Textile major’s switch to Mobil SHC™ Elite 150 significantly improved productivity and enhanced sustainability of manufacturing operations
Textiles: A Core Industry
The textile sector is an integral component of the Indian economy, contributing an impressive 13 per cent to the country’s exports and a robust four per cent to India’s GDP. The Indian textiles industry, currently estimated at around USD 150 billion, is poised for sharp growth and expected to reach USD 230 billion by 2020. The size of the textile machinery industry alone is expected to grow from the present Rs.22,000-crore to Rs.35,000-crore in five years.
India’s textile industry, which includes spinning, apparel and garments sectors, deploys state-of-the-art machinery and world-class production technologies. Lubrication is integral to the smooth functioning of these modern machines, ensuring maximum productivity and operational excellence. Preventive maintenance is the key to achieving good performance and improved durability of textile machineries, and an effective lubrication programme is key to seamless operations.
The Situation
This case study illustrates how the right gear oil extended the oil drain interval and increased equipment protection, thus enabling textile major Shiva Texyarn achieve its productivity, sustainability and energy-efficiency goals, leading to profitability.
Shiva Texyarn, a Tamil Nadu-based textile company, is one of India’s leading manufacturers of yarns, fabrics, garments and home textiles. The textile giant has 36 LK64 Comber Machines in operation at its two plants. With the increasing consciousness towards environment and the dynamic market competitiveness, Shiva Texyarn felt the need to upgrade to a breakthrough lubrication technology.
Keen to make a substantial difference to their manufacturing processes Shiva Texyarn turned to ExxonMobil’s Field Engineering Services (FES), its team of technical experts that work closely with manufacturing companies to offer them advice on best-in-class lubrication and maintenance practices.
The Recommendation
With the intent of delivering technologically advanced lubrication solutions to further advance the productivity and profitability of Shiva Texyarn, ExxonMobil’s FES team assessed the on-site usage conditions. They worked closely with the technical team at Shiva Texyarn to understand the machine’s lubrication requirements. Based on their in-depth analysis, Shiva Texyarn was recommended the breakthrough Mobil SHC Elite 150 gear oil, which would significantly extend the oil drain interval and improve the energy efficiency of the machine. The gear box is the heart of textile machinery and the right gear oil plays a crucial role in extending the oil drain interval and ensuring that the gear box delivers optimum performance. The new lubricant would do away with disposal of four litres of used lubricant for every oil drain saved, as well as enhance safety by reducing exposure by three hours for every change of oil. The Mobil SHC Elite 150 was not only an eco-friendly replacement for Shiva Texyarn, but also a lubricant that yielded noteworthy reduction in operation and maintenance costs.
The Result
The zinc-free Mobil SHC Elite 150 proved to be the perfect long-lasting gear oil for the Comber gear boxes in the textile machinery. The oil change interval increased exponentially from just 7,000 hours to a remarkable 15,998 hours. The wear elements remained at minimum level throughout the trial. There were also safety benefits in terms of reduced storage and handling labour due to reduced usage of lubricants. In terms of cost effectiveness, the move to Mobil SHC Elite 150 across the company’s 36 Comber gearbox units yielded a huge saving of USD 2040 (approx. Rs.1.4 lakh) annually.
The Mobil SHC Elite 150 Advantage
The SHC Elite 150 has outstanding thermal/oxidation stability that provides up to two times oil life versus other synthetic gear and circulating oils, reducing maintenance downtime. It has excellent deposit and varnish control that helps to deliver cleanliness and extended oil and filter life. The high performance synthetic base stocks with high viscosity index enables wide temperature range capability and effective lubrication at high temperatures. The SHC Elite 150 has excellent resistance to rusting and corrosion, with good anti-wear properties, demulsibility, foam control and air release, besides excellent seal compatibility that helps reduce contamination and leakage.
The composite benefits achieved by using Mobil SHC Elite 150 are:
Long lubricant life: Reduced employee and equipment interaction due to ODI
Environmental care: Reduced amount of waste lube generated for disposal
Expenditure reduction: Reduced cost of lube purchased due to extended ODI
For more information on Mobil Industrial’s range of lubricants and services, visit mobil.com/industrial