10 QUESTIONS FOR LUBRICANTS PROFESSIONALS 7


The adoption of food grade lubricants could be beter in the food manufacturing and process industry. Many in the industry see the use of these products as an unnecessary cost – until something goes wrong in their process and contamination causes significant financial loss; not to mention the health risks to the consumer.


with mining focused OEM`s is another aspect of our involvement into this segment. A comprehensive product offering and high service levels are what makes FUCHS LUBRICANTS an attractive Mining lubricant partner.


5


FUCHS LUBRICANTS is big on food-grade lubricants. What is your advice on the use of food-grade lubricants given that Africa has a lot of agriculture and food processing


industries? FUCHS LUBRICANTS is big on food-grade lubricants as you say.


However, the adoption of food grade lubricants could be better in the food manufacturing and process industry. Many in the industry see the use of these products as an unnecessary cost – until something goes wrong in their process and contamination causes significant financial loss; not to mention the health risks to the consumer. Our advice would be to use the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) accredited lubricants that are made according to a trusted quality standard such as ISO 21469. Our Cassida Food Grade products is NSF accredited.


6


Compared to other countries in Africa, South Africa has a good industrial base and with this, it is expected that the demand for metalworking fluids will be significant.


What are some of the technical challenges in this sector and how is FUCHS LUBRICANTS technology providing solutions? Metal working fluids are very important in the manufacturing


of any metal part. If used correctly, they are cost effective and timesaving. The way they achieve this is through tighter tolerances and surfaces finish on the parts as well as faster machining time.


In other African countries served by FUCHS LUBRICANTS, what are the similarities and the unique features of each market? The similarities are in the demand for quality products


in part driven by the OEM`s present as well as the desire to extend component or machinery lifespan. This is achieved through lubricants that not only claim a performance level but that actu- ally perform as the manufacturer claims, which unfortunately is not always the case. The uniqueness in these African countries is dependent on European, Asian or American OEM influences as well as the political environment being operated in.


8


South Africa is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) economic block. How does this economic block contrib- ute to the ease of doing business in the


region?


Being part of SADC does assist however we do see a diverse range of lubricants from across the world appear in these markets. The majority of lubricants are from the region (South Africa) though, and the import duties do assist in protecting the local manufacturers to an extent.


9


You lectured at South African Institute for Tribology (SAIT) on Lubrication Engineering


for 12 years. What is the role of these institu- tions in shaping lubricant experts in Africa?


The South African Institute for Tribology (SAIT) is a fantastic institution. The course I presented consisted of a 5-day program which covered all facets of lubrication and lubricants. After completing and passing this course the participants become members of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), and they are able to train their colleagues on the correct use of lubricants. The course assists companies in minimizing down time and effectively introduces cost savings, which ensures a full return on investment and essentially protects people’s income.


10


You have been involved in different trainings for FUCHS LUBRICANTS customers in South Africa. What do these trainings entail and what are the benefits your customers reap


from undergoing such trainings? The trainings cover theoretical and practical knowledge transfer, with a fair amount of interaction. Training covers the basics of lubrication, understanding of the application and how the applica- tion may impact the lubricants. By understanding the strengths, limitations of the lubricant and design of the equipment, the customer can confidently recommend a product for the specific application.


. 22 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | March 2023


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