Shell launches equipment-protecting hydraulic oil
and Shell Tellus Premium, designed to achieve better equipment wear
protection.
The company claims that both products offer better wear protection than major brands, as measured by a variation of the ASTM D 2882 vane pump test, thus helping to reduce premature pump failures, increase system efficiency and reduce component failure.
This in turn helps to provide an effective solution to companies seeking to reduce machinery downtime and maximise plant productivity.
Good plant maintenance is vital to efficient food processing. Significant cost savings can be made through regular servicing and the use of modern analytical techniques - while a break down in machinery can lead to impressive losses.
As a result, food manufacturers are often prepared to invest in the latest technology to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the processing phase. The pay off for food manufacturers is that customers, including major supermarkets, are increasingly willing to pay a premium for food that can be guaranteed safe and can be delivered efficiently and reliably.
Shell formulated the new products over four years of testing, research and development. Both feature patented additive technology that provides maximum wear protection at both high- and low-load condition extremes.
"Industry studies suggest that as much as 70 per cent of all hydraulic system operating difficulties are due to improper oil condition," said Drew Johnson, Shell's US sector marketing manager for general industrial lubricants. "Using poorly formulated hydraulic oils can lead to corrosion, contamination, sludge build-up, filter blocking and increased wear, resulting in more maintenance requirements and costly downtime."
Shell claims that the Tellus products exhibit good hydrolytic stability - resistance to degradation in the presence of water - enhancing protection from acid corrosion and possible equipment breakdown. The products can therefore help minimise operating costs that may previously have been regarded as unavoidable or part of routine operating procedures.
Filterability is also enhanced. The presence of water and foreign contaminants can impede filtration in poorly formulated products, leading to higher filter costs, manpower expense and inadequate system cleanliness. Shell Tellus products have been designed to filter efficiently wet or dry, and perform well in the presence of contaminants such as calcium.
"Next Generation Shell Tellus and Tellus Premium build on all the inherent benefits of the former Tellus Plus range of hydraulic oils, with improved features that take hydraulic oil performance to a different level," said Johnson.
"We believe these new oils can help extend maintenance intervals and help reduce the premature failure of our customers' equipment resulting in an increase in productivity."
Shell has produced the Tellus brand for over 55 years, and the line is among the top-selling brands of hydraulic oils around the world.
