Workload demands keep these machines running 24 hours a day, 5-7 days a week. “We keep our machines running all the time because it is such a nightmare to get them back up once they have been shut down,” explains David Moore, Auto Mats and Accessories, Plant Manager. “It takes about three hours to start the extruder, heat it up and get the vinyl flowing freely. Having additional downtime because of lubrication change-outs is a cost we don’t want to face.” Moore and his team had to research the best fluid for their specific operation. They needed a superior product to extend drain intervals, eliminate downtime and cut maintenance costs.

Together with Whitfield Oil, a distributor for Petro-Canada Lubricants, Auto Mats and Accessories reviewed their OEM requirements to ensure they were using the right hydraulic fluid for their machines. The OEM specifications listed numerous approved competitive suppliers. However, Mike Smith from Whitfield Oil knew that Petro-Canada Lubricants would provide a better product for their needs and completed a side by side comparison of the competitive products to recommend HYDREX. Smith also arranged for regular oil analysis to be completed to determine when the machines would need servicing. The injection machines have run solely on HYDREX AW 46 and the extruder line on HYDREX AW 68 since start-up.

Smith has assisted Moore every step of the way and continues to provide ongoing support with their oil analysis and recommendations for other lubricant needs throughout the plant, such as Petro-Canada’s PRECISION^TM Synthetic grease. “Mike has been wonderful. His availability and ability to explain all aspects has been great,” says Moore.

The implementation of an oil analysis program was a key factor in the success of their lubrication plan. Every 6 to 8 months, with the help of Smith, they take a sample to determine oil quality and drain interval needs. “Every machine is different. They operate in different environments, with different people and different plant conditions. It doesn’t make sense to follow the same drain intervals across the board,” explains Smith. Using an oil monitoring program, as opposed to regularly scheduled drain periods, helps not only to better understand the oil, conditions and best practices, but also helps to save money by extending drain intervals until the drains are actually necessary.

Auto Mats and Accessories would have been draining their machines yearly without HYDREX AW and an effective oil analysis plan. Extending drain intervals has saved them approximately 200–300 gallons of fluid and 8–10 hours of downtime for the oil change-out of each machine. Auto Mats and Accessories have used HYDREX AW for a total of two years without a single change-out. They have reduced their maintenance costs and have had no major issues or shutdowns. “With HYDREX AW we extended drain intervals to two times what we experienced with other products. The cost savings has been a tremendous benefit.”