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Product in use

13.05.2008

OKS 353 High-Temperature Oil, light-coloured, synthetic - Chain lubrication during the manufacturing of aluminium cans

In the metal processing industry, cans are not only cans, for example for vegetables or coffee, but also small bins, often with a screw lid, such as for cigars, felt-tipped pens, cosmetics, etc.

The can production in a factory of a large German manufacturer currently encompasses seven lines operating in three-shift mode. Depending on the respective product and line, 140 to 200 cans are manufactured per minute. (Assuming an average of 170 can per line that makes approx. 10,000 can per hour, or 240,000 cans per day and almost 6 million cans per month!)

In aluminium can production the blanks ("trays") are formed into cans using a die and cut to the corresponding length and provided with a thread or seam in a first step. In the subsequent washing system production residues are removed from these can blanks and they are then dried using air. In the next step the cleaned can blanks are coated on the inside. The inside coating is then stoved in a furnace at a temperature of approx. 270°C. After the cans have cooled down, the outer coating with the base colour is applied and the cans printed.

OKS 353 Product description

OKS 353 is a fully synthetic oil on ester basis with very good protection against wear and very good oxidation resistance. OKS 353 possesses excellent creep properties and adheres very well to metal surfaces with no tendency to drip. It does not form hard deposits at high temperatures and loosens existing residues well. The high flashing point of approx. 260°C ensures the required operational reliability even at hot lubrication points. The good temperature stability of the fully synthetic base oil makes the application temperature of 250°C possible and ensures reliable and economic operation, in combination with low volatising losses.

The cans are transported through the individual sections of the line by means of a chain. The cans are transported on it by means of pins (Pictures 1 - 3). Depending on the respective line, this chain, which runs through all the sections, can be approx. 450 m to 700 m long. The cans are only moved onto a special furnace chain for the enamelling furnace of the inner coating. After the furnace, the conveyor chain takes over the cans again.

OKS 352 is used to lubricate this conveyor chain. Lubrication is carried out by means of the OKS ChronoLube lubrication system. The required lubricant quantity per chain lies at approx. 25 - 30 ml OKS 352 per 1,000 operating hours, so that the 125 ml ChronoLube cartridge lasts approx. 3 - 4 months. Thanks to the use of OKS 352 in combination with the automatic re-lubrication, the wear on the chains could be re-duced measurably. The chain needed to be shortened approx. 4 times a year before-hand. Since the automatic re-lubrication was installed a year ago, the chain only had to be shortened once. 

OKS 353 Example of use

A separate chain which transports the cans through the enamelling furnace (Pictures 4 - 5) is lubricated with OKS 353. In comparison to the product previously used, OKS 353 has considerably lower evaporation losses. This is indicated by a clearly recognisable reduction in the wear as well as, thanks to the reduced evaporation, in less malfunctions at the subsequent coating process.

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