Testimonials
A U.S. cheese company significantly improved efficiency using Monolec® Vacuum Pump Sealing Oil.
key takeaways
Challenge
Switching from OEM to competitive vacuum pump oil did not resolve overheating and oxidation issues, leading to varnish buildup and frequent maintenance, costing the cheese manufacturer hundreds of thousands annually in labor, oil changes, and lost production.
LE solution
Monolec® Vacuum Pump Sealing Oil (6322) is recommended for its superior lubrication, oxidation resistance, and varnish mitigation, enhancing equipment life and performance in liquid ring vacuum pumps with added rust protection and wear reduction.
Results
Switching to LE’s vacuum pump oil reduced operating temperatures by 30-35°F, extended drain intervals from monthly to nine months, and resulted in a return on investment of $908,436 by reducing oil changes, equipment shutdowns, and production losses.
After the switch to LE’s vacuum pump oil, representatives from the cheese company said the pump operating temperatures had been reduced by 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Customer Profile
This large U.S. cheese company specializes in the production of cheese and whey products for private label and national brand, retail, and food-service companies across America. This company has the capacity to produce 1.5 million pounds of cheese per day.
Application
The company has multiple Dekker® liquid ring vacuum pumps it uses to remove a certain percentage of water off the cheese.
Challenge
The company had been using the OEM-recommended vacuum pump oil when the pumps were still under warranty. When the warranty expired, they switched to a competitive vacuum pump oil. However, they experienced similar problems with both these products. In the summertime, due to the high ambient and operating temperatures, the vacuum pumps would heat up and trip off when temperatures exceeded 225°F because the lubricant couldn’t keep the temperatures down.
In addition, the poor lubricating properties of the oil led to oxidation, and the oxidation byproducts coated the cooler screens with varnish. Each pump had to be scheduled down every 30 days for cleaning and lubricant change, which cost the cheese manufacturer hundreds of thousands annually in reactive labor, oil changes, and lost production.
LE Solution
LE’s Clay Calk recommended Monolec® Vacuum Pump Sealing Oil (6322) to provide better lubrication properties, resist oxidation, and mitigate varnish to prevent pump trip-off. Monolec 6322 is a high-quality lubricant designed to increase equipment life and improve performance of liquid ring vacuum pumps. Formulated using highly refined mineral oils and optimized for severe service conditions, it offers rust and corrosion protection, oxidation stability and water-separating characteristics. It also contains Monolec, LE’s proprietary wear-reducing additive that provides additional protection from friction, heat and wear.
Results
After the switch to LE’s vacuum pump oil, representatives from the cheese company said the pump operating temperatures had been reduced by 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. They were able to extend drains from monthly to every nine months. Even during the heat of the summer, the vacuum pump worked reliably and consistently to eliminate downtime and lost production.
The company’s initial cost to fill their vacuum pumps with LE’s oil was $30,615. However, by eliminating frequent oil changes and equipment shutdowns and factoring in their year-over- year savings on parts, labor, oil consumption, and loss of production, they reaped a return on investment of $908,436.