Lubrication Engineers develops specialist team for wire ropes
This year, lubrication specialists Lubrication Engineers (LE) South Africa formalised its Xtend team – a group of lubrication technicians who are highly skilled in assessing, applying and monitoring lubrication systems for wire ropes. Some of the most common applications for these types of ropes are found at mines and ports, which form part of two key sectors in South Africa’s economy.
Ron Byrnes, LE’s business development manager, oversees the Xtend team and says he believes that developing such professional specialists is something unique in South Africa’s lubrication market. He adds that having this level of skill available can be an important asset for maintenance teams that are responsible for overseeing wire rope performance.
Correct lubrication of wire ropes is “absolutely critical,” says Byrnes, because wire ropes are more than just cables – they are intricate machines composed of interdependent parts in constant motion. The proper maintenance of these ropes, especially through effective lubrication, is essential for their longevity and so that they can run safely. “Wear takes place, not only between the wires, but also the strands, as a result of the linear movement within the rope,” he says, which is why lubrication is such a key aspect of operating wire ropes.
The skilled group of technicians that form the Xtend team have been extensively trained in wire rope lubrication. They work primarily with the Viper® lubrication system and LE’s proprietary Wirelife® Almasol® Coating Greases. However, Byrnes says that the team’s magic lies in the technicians’ ability to work seamlessly across different wire rope applications and environments, even at the same site.
“For instance, we often encounter places where there are two mine winder ropes on two different winders, and the diameters of the ropes differ significantly. The team excels at switching from working on one to the other, including the setup and adjustment of the Viper® system for the different diameters and flow rates of the lubricant,” says Byrnes, adding that the team has worked hard to upskill to the level at which they can now perform these functions.
The Xtend team also services maintenance and preservation contracts for wire rope lubrication, with solutions including three key elements. First, they assess the site of the wire rope application, including the safety requirements and site-specific factors that need to be considered. Second, they determine the best application approach, and third, they implement monitoring of the lubrication and the rope’s state and performance.
At ports, wire ropes play a major role in different types of cranes – from wharf cranes to ship-to-shore cranes and rubber-tyred gantry cranes for containers – and are subject to harsh coastal conditions that can cause corrosion and hamper performance and longevity. At mines, wire ropes are used in multiple key applications and Byrnes says his team has a track record of finding solutions to effectively maintain and improve the performance and lifespan of ropes in places such as wet shafts. “LE products and services for these types of sector-specific situations can be key,” he says. The hand-selected Xtend team is specialised in mine winder rope lubrication, and provides a world-class product and expert assistance.
Having skilled teams on hand to manage the lubrication and monitoring of the ropes is an important addition and enhances LE’s offering to its clients and the wire rope market as a whole.
