Lubricants for Construction
Lubricants for Construction Industry
How construction can keep up with the demands of tomorrow A construction site can be an unforgiving place for you and your equipment. The dust, the dirt, the deadlines. It all adds unnecessary pressure to systems that need protection to perform. Though new technologies can help empower the industry to meet these demands, emerging construction innovation must be underpinned with the correct foundations to maximise business output and minimise environmental impact. That’s why getting the most out of equipment ranks so highly on the to-do lists of construction and equipment hire firms across Europe.
The rise of the digital construction site
Driven by the need to meet ever tighter deadlines and ambitious client specifications, construction companies are rapidly digitising previously manual workflows and information systems. This includes:
• GPS trackers to give site managers real-time equipment info
• Geotrackers that locate existing underground infrastructure before work begins
• Connected sensors that provide critical data for the smooth running of operations
The result is a construction site that can increase machine utilisation rates and reduce unplanned downtime as much as possible. At least, that’s the theory. To make that a reality, all the machines and equipment on site must be as available in the real world as they are in the virtual one. And that’s why maintenance is more important than ever.
Innovation means nothing without reliability
If you’ve planned work schedules on a complex construction site down to the minute, then all the equipment in that plan needs to be available, working at peak efficiency and where it’s supposed to be.
But that cannot happen if machinery is lost to unplanned downtime or is operating below expected performance levels. The application of the right lubricant at the right time can drive this performance by helping to:
- Reduce heat
- Reduce friction
- Reduce wear
All of which extends the lifetime of your components, reduces downtime and increases reliability.
40% of companies surveyed often experienced breakdowns because of ineffective lubrication.1
Drive performance through maintenance
Selecting the right lubricant is only the first step on the path to avoiding equipment downtime and the knock-on effects of missed deadlines (and possibly reputational damage). To make sure that advanced equipment operates at optimum levels, you need engineers and maintenance staff with the knowledge and tools to apply the latest technologies in lubrication and equipment maintenance.
- Train staff on lubrication best practices,
- Choose the exact right lubricant for each application
- Keep your lubrication systems, and the machines they protect, in peak condition.
This then helps you to drive performance and efficiency, improving your total cost of ownership (TCO). In fact, we’ve found that customers around the world who invest in lubricants and lubricant-related services can save anything from a few thousands to many millions per year.
72% of maintenance decision makers say that issues with equipment reliability have led to unexpected costs.1
How to keep projects on time
Unplanned construction equipment downtime can destroy all hopes of meeting deadlines. Here are four ways to avoid this and keep your operations on track:
Introduce predictive maintenance
The biggest issue with equipment damage is that it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late to avoid a breakdown.
So, what if you could foresee issues before they emerged? With predictive maintenance practices – such as oil condition monitoring – you can. By identifying potential issues before they escalate, you can reduce the likelihood of failures, preventing unplanned downtime and reducing costs in the process
Select the right tool for the job
You can prevent a great deal of equipment issues by simply selecting the most appropriate lubricant for the job, or equipment, at hand. Still an underappreciated part of the productivity equation, lubrication can play a vital role in maintaining the uptime you need to meet demanding deadlines.
Upskill your workforce
76% of construction companies believe that the insufficient expertise of their staff plays a role in equipment breakdowns. With downtime having a direct impact on your ability to meet deadlines, it’s never been clearer that upskilling your workforce can help to upgrade your business.
Implement telematics
With so many machines on the move, a construction site can be an easy place to lose efficiencies. An equipment management platform allows you to stay on top of your vehicles and on time for your deliverables.
Work with a partner you can trust
As the construction industry evolves, the companies that manage to respond in an agile and innovative fashion will gain the edge over their competitors. And working with Shell Lubricant Solutions is one way to ensure that you can achieve that.
We make sure you can get the most out of your advanced equipment to maximise your productivity and profitability by providing:
- Innovative and high-performance products
- Tools and services to maximise your maintenance practices
- Expert engineers and maintenance staff to support your operations
We can help you keep up with the pace of change and stay ahead of your competitors as you adapt to the ongoing digitalisation of your business.
Disclaimers:
1 Powering Peak Performance – Shell survey of lubricant decision makers
