Page 25 - MetalForming September 2010

reduced its VOC emissions; it expects to reduce emissions by thousands of pounds per year, while creating a better plant environment for its hundreds of employees and many visitors that tour the plant. It also expects to save thou- sands of dollars per year in the cost of die lubricant because its new lube costs less than the product it replaced, with no sacrifice in performance.
Green—in More Ways than One
Whirlpool uses the new vanishing oil in presses up to 800 tons on progressive dies running hot-rolled steel as thick 0.090 in., electrogalvanized steel 0.015 to 0.045 in., and 0.035-in. aluminum. Some of the parts are flat-stacked wet, requiring good corrosion protection from the lubricant.
Not only are there no VOCs in Saf-T- Vanish, its Hazardous Materials Identi- fication System (HMIS) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Flammability hazard rating is 0, which means it will not burn; Whirlpool’s pre- vious vanishing oil had a rating of 2 with a 126 F flash. Also, it’s formulated from renewable resources, giving it a HMIS and NFPA Health rating of 0 as compared to 1 for the previous vanish- ing oil.
Since it began to use the biodegrad- able lubricant, Whirlpool’s employees have enjoyed a relatively pleasant odor (without use of special ventilation), and in most cases the lube is saving the company money when compared to the conventional vanishing oil it replaced.
On Whirlpool’s larger presses, the lubricant is applied by Jet-Set Airless Spray systems. In the past, when the air pressure going to the spray pumps was adjusted to the high setting, oper- ators noticed the vanishing oil in the air around the press. That no longer hap- pens, and employees have commented on how much better the air quality in the press department is than before the lubricant change. MF
Article submitted by Joe Hough, Tower Oil & Technology Co., Chicago, IL: 773/927-6161; www.toweroil.com; joe@toweroil.com.
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