Mobil SHC Polyrex™ 462 synthetic grease helps reduce bearing failures and unplanned shutdowns*

Dust collector blower fan bearings
Holcim Inc.
Dundee, Michigan, United States

Situation
Holcim Inc. uses blower fan bearings that operate at 2,500 rpm and at temperatures of 98°C (210°F). Lubricated with a conventional mineral grease, the bearings experienced three failures per year, causing significant unscheduled equipment downtime and costs associated with lost production. Holcim Inc. reached out to ExxonMobil engineers for a lubricant solution capable of reducing bearing failures and increasing equipment productivity.

Recommendation
After close consideration of Holcim Inc.’s operating conditions and conducting elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) calculations, ExxonMobil engineers recommended switching to Mobil SHC Polyrex™ 462 synthetic grease. Using advanced polyurea thickener technology, Mobil SHC Polyrex 462 is designed for excellent load carrying capability, excellent water washout resistance and operating temperatures as high as 170°C (338°F).

Result
After converting the bearings to Mobil SHC Polyrex 462 synthetic grease, Holcim Inc. significantly extended dust collector bearing life and reliability, allowing the company to operate between shutdowns without a single lubrication-related blower bearing failure, which helped lower maintenance costs, reduce unplanned shutdowns and generate cost savings.