There is a local paper mill in Lynchburg, VA run by Mead. Products such as notebook paper, note cards, sticky notes, pencils, and even poster board are all made at the plant.  In order to keep production going, the machines in the plant must run at peak efficiency and in order to do so, the machines must be properly lubricated.

What is the importance of properly running lubrication systems in paper machines?  Today’s new paper machines are faster than machines of the past.   Machine bearings can dramatically overheat, causing machine shutdown.  When this happens, production falls behind, deadlines can be missed, and the company loses money in the process.

The only way that the bearings can be cooled inside these machines is flowing oil.  Devices such as an oil flow monitor help to ensure that oil is flowing at such a rate to keep things cool.  Improper flow measurement can lead to not enough oil flowing through the machine and as a result the components superheat.

It is amazing that something as small as flowing oil is the key to keeping a multi million dollar machine running.  I’m glad I am not the person that has to do the oil change in those machines.

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