A high-production independent forge shop on Chicago's South Side relies heavily upon fluid power to produce automotive and light truck forgings. They employ twenty mechanically driven National Maxipresses that pound out more than 300 tons of red hot connecting rods, camshafts, gears and spindles each day. When the parts are forged they are ejected from the die by hydraulic knock-out pins and transferred from workstation to workstation by hydraulic conveyors. Since the forgings are 1500°F to 1800°F, a fire resistant hydraulic fluid is necessary.

Servicing the forging lines are 16 power units that employ Rexroth Piston Pumps operating at 1500 psi. For years a water-glycol fluid had been used in these systems with an average pump life of 600 to 800 hours. Based upon Rexroth's analysis, the pump failures were due to inadequate lubrication. Benz Oil reviewed the application and recommended a Factory Mutual Approve non-water containing fire resistant hydraulic fluid. Based upon this recommendation the customer decided to evaluate the fluid in one of the power units. The fluid performed well and the remaining power units were converted to a Benz's HFDU type fire resistant fluid.

The maintenance department reports a substantial saving in terms of replacement parts, labor and downtime because pump life has more than doubled and less time is needed to maintain the fluid. For more information about Benz Ultra Tech and Ultra Guard HFDU fire resistant fluids contact your Benz Oil account manager at (414) 442-2900.

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