CLEAN TURNING AND MILLING AT ROSENBAUER
Press release, Rosenbauer/Motorex
The leading manufacturer of fire-fighting vehicles and equipment had observed oily contamination on its machine tools, which proved aggressive and almost impossible to remove from the material underneath. As experts at MOTOREX were able to determine, unwanted bacterial growth in previously used cooling lubricant from another manufacturer was responsible for the problem.
STUBBORN CONTAMINATION OF MACHINES
Leonding (AT, near Linz) is home to Rosenbauer’s headquarters and one of its largest factories. At the company’s mechanical production facility, steel, aluminium and cast brass are machined on state-of-the-art automated CNC lathes and milling machines.
However, oily, unpleasant-smelling contamination repeatedly appeared on the machines, which attacked the material underneath and was very difficult to remove. “The coolant we had been using at the time gradually turned brownish, and it looked as though the water and oil components were separating,” reports Michael Brunmayr, Head of Mechanical Production at Rosenbauer. “As a consequence, we found stubborn residues on our machines, which proved very hard to remove, even using cleaning agents. It was taking a huge amount of effort to keep them clean.”
ADVANTAGES DUE TO LOWER AFTER DRIVING RATE
After the expert analysis in the MOTOREX laboratory, a six-month test began, initially on the machine most affected. Kientzl: “We subjected it to a thorough cleaning process and switched to our SWISSCOOL 8000. Afterwards, we held on-site training for application and maintenance and continuously checked the result on the machine.” SWISSCOOL 8000 is a general-purpose, water-miscible cooling lubricant containing mineral oil, which is boron- and formaldehyde-free.
The concentration of the cooling lubricant increases during use because the water content in the coolant system evaporates as a result of circulation, turbulence, high pressures and heat, but the concentrate content (mineral oil and additives) does not. This has a direct effect on the so-called after driving rate, the concentration of the refill emulsion which is required to maintain the specified target concentration.
Whereas conventional cooling lubricants frequently require a after driving rate of 3 to 4 percent, an average of one percent is sufficient for the high-quality SWISSCOOL 8000 – a cost benefit because less concentrate is consumed.
REDUCED CLEANING EFFORT AND COSTS
The successful field test convinced Rosenbauer to switch its entire metalworking operation to SWISSCOOL 8000. Manager Michael Brunmayr explains: “Since then, our machines have always been clean, which makes our employees’ work both easier and more enjoyable. The cutting performance and material compatibility are outstanding. We also save costs as we no longer have to clean, and have a lower after driving rate.”
MORE ABOUT ROSENBAUER
Rosenbauer develops and produces fire-fighting vehicles and equipment as well as extinguishing technology and systems for preventive fire protection. The company is represented today at 120 locations worldwide.
More about MOTOREX INDUSTRIAL LINE.
