Synthetic applications in pulp & paper mills

Although synthetic lubricants have been in use in industry for over 50 years, there is still some confusion and skepticism about the value added benefits of synthetic lubricants in the pulp & paper industry. This paper is written to assist engineering and maintenance personnel in knowing when they should use a synthetic lubricant, where they should use synthetics in the mill and how to justify the use of a synthetic lubricant over a conventional mineral oil based product. In many pulp & paper applications, the advantages of using synthetic lubricants are that they will reduce maintenance and operating costs. This is accomplished by providing longer equipment life, conserving energy, reducing oil consumption, avoiding seasonal oil changeouts and excellent low and high temperature performance characteristics. In some northern, cold climates equipment just won't start in the winter without the use of synthetic lubricants. Here are some facts and experiences that you should know about synthetic lubricants to make an informed decision about using synthetics in your pulp & paper mill applications.