TecPlex 1460 Significantly Cuts Steel Mill Maintenance Time Following Conversion

Converting to TecPlex 1460 saved this steel mill 80 hours of maintenance time per month. 

THE CHALLENGE

A steel mill located in the Midwest experienced elevated water levels in the Reversing Roughing Mill. The mill removed the work-roll bearings every week for inspection and regreasing using a lithium complex 460 NLGI 1 grease. This labor-intensive process requires four people and an entire day to complete, and one set 
of reversing mill work-roll bearing costs $250,000. 

THE SOLUTION

Testing was conducted to evaluate how TecPlex 1460 would perform in the bearing and roll neck. Even with 49.6% water contamination, the study confirmed that TecPlex 1460 was still present and performing at a higher level in the bearing and the roll neck. The Daubert team converted the entire hot strip mill over from the lithium complex grease to TecPlex 1460, taking weekly samples for water content. 

THE RESULTS

The new grease has prevented bearing wear with no failures since switching. The mill is estimated to save around 80 hours of maintenance per month, freeing up the maintenance team to address other areas. TecPlex 1460 has also successfully displaced the water and provided corrosion protection from rust and oxidation. Daubert continues to take weekly samples for water content.