A steel mill operator in Italy contacted ExxonMobil to see if its field engineers services (FES) team could help solve issues it was having with the lithium-based mineral grease used to lubricate its rolling mill bearings.
A combination of high temperatures and high loads was softening the grease, which was resulting in poor lubrication of the bearings. The mill operator initially addressed this problem by increasing grease load and re-lubrication intervals, which increased operating costs. The grease was also leaking onto the floor, posing a safety risk to employees.
Strong adhesion and structural stability
To address the problem, ExxonMobil’s FES team suggested a switch lubricant to Mobilgrease XHP™ 222. The lithium complex grease combines excellent high temperature performance together with strong adhesion, structural stability and resistance to water contamination.
The change enabled the mill to reduced leakage, cutting the risk of slips and employee injury risks. It also cut grease consumption by 25%, compared with the previous product, helping save approximately €17,400 ($18,500) per year.
