ExxonMobil helped Kotronis Plastics make an annual saving of more than €17,000 by switching its Sumitomo Demag injection moulding machines to Mobil DTE™ 10 Excel 68 hydraulic oil. The move helped cut energy consumption, safely extend oil drain intervals and reduce cycle times.
Possibilities
Kotronis Plastics, a Greek manufacturer of polypropylene pails and lidded containers for the food industry, was keen to cut costs and reduce its environmental impact. ExxonMobil, in partnership with its local distributor, Novitron, suggested switching its 40 Sumitomo Demag El-Exis SP 250 injection moulding machines to Mobil DTE 10 Excel 68. Historical data for Sumitomo Demag machines using the high performance hydraulic oil showed the possibility for both productivity and environmental gains.
Results
Mobil DTE 10 Excel 68 was initially trialled on a single machine. The results showed improved cycle times, a 2.23% cut in energy consumption and an extended drain interval of more than 20,000 operating hours. The total available cost saving, when extrapolated across all 40 machines, was estimated at €17,000 a year.
“Plastics processing is an energy-intensive and highly competitive industry. The ability to cut cycle times while also reducing energy consumption is therefore a highly valuable achievement,” said Mohamed Mourad, ExxonMobil’s Industrial Marketing Advisor. “Using high performance lubricants can play a significant role in enhancing competiveness. As Kotronis Plastics discovered, a small change can make a big difference.”
Energy Saving Guide for Injection Moulding Companies’
To help plastics processors achieve their energy saving goals, ExxonMobil has produced an ‘Energy Saving Guide for Injection Moulding Companies’, in partnership with Applied Market Information (AMI), a leading research consultancy for the global plastics industry.
