Keep Calm and Sample On

As governments try to slow the spread of COVID-19, businesses face new challenges involving logistics, shipping, border closures and quarantines. However, people are still counting on businesses like yours to continue transporting, producing, powering, mining and operating like normal.

So, where does that leave you? Keep sampling, that’s what!

If you are able, we encourage you to keep calm and keep sampling. After all, many years of feedback from our customers confirms fluid analysis is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep equipment operational, especially because it also saves maintenance technicians time. Knowing how helpful our service is to our customers, POLARIS Laboratories® has put new policies in place to keep workers healthy and our laboratories operational. Click here to read our official COVID-19 message to customers.

We’re Here to Help You

Circumstances may arise that close one of our laboratories or prevent samples from being transported to your normal laboratory. In that case, our “one lab, multiple locations” system will provide you with quality testing and analysis no matter which of our laboratories your samples arrive at. Ship your sample to whichever location you can get it to, and we’ll work quickly to get testing started and results back to you. A list of our six global laboratory locations is listed below. We’ve got you covered.

Indianapolis
7451 Winton Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Houston
10910 W. Sam Houston Parkway N.,
Suite 700
Houston, TX 77064-6314

Salt Lake City
3060 W. California Avenue, Suite B
Salt Lake City, UT 84104

Edmonton
5140 75th Street
Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6E 6W2

Guatemala
Calzada Atanasio Tzul 22-00 zona 12, 01012
Centro Empresarial El Cortijo II, Ofibodega 319
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Poznan
ul.Rubież 46H, 61- 612
Poznan, Poland

We will all face challenges with this crisis, but we can overcome them by working together. POLARIS Laboratories® is here when and where you need us.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 24, 2020

How to Optimize Your Asset Health

The average asset manager runs an average of approximately 10,000 hours on the asset before it’s sold. So, you’ve had your asset for a while, but it has come time to sell it. Yet, you wonder how much life is left on that asset? If you keep it for another 10,000 hours, you can save a lot of money in replacement costs and maintenance. Your asset has run well, you know its maintenance history and you ask yourself do I really need to sell it?

Deciding whether to repair or sell

Many fleets run equipment to about 80 percent of their life expectancy then sell off. But, did you know you can incorporate filter debris analysis to determine equipment reliability at that 80 percent life expectancy? If an issue is found, you can proceed with a rebuild/repair or they can sell. Things to consider when making the decision to sell:

  • Did you buy your asset used?
  • How was your asset’s maintenance history prior to you buying it?
Utilizing filter debris analysis

You can utilize filter debris analysis (FDA) to determine how your asset is and how it’s holding up. Here are a couple of recommendations how to incorporate FDA into your program, depending on the estimated life expectancy:

0-20% You could characterize this as break in or, in the case of used equipment, the baseline of your equipment. What is the wear pattern in the first 20% of your usage of the asset? Submitting three filters with oil samples on regular intervals can give you a pattern.
20-80%  Recommended to test only when wear metal trends are increasing, or you see a significant jump in wear metals
80%>  This is what is referred to a senior asset. Submitting three filters with oil samples on regular intervals can give you a pattern. Then review to determine retesting interval based on results of the FDA results. You may find you need to sell your asset before significant maintenance will occur, or you may find your asset has plenty of life on it.
See what’s being caught in your filter

FDA is a great tool to add to your asset reliability toolbox. It compliments fluid analysis testing by seeing not just the data circulating in the oil, but what is being caught in the filter. This data is crucial to understanding the reliability of your equipment.

See how one company was able to to save more than $250,000 by performing the testing and avoiding gearbox replacements.

Is filter debris analysis something you want to start performing on your asset? Contact your account manager or custserv@eoilreports.com to add it to your program.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 18, 2020

Appearance May Not Tell the Whole Story

 

Appearances can be deceiving! During every PM you need to be monitoring your cooling system.

Your coolant should be clear of precipitate and have the appearance of new fluid when first put into the system. However, only monitoring the appearance may not tell the whole story of the health of the cooling system. Appearance can indicate some concerns when an odor or clarity change occur. However, with further testing performed at regular PM intervals, in conjunction with laboratory testing to monitor the health of the cooling system, concerns can be caught earlier rather than just monitoring the appearance.

Some early system concerns that will not be visible by just looking at your coolant:

  • Corrosion
  • Hard water contamination
  • Chemical reaction impacting pH levels
  • Inhibitor levels
  • Degradation due to overheating
  • Glycol concentration for adequate freeze point and boil point control

One of these coolant samples caused a $500,000 replacement on the equipment. Can you tell which one?

Utilizing proper testing to monitor the cooling system and fluid health are very important for maintaining your equipment.

The cooling system is critical to maintaining proper temperature for the equipment. Approximately 40 to 50 percent of preventable engine failures can be traced back to problems in the cooling system. Of those failures due to the cooling system, 80 percent of the concerns can be identified and corrected early before attributing to engine concerns leading to an unnecessary failure. Proper testing will detect problems that are not visible to the naked eye and determine if the cooling system is able to protect your equipment and prevent unexpected equipment down time and increase maintenance costs.

Learn more about the importance of field testing coolants at every PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 11, 2020

Managing Your Fleet in Real-Time

Maintenance managers in the construction industry have more information available at their fingertips regarding the health and risk of their equipment than ever before. Real time information regarding equipment location, operating conditions, component temperatures, fault codes and a host of other telematics and on-board sensors data. This information is not just raw data, but is converted to useful information, including alerts, dashboards, charts and graphs allowing informed maintenance decisions.

Fluid Analysis Adds Value

We all know the value of a successful fluid analysis program and how, when implemented and ran correctly, can reveal the earliest stages of abnormal component wear and help determine the optimal drain intervals. Fluid analysis is the leading science for non-invasive testing available for a predictive maintenance program.

So why have you not incorporated your fluid analysis results with the other information you are collecting?

Connections are Happening

Imagine if you had, at your fingertips, an electronic copy of the latest operators walk -around report which indicates ‘low coolant level’, in addition, the engines on-board sensors reveal excessive engine temperature, and you also have your latest engine oil analysis report showing high level of sodium and potassium (which is a sure indicator of coolant in the engine oil).

Would it not be of great benefit to have all this combined information easily available? Just think of the value in not only deciding if the equipment should be shut down immediately or allowed to run, but think of the value regarding the insight of the maintenance actions / repairs that need to be taken!

So, back to the question, why is your fluid analysis data not part of the real time information you are focusing on?

Getting Connected is Easy

Today, with POLARIS Laboratories’s integration solution, DataConnect, your fluid analysis data is syncing directly to your CMMS is just an email away. Perhaps you would like the laboratory to work with your third-party telematics service provider for the development of the dashboards, charts and graphs you would like to see, we can do that. In today’s connected world, it only makes sense to integrate all the available data, including your fluid analysis!

Connect your account manager or custserv@eoilreports.com with your interest in this no-cost service we provide for our customers.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published February 5, 2020

Oil Analysis + Asset Reliability

Equipment Reliability

A well-applied, managed fluid analysis program becomes a major tool in maintaining your equipment in tip-top condition. While it is an additional cost, fluid analysis can pay dividends in keeping the equipment running longer, minimizing repairs and decreasing downtime. Lubricating oil is the most common of the fluids analyzed (click here to see how oil analysis can impact your overall equipment reliability), but there are other equipment fluids just as important that should be considered for analysis: coolant, diesel fuel and greases. Testing all the lubricants and fluids that run through your system can provide a complete picture of what’s going on – and can identify potential problems before they become catastrophic.

In order to establish a great fluid analysis program, you need to start by partnering with a strong, certified laboratory that can analyze all these fluids, and with ample experience in interpreting the results.

Going Beyond the Analysis Report

Your sample data can be utilized to determine trends, as well as wear rates that will impact equipment scheduled maintenance, repairs and overhauls. Your laboratory partner should also assist you with best practices to establish a strong and complete fluid analysis program. Learn more tips for managing an effective fluid analysis program below:

Managing Your Program

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published January 14, 2019

6 Steps to Effective Program Management

Today’s oil analysis capabilities offer a great deal more than just monitoring component health. With today’s technology, along with performing the proper tests, we can monitor the condition of the oil, see if it is suitable for continued use, reduce the amount of used oil disposal, adjust maintenance intervals and strategies, adjust component replacement schedules, improve forecasting and budgeting and increase component life hours.

So how can we be sure to maximize the return on investment from oil analysis?  Well, in my opinion, I believe it needs to encompass the following six steps to be a “world class – best practices” fluid analysis program.

1. Selecting a Quality Laboratory

  • Accurate, reliably and timely
  • Certifications and accreditations
  • Consistent turnaround time
  • Testing capabilities
  • Relevancy of maintenance recommendations
  • Information management tools
  • Facility locations

2. Determine Program Goals

  • What are the goals? Is it to extend oil drain intervals, reduce failures, extend equipment life expectancy, control maintenance and lubrication costs, just to name a few
  • Whatever the goal(s), if you do not establish these goals upfront, and do not have the appropriate testing set up to match these goals, your program will never reach its full potential

3. Create Detailed Equipment List

  • Equipment list information should be submitted to the laboratory before oil samples are ever submitted for analysis
  • Consider the following when compiling the list: Unit Type, OEM, Model Number, Lubricant Manufacturer, Lube Type/Grade, Filtration Type/Size, Sump Capacity and Sampling Interval
  • Read more about adding and edit equipment in HORIZON® here.

4. Identify Resources Available

  • Data Manager – a “gate keeper” to manage and store the data, who ideally is a person with good computer and internet skills
  • Sampler – an “oiler” who is trained on sampling devices/techniques, selects the appropriate testing, takes representative samples at specified intervals, and follows the proper procedure for submitting all of the required information along with the sample to the laboratory

5. The Importance of Time

  • Once taken, sample(s) should be shipped immediately to the laboratory
  • Upon receiving the laboratory report, findings must be evaluated and work order(s) issued, so data analyst’s recommendations will be acted upon as soon as possible, and then findings are communicated back to the laboratory

6. Report to Management

  • Management speaks in the language of “dollars and cents”, so you need to communicate the “savings” to upper management in terms of reduction in oil costs, uptime reports, failure reductions, etc., and ultimately perform/document cost savings due to oil analysis. Read more about finding that “Aha” moment and realizing ROI here.

Find out more about our solutions to effectively managing your program.

Maximize asset reliability and regain control of your production schedules with an effective fluid analysis program by POLARIS Laboratories® . . . it costs so little to protect so much.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published October 22, 2019

 

Why Too Much Coolant Corrosion Inhibitor Can Be Harmful

What are coolant corrosion inhibitors?

Coolant corrosion inhibitors help decrease the corrosion rate of metals within your equipment and help maintain other coolant properties. The coolant manufacturers will determine the type of coolant corrosion inhibitors utilized in their product. The main types of inhibitors are:

  • Inorganic based (IAT)
  • Organic based (OAT)
  • Azoles

What coolant should I use?

The coolant you use while maintaining your equipment should utilize the same type of inhibitors as the coolant formulation that’s already in your system.

Here are some ways to make sure your fluid is able to properly protect your equipment:

  • Testing with test strips (see technical bulletin below)
  • Using fluid analysis laboratories
  • Following recommendations on how to maintain inhibitor for the specified fluid type

We know low corrosion inhibitors for heavy duty applications leave our equipment vulnerable to corrosion but, why is too much a problem?

Even though heavy duty equipment will require a higher level of inhibitors compared to light duty equipment, a specific range must be maintained for proper protection. Adding too much coolant corrosion inhibitor to the cooling system, no matter what type of inhibitors are utilized in the fluid, will impact other coolant properties. The pH and specific conductance will increase which will lead to corrosion concerns.

Another concern is the coolant’s saturation point. When the saturation point (where no more inhibitor can be absorbed in the coolant) is reached, the inhibitors will drop out and a precipitate will form. The precipitation will cause plugging of the coolant passage ways.

When this occurs the coolant will no longer be able to prevent corrosion of the metals that come in contact with the coolant.

What a coolant corrosion inhibitor drop out means

A major function of the cooling system will be impacted due to the drop out of coolant corrosion inhibitors. This important function is coolant flow. When the coolant cannot effectively circulate through the engine due to precipitation restricting coolant flow we lose our capability for heat transfer. Without proper heat transfer we will experience engine overheating and may cause further engine damage. Both scenarios of too little or too much coolant corrosion inhibitor will negatively impact your equipment and overall decrease your equipment’s reliability. Maintaining the correct coolant corrosion inhibitors in the recommended ranges per coolant manufacturer recommendations will provide the best protection for your equipment.

Below are some technical bulletins with additional information on coolants, coolant test strips and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Coolant and Cooling System Maintenance

Coolant Test Strips

Benefits from High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published October 8, 2019

Keeping Your Generators Compliant with NFPA 110

NFPA 110

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) Standard 110 is the standard for testing emergency and stand-by generators. This standard outlines ways to prevent the disruption of critical loads in case of emergency. The standard also lists the tests necessary to fall within compliance with the authorities who have jurisdiction (AHJ) for code enforcement. However, the NFPA 110 only provides a recommendation on the tests that should be performed; they are set by the following entities:

Diesel generator systems are used for backup electric power.

  • Manufacturer’s Recommendation
  • Instruction Manuals
  • NFPA 110 Chapter 8 Minimum Requirements
  • AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) Requirements

Are your generators compliant?

Testing the diesel fuel in stand-by power generators is critical for the safety of those who may be in need of emergency power. The tests necessary to remain compliant with the standards set by the NFPA for your area may vary, but the frequency of testing should be monthly to ensure that the stand-by generators will work up to spec if called upon.

Contact POLARIS Laboratories® today to learn more and to get diesel fuel testing set up for your stand-by power generators today!

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you. 

Published August 29, 2019

Learn Why Reliability Matters

W Edwards Deming once said, “Learning is not compulsory; it’s voluntary. Improvement is not compulsory; it’s voluntary. But to survive, we must learn.”

And, POLARIS Laboratories® is ready to help you learn…about the future.

We partner with program champions from companies all around the globe and, together, we have helped them save more of their equipment. Yet, the world is advancing rapidly so we’re committed to helping our customers leverage new innovation, creativity and strategy to improve their programs. By embracing change through proven telematics and connectivity capabilities, maintenance professionals have embarked on a continuous journey to Unlock Reliability.

Now, just imagine how effective your fluid analysis program could be if you could successfully automate the information you receive and then transform those untapped recommendations into business intelligence. Come, let us show you. This will be on full display for three days at our fifth annual Customer Summit in Indianapolis from November 18-20, 2019.

Whether you’re looking to huddle with companies that have proven successes, dive deeper into your program’s performance or learn best practices to design a strategy that transforms information into intelligence, our fifth-annual Customer Summit will provide the keys you need to drive operational performance. With three days of reliability insights, 16 learning sessions, three training workshops, one free program review for current customers and countless hours of peer-to-peer networking, this program is designed not only for you … but a few of your colleagues, too.

 

Here are a few key day-by-day highlights from this year’s conference:

  • Day 1:
    • Exclusive behind-the-scenes laboratory tour at POLARIS Laboratories’ headquarters
    • Interactive networking reception to help you connect the importance of identifying a reliable root cause to common equipment failures
  • Day 2:
    • Compelling look into why the future is now when it comes to reliability
    • Recognition of our annual Program Champion Award finalists
    • Relaxing dinner and reception at an upscale, car storage facility where you can slide behind the wheel and marvel at the engines of these classic, exotic, luxury cars
  • Day 3:
    • Insights on how to turn early savings into lasting success as you expand your program to involve new locations and testing capabilities
    • POLARIS Laboratories’ commitment to the next generation of fluid analysis through connectivity

Join us and learn why reliability matters! The road to fluid analysis success starts right here at the 2019 Customer Summit!

Learn more about the robust agenda and topics, exclusive laboratory tour, hotel accommodations, fees and more. Seating is limited – and hotel rooms are equally limited – at The Alexander Hotel! Clear your calendar November 18-20 and join us in Indianapolis at the 2019 POLARIS Laboratories® Customer Summit, Unlock Reliability.

 

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you. 

Published August 27, 2019

Tips for Understanding Coolant Component Types

POLARIS Laboratories® has over 32 component types to select from for samples pulled from the cooling system. This can become overwhelming. Why are there so many options when the sample is pulled from the cooling system? The reason there are so many options is because a coolant component type represents:

  • The type of inhibitor packaged used for cavitation protection
  • The type of glycol
  • If the sample is new, a concentrate or in-service
8 Common Formulations

There are at least eight common formulations to select from. Once the formulation is determined, the base glycol will need to be selected. After the formulation and glycol base are selected, there are three options to select from to determine if the sample is a baseline or in-service. This is why there are so many options when it comes to selecting the appropriate coolant component type.

The antifreeze formulation can be provided by the Coolant Manufacturer. Anyone submitting samples, purchasing and maintaining cooling systems should know the type of antifreeze utilized in their fleet. The antifreeze information will help indicate if the coolant formulation meets OEM specifications. OEMs specifications will help regulate what formulation is compatible with equipment, seals and hoses. New, advanced equipment technologies and a competitive coolant market will also help drive the different combination of coolant inhibitors being utilized. A mixed OEM fleet may require different antifreeze formulations on-site to meet specifications or a single antifreeze formulation may be acceptable for all OEMs in the fleet.

Selecting the Correct Formulation

Selecting an accurate formulation of antifreeze for the equipment is important. If antifreeze information is unknown and submitted to the laboratory for testing, we default to consider it a conventional ethylene glycol. If the test package evaluates all possible inhibitors we test for, we will be able to determine what type of antifreeze formulation may be in the system. The coolant component type will determine how the results are analyzed and what recommendations are applied on the final report.

To help understand component types and learn the steps for how to select the correct coolant component type, view our Technical Bulletin, Selecting Coolant Component Types.

 

 

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you. 

Published July 9, 2019