For plastics manufacturers running injection, blow or compression moulding machinery around the clock, unplanned downtime is one of the biggest drains on profitability. What many businesses don’t realise is that a significant proportion of that downtime can be traced back to poor hydraulic oil management.
Hydraulic oil doesn’t last forever. Over time it degrades through oxidation, picks up particulate and water contamination, and its additive pack depletes — all of which reduce its ability to protect the components it’s designed to serve. Left unchecked, degraded oil leads to premature wear on pumps, valves and seals, resulting in costly repairs and lost production hours.
The good news is that a structured, proactive maintenance programme can dramatically reduce these costs. Regular oil analysis provides the data needed to make informed decisions about when oil needs filtering, treating or replacing — rather than relying on guesswork or fixed time intervals that may be too early or too late.
Upgrading to higher-performance hydraulic oils can also deliver measurable savings. Energy-efficient formulations such as GPII UltraLife EE 46 have been independently proven to reduce energy consumption by up to 8.5% compared with standard mineral oils, whilst also offering significantly longer oil life thanks to superior resistance to oxidation and thermal breakdown.
Combining quality oil with regular analysis, on-site filtration and specialist treatments like VRT UltraClean — which removes sludge and varnish without machine downtime — creates a comprehensive approach that protects your investment at every stage.
The financial case is clear: manufacturers who invest in proactive oil management consistently report fewer breakdowns, longer intervals between oil changes, reduced spare parts expenditure and improved overall equipment effectiveness. It’s not just maintenance — it’s a smarter way of running your production floor.
To discuss how a tailored oil management programme could benefit your operation, contact the OMS LubriTek team today.
