Drawing lubricants
Can a lubricant be more sustainable without sacrificing performance?
Reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes without compromising productivity, reliability, or equipment life is one of the emerging challenges in industrial lubrication. While lubricant selection was once driven primarily by technical performance, other criteria are now gaining importance, from biodegradability to the origin of the raw materials used.
But can sustainability and efficiency truly go hand in hand? The PLANTO range from FUCHS was developed with this very goal in mind: to provide readily biodegradable lubricants while meeting the technical demands of industrial applications.
Efficiency and sustainability can indeed go hand in hand
As explored in our previous article on the circular economy in the lubricants industry, sustainability is not limited to what happens at the end of a product’s life cycle. Raw materials, formulation, service life, and lubricant management all contribute to its overall environmental impact.
In industrial applications, however, environmental considerations must always be balanced with performance requirements. An effective lubricant reduces friction and wear, protects components, and retains its properties under the expected operating conditions. The transition toward lower-impact products therefore also depends on their ability to deliver performance comparable to conventional solutions.
The FUCHS PLANTO range
With PLANTO, FUCHS offers a family of readily biodegradable lubricants formulated with synthetic esters or vegetable oils. The different product lines can be used at various stages of the production process and are suitable for a wide range of industries, including metalworking, steel and metallurgy, automotive, machinery manufacturing, foundries, forging, agriculture and forestry, mining, and power generation.
Among the available solutions, PLANTOCUT includes fluids specifically developed for machining operations. Selected formulations are suitable for turning and milling, heavy-duty machining, and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) of materials ranging from light alloys to carbon and alloy steels, as well as cast iron.
The PLANTOGEAR family is designed for the lubrication of gears and gearboxes. Products in the S-Series are based on readily biodegradable saturated synthetic esters, meet the requirements of DIN 51517-3, and exceed the requirements of ISO 15380 for the HEES category. They also provide protection against micropitting.
The range also includes PLANTOLUBE, featuring lubricants for a variety of mechanical components, including machine tool guideways and slideways, and PLANTOHYD, developed for hydraulic systems.
A choice that takes into account the entire production process
Biodegradability and the origin of raw materials are important considerations, but they cannot be assessed separately from the lubricant's technical performance. Wear protection, load-carrying performance, stability, and reliable operation remain essential factors when selecting a lubricant for a specific production process..
Bringing these aspects together is key to combining sustainability with production efficiency. Contact the FUCHS team of experts using the details provided to find the sustainable lubricant best suited to your production processes.
