Modernising machinery and equipment is essential to increasing the worldwide competitiveness of manufacturing. This is where the latest Industry 4.0 and IIoT technology comes into play.

How can equipment owners effectively integrate machine maintenance to enhance profitability and operational efficiency?

Collaborative work is needed to improve equipment and machine productivity and efficiency. It is imperative to address this task from the equipment side. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) should be actively engaged in this endeavor, as they are primarily responding to evolving industry needs. Whether in increasing part production or optimising efficiency, OEMs should continually enhance their equipment technology and introduce new models. 

For example, there is an ongoing requirement to improve efficiency in plastic injection moulding. I have observed that they are now transitioning towards Industry 4.0 and embracing the digital sphere. Consequently, customers can access a comprehensive, interconnected view, make more informed decisions, and meet conventional production demands through equipment. So, that’s where OEMs, in my opinion, play a pivotal role in improving overall equipment productivity and efficiency, benefiting the entire industry sector.

How do collaborations with OEMs and AI technology integration contribute to equipment modernisation and efficiency, meeting productivity goals?

Modernising machinery and equipment is essential to increasing worldwide competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. This is where the latest Industry 4.0 and IIoT technology comes into play. A key focus here is in collaborating more with the partner ecosystem. For example, we work very closely with OEMs and equipment builders (EBs). This has been one of the strengths that Mobil™ has been working with – we have a specific department on EBs and OEMs, and we have jointly developed lubricants for the last 120-plus years. So, collaboration and development also help to address the needs of a customer industry together. While OEMs are enhancing the technology for the equipment, they also need technologically advanced solutions – for instance, lubrication solutions. Our joint efforts are crucial and together, we create products that meet their needs in achieving productivity and efficiency goals.

Highlighting the significance of machine maintenance as a strategy for attaining profitability and energy efficiency, how can equipment owners seamlessly incorporate this approach into their day-to-day operations?

Lubricants play a crucial role in reducing machine downtime and enhancing efficiency. Thus, it all begins with proper selection of a suitable lubricant. Here, we collaborate with EBs and OEMs to determine specific requirements for the application. Our engineers closely collaborate with EBs, drawing upon their application expertise, in choosing the appropriate lubricant. The selection is important as technologically advanced lubricants can significantly reduce machine downtime. The proper usage of lubricants may deliver adequate lubrication, address elevated temperature performance and meet heightened productivity demands. For this reason, we emphasise the importance of the SIR (Selection, Implementation, and Right Timing) approach which highlights that selecting the right oil and lubricants at the right time is crucial for customer satisfaction.

India continues to lead in global lubricant consumption, and we are the third-largest lubricants market, which is expected to grow steadily. This growth is attributed to India’s increasing demand, aligned with the overall expansion of our GDP and economic prosperity. The need for greater lubricant efficiency becomes increasingly vital from the equipment side and lubricant demand is poised to continue upward over the next two decades.

Could you share examples of how proper lubrication and maintenance practices have led to tangible improvements in efficiency and profitability for equipment operators?

We collaborate with multiple OEMs across various sectors. For example, within the manufacturing sector, we partner with leading EBs in the plastic injection moulding field and machine shop OEMs in CNCS and VMCs. Together, we develop tailored product solutions for these specific applications.

One notable example is the Mobil Vactra™ Oil Number Two, designed explicitly for slide-way lubrication in CNC machines. Slideways represent a highly specialised application prone to stick-slip issues and this necessitates the use of specialised lubricant solutions. Through collaborative efforts with EBs, we have developed Mobil Vactra Oil Number Two, a solution that extends the lubricant’s lifespan, reduces stick-slip occurrences, minimises part rejects, and broadens its applicability range.

Spokesperson – Shantanu Sharma, General Manager – Brand Marketing South AP, ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt. Ltd.