INDUSTRY NEWS

If you frequently operate metalworking equipment, you are likely no stranger to contact dermatitis. Dermatitis, or eczema, typically presents itself as an uncomfortable, red, itchy rash. It is caused by many types of chemicals, including oils, solvents, greases, and cleaners. Dermatitis can even be caused by certain soaps, particularly if they are too abrasive and remove natural oils in the skin that serve as protection. It is important for equipment operators to be properly trained on material handling and PPE to prevent this condition.

No matter what your machining process may be, you’re likely using a variety of metalworking fluids to increase tool life and preserve your machined parts. But when is the last time you reviewed your fluid selection? Using the ideal cutting fluid for your application can drastically extend your machines’ operation. In combination with the proper cleaners and rust preventives, the parts you produce will remain preserved for as long as needed. Quaker Houghton offers the full package of metalworking fluids and can help you make the right choice based on your needs.

As temperatures and relative humidity increase throughout the country, corrosion increases right alongside them. While rust often doesn’t make an appearance until the warmer months, it is important to be aware of these issues all year round. Once the corrosion process starts, it doesn’t truly stop, so the best way to tackle rust is to prevent it in the first place!

Rust vs. Corrosion

Corrosion is the process by which materials deteriorate as a result of oxidation. Corrosion typically involves exposure to air or chemicals and appears in various colors.

Rust is a type of corrosion that specifically applies to the oxidation of iron in the presence of air and moisture. It has an orange-brown color.

Is your shop in need of a new hydraulic fluid? Have you decided that it’s time to upgrade to something with fire resistance and better performance than your traditional oil? If so, Quaker Houghton’s QUINTOLUBRIC® 888 series may be the right fit for you.

There is no question that 2022 has brought unprecedented challenges to the supply chain worldwide. Plant shutdowns across the chemical industry and shipping container shortages are just a few of the reasons why metalworking fluid lead times have drastically increased in recent months. While some users of coolants, rust preventives, and hydraulic fluids have been detrimentally impacted, others are finding innovative ways to source the fluids necessary to run their business. How can you strategically navigate the market and stay on top of your company’s needs?

Here are 3 things you can do to minimize your risk and ensure you have the necessary products in stock to maintain your operation and avoid a slowdown or shutdown:

1. Select the best product for your application

When it comes to selecting a metalworking fluid, there is not usually a right or wrong answer. Many versatile options exist in the market that can be applied to a variety

Running a high-performing, profitable shop requires excellence in many areas.  Focusing on just two—customer retention and shop performance—will make the most significant impact on your business. 

When it comes to customer retention, two words come to mind — quality and consistency. That’s because there’s no room for error when your customers are trying to shave milliseconds off their racing time. When your customers know that buying from you means one less thing to worry about because your product performs every time, they won’t go anywhere else. 

As far as optimizing your shop performance, the best products and processes win every time. Consistently creating excellent products requires a shop that runs like clockwork due to efficient processes. Streamlining and leaving little room for guessing and errors boosts productivity and, by extension,

The last time you bought work boots, a couple of “do not eat” packets probably fell out of the box, and you didn’t give them a second thought.

The packets—desiccant—absorb unseen moisture that could damage your boots as they travel from the manufacturer to your favorite store. 

So what do these packets that come in almost every package you receive have to do with your shop? As it turns out, quite a bit. And, it’s not just because you wear your work boots to work every day. 

In the summer, heat, and humidity—the amount of water in

Thermostats are wonderful devices. Set the times and temperatures, and you’re done. You can forget all about your heating or cooling until the season changes. 

The water quality in your shop doesn’t work that way. You could “set it and forget it,” but that will lead to a whole host of costly problems. And headaches.

Maintaining water quality takes time. When you’re running a shop, deadlines and quotas aren’t, “Whenever you get to it.” They’re tight and aggressive. That means working at full capacity – all of the time. 

If

Are you trying to avoid rust? Water quality can help or hinder your prevention efforts. There’s something in the water, no doubt about it...and whether or not you have rust may depend on the quality of your water. 

In the fall and winter, ignoring metalworking fluid maintenance may lead to some huge unwanted consequences. And the time it takes to fix them? That keeps you from meeting deadlines and production targets, resulting in big costs to you.

If you’ve ignored fluid maintenance, as summer high temperatures and elevated humidity hit, it’s not a matter of if rust will bite you, but when. 

Water leaves; chloride doesn’t 

When water evaporates, chloride stays behind. And as it builds up, you’ll start to develop higher chloride concentrations. This means that if your