Castrol’s SmartControl system is the new way to monitor and manage metalworking fluid (MWF), automatically and in real time. It liberates operations and maintenance from the dirty, dangerous and repetitive tasks too long associated with MWF, freeing them up to commit to other, more valuable activities. To make this happen, Castrol’s liquid engineers have joined forces with Tiefenbach, the German control systems expert. SmartControl monitors and measures the state of coolants in real time, and works in conjunction with Castrol fluids to optimize system stability, maximize efficiencies, and deliver the confidence that comes from complete control.
Lubrication is complex, and choosing the right lubricant for particular applications is becoming ever more complex as new formulations are developed. Getting the best performance out of today’s advanced MWFs requires monitoring and adjustment, but doing such tasks manually is far from ideal. The old-fashioned methods of manual measurement—dipping, sampling, sending off for analysis, and then waiting for the results that will inform key decisions— are time-consuming, and make things harder than they need to be for modern manufacturers. Pressure to improve productivity and reliability, to meet evolving safety and environmental regulations, all while keeping costs under control, add up to one truth: the old ways are simply no longer viable.
It is time for a step forward. It is time for the restrictions and inefficiencies of the past to be discarded, and it is time to embrace approaches and solutions that have been designed with modern manufacturing in mind.
SmartControl integrates Castrol’s advanced industrial fluid engineering expertise with Tiefenbach’s IT and systems resources to improve fluid performance, eliminate unscheduled downtime, boost workplace safety, and cut waste.
It has been crafted to be flexible and adaptable, giving manufacturers a level of control that has previously not been available. SmartControl frees operators from routine and monotonous tasks. It measures all the key parameters automatically, including:
It is integrated into existing IT management systems by an SQL interface, and generates alarm notifications as soon as discrepancies are detected. The SmartControl system self-calibrates and self-cleans to ensure ongoing measurement accuracy.
This new method of monitoring metalworking fluids is intended for a range of engineering and manufacturing machining applications, including automotive and aerospace, and can be utilized by suppliers and OEMs.
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