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Case Studies

Global Tool Manufacturer Doubles Tool Life and Reduces Straight Oil Usage by 50% with TRIM^® OV 2200

An industry leading manufacturer of professional hand and power tools globally turns tool steel components for a wide range of customers including aerospace, construction, and vehicle assembly and repair. With operations in over 30 countries, this company boasts a portfolio of many well-known powerhouse brands in the manufacturing industry.

THE CHALLENGE

In their numerous plants located around the world, the company manufactures tool steel components for professional hand, power, and electronic tools. In this high production environment, keeping the machine uptime and spindle utilization maximized is critical. However, the straight oil used in their plants was just not adequate, leaving residue on both parts and machines, causing a high amount of downtime. Additionally, as a petroleum based straight oil, it had to be handled with protective clothing and the oil had very high carryoff. Searching for cost reduction and productivity improvements, the customer realized that the straight oil they were using was costing them valuable time and resources. A motivated manager in the company became the driving force behind the search for a better cutting oil.

THE SOLUTION

The company decided to trial TRIM^® OV 2200, an environmentally friendly, bio-based straight oil which is free of V.O.C., chlorine, and animal fats. Not only is OV 2200’s versatile formulation developed to machine difficult alloys and stainless steels, it also protects sensitive aluminum and copper alloys while improving the shop environment by reducing unpleasant odors and residues, making it a great option to improve operations. This was exactly what the customer was looking for in order to improve many aspects of their machining process. TRIM OV2200 is also part of the USDA BioPreferred program further contributing to sustainability efforts.

THE RESULTS

After initially deciding on a three month trial of TRIM OV 2200, the company was already convinced after only three weeks when they started seeing the obvious benefits of the switch - an incredible 100% increase in tool life and a 50% reduction in straight oil usage with far less oil carryoff. In addition, the customer stated that OV 2200 had a very pleasant smell compared to the previous product and the fact that the product could be handled with less PPE was an added bonus.

TRIM OV 2200’s incredible versatility and ability to greatly enhance productivity led to the improvements the company was looking for in every aspect of the manufacturing process. TRIM OV 2200 led to a significant overall reduction in tool usage, disposal costs, manpower, and maintenance and an increase in part quality. Using OV 2200 in eight of their machines, the company made considerable annual savings of over $24,000 a year.

THE NUMBERS

A 50% reduction in straight oil usage
An increase in tool life of 100%
Annual savings of over $24,000 a year
A significant reduction in machine downtime