In the quarrying industry, the success of a quarrying operation depends on the performance of equipment in the field. To optimise productivity and keep operational costs down, quarries need to operate like a well-oiled machine with all equipment running at peak performance.
However, due to the nature of a quarrying site and the arduous operating environment, quarrying equipment is subject to a lot of wear and tear from the effects of harsh chemicals, rust and corrosion, and the ingress of moisture and contaminants.
As a result, quarry maintenance departments face a tremendous amount of pressure to keep equipment well-maintained to curb the costs of incidental breakdowns and premature equipment failures, according to Steve Keown, National Product Manager for Lubricant and Chemicals at Motion Australia.
“Equipment maintenance and repairs significantly impact an operation’s bottom line. A large majority of quarrying equipment is custom made to fit out a site’s specific requirements, so it is an expensive investment,” says Steve.
“In addition to this, any downtime that is experienced on equipment incurs costs to productivity, time, and labour,” says Steve. “Therefore, when equipment and componentry experience an incidental failure– the repair process is critical to controlling operational costs.”
For the team at Motion Australia, helping quarries protect valuable equipment and assets means determining maintenance solutions that can reduce downtime and labour costs. While at the same time, aiming to improve the performance and longevity of equipment and componentry in field.
“There is always a risk during the repair process that a component could be damaged or require a replacement, particularly during disassembly,” explains Steve. “In the instance that the component manufacturer is overseas, and a part or component needs to be imported, that increases downtime and costs on an operation.”
For a practical solution that addresses some of the quarrying industry’s most critical pain points, Steve recommends the CRC 5.56 Multipurpose Lubricant.
“The CRC 5.56 is a timeless solution that we have supplied to many of our biggest customers in the heavy industrial market over the years,” says Steve. “On quarrying applications it’s ideal for lubricating and protecting fasteners, shackles, pins, bushes and hinges¬ in hard-to-reach locations.”
“It is one of Motion Australia’s bestselling products to the Australian quarrying segment– and well recognised across generations of maintenance workers as an essential ‘toolkit in a can’ on site for its ability to eliminate the need for destructive disassembly on expensive equipment,” furthers Steve.
“The CRC 5.56 facilitates the quick removal of components and releases rusted parts which saves time and labour on repairs.”
According to Melanie Mangos, Head of Industrial Sales at CRC Industries Australia, Australian heavy industry consumes a significant volume of CRC 5.56 every year because the effectiveness of the formula has the ability to save operations thousands of dollars in repairs and downtime– reduced to the cost of a single can of 5.56.
“The CRC 5.56 embodies many of the values and principles that CRC was founded on,” says Melanie. “As a global leader in developing premium quality aerosol lubricants and anti-corrosion formulas, we have built on a foundation of more than 60 years globally of experience supplying premium maintenance products to the heavy industrial market.”
Ideal for mining and quarrying equipment due to its ability to provide a barrier to strenuous environmental conditions, the CRC 5.56 formula can be used safely on metal, alloy, rubber, plastic and painted equipment. Additionally, the actuator on the nozzle allows for easy access to hard-to-reach componentry.
“The product is versatile and unparalleled when it comes to breaking through any rust or corrosion and clearing away scale and dirt. CRC call the product ‘A toolkit in a can,’” explains Melanie. “The formula is fast acting and penetrates rust and corrosion to release parts and components. While at the same time, adding a protective layer of self-healing film that prevents ingress of moisture and contamination.”
“The 5.56 is part of the reason CRC has become a household name and you would be hard pressed not to find one in every MRO workshop in the country,” concludes Melanie. “It’s not uncommon to find a can of 5.56 in a tradie’s truck, toolbox, or workbench, and for older generations to pass this product down to the next generation as a staple.”
Why Maddie the Miner loves CRC 5.56
• Saves time and labour on repairs
• Lubricates and penetrates rust and corrosion
• Facilitates quick removal of components
• Assists in non-destructive disassembly of expensive assemblies
• Actuator ‘straw’ nozzle for hard-to-reach locations
• Fast acting formula
• Provides an environmental barrier for fasteners, shackles, pins, bushes, and hinges
• Protection from moisture with a protective film
• Self-healing properties
