Lubricating Trends
Sep 1st
I found an interesting article on the Trends in Lubrication, by Jim Fitch, in the online publication of Machinery Lubrication.
After mentioning the ‘punishing competition’ and ‘unforgiving economic conditions’, Jim goes on to list the trends in lubrication which he found to have staying power;
- they are value-based (reduce costs and/or increase productivity);
- they are new problem-solvers (overcome previously unresolved problems);
- they are better problem-solvers (provide measurable improvements over prior methods)
He also lists a few important things to remember when selecting a lubricant:
Correct viscosity: More precise selection of viscosity is getting renewed attention. Viscosity affects a number of important factors, including energy consumption, wear and tolerance to contamination. This relates to not only the ISO viscosity grade, but also to the viscosity index. Getting in the general ballpark on viscosity seems to be no longer acceptable, and for good reason. **Commonwealth Oil offers an array of viscosities in all lubrication products, be sure to choose the right viscosity for your needs.
Not selecting lubricants solely on film strength: Today’s lubricants need a range of performance qualities, so choosing a lubricant that delivers the complete package is the greater priority. This includes (depending on lubricant type) such features as dispersancy, foam suppression, moisture-handling ability, corrosion protection, oxidative stability, viscosity index and, of course, good lubricity. **Not only are Commonwealth Oil lubricants one of the best at dispersing waste, they are one of the lowest foaming lubricants on the market, with unmatched rust and corrosion inhibitors.
Judicious use of premium and synthetic lubricants: The rage to switch to premium and synthetic lubricants as a silver bullet for every problem is winding down. We are now more aware of the true strength of these lubricants and their appropriate application. They can indeed solve a plethora of problems, but not all problems. Precision lubrication means correctly matching these lubricants to the applications to which they are best applied. **Our knowledgeable sales team, distributors, and Research and Development lab will help you choose the right products for your needs, and are always available.
Energy-conserving and environmentally friendly lubricants: In the past 10 years, huge strides have been made in this area, but even then, it seems we’ve barely scratched the surface. Brace yourself as the pace of change in this area greatly picks up steam. **(Check out Commonwealth Oil’s line of BioComm products, they are biodegradable and environmentally safe!)
Dumping economy formulations: Buying lubricants from the lowest bidder is rarely a recipe for achieving machine reliability at the lowest possible cost. It’s time to stop pretending to save money by buying cheap, commodity-grade lubricants to save a quick buck at the expense of tomorrow’s need for reliability. Through greater awareness and education, large user organizations are finally getting the message. **Commonwealth Oil offers competitive pricing, and our Customer Service Team can find you the best freight rate available to help you save money where you can.
Commonwealth Oil also offers Exact Specialty Products, which are Food Grade Registered (NSF and CFIA), including a large range of lubricants. If your job requires accidental food protection, don’t take the chance, discover the Exact Advantage (www.exactspecialty.com).
To Recap…
Aug 27th
Commonwealth Oil has been experiencing incredible growth in the past few months. Our distributor list continues to expand and reach all over the world, with the two newest being located in Peru and India. In order to better serve you, we have expanded numerous departments and have some new people to introduce you to.
You can look forward to meeting Kristin Knechtel who has been added to the Customer Service Department. She will be taking over all the distributor accounts which begin with the letter ‘O’ to ‘Z’, with Fran Iacono maintaining those accounts from ‘A’ to ‘N’.
We have also expanded our Research and Development Lab with new Quality Control Technician’s Kevin Bryon
(right) and Brian Lowe (left). Both talented individuals are very passionate about chemistry and will be pleased to answer any of your questions regarding any Commonwealth Oil, Exact Specialty or BioComm products!
And, allow me to introduce myself, I am Commonwealth Oil’s new Marketing Co-ordinator, Jackie Macera. You can look forward to hearing from me often, both on the Cutting Edge Blog and in the e-mail publication. If you are not already signed up for the Cutting Edge via e-mail, please feel free to send me your contact information (jmacera@commonwealthoil.com). I also welcome articles or ideas you have for the Cutting Edge and look forward to interacting with all of you.
Aside from new employees, we also have some new Canadian distributors to introduce: Quality Tooling Inc., Runnalls Industrial Inc., and RDM Industrial Ltd.
Located in Woodstock, Ontario, Quality Tooling Inc. specializes in the distribution of Cutting Tools and prides itself on product support. With Commonwealth Oil’s research lab, and Quality Tooling’s knowledgeable staff, we are a winning combination in the Southern Ontario area.
Runnalls Industries Inc is a leading supplier of pipe, valve fittings, hydraulics and related tools. They’re devotion to their customers is one of the reasons Commonwealth Oil is so pleased with this partnership, as their values parallel to our own. Runnalls is located in Brampton, Ontario, visit www.runnalls.com for their full details.
RDM is another exciting new distributor because they are our only distributor located in Newfoundland, Canada! Not only is Commonwealth Oil expanding on Canadian territory, but we have also expanded Internationally. Chemlube India and Synthec Solutions, in Peru, are now a part of Commonwealth Oil’s great list of distributors.
Commonwealth Oil has been very fortunate and we cannot thank you enough for your continued support.
Custom Search
May 3rd
A new feature that has been added to the redone Commonwealth Oil website is a search function driven by the leader in search, Google. This search function has refined to help you find the information you need as quickly as possible and spans across www.ExactSpecialty.com, www.BioComm.info and the blog.
We hope you enjoy the new search function!
Google Maps and Commonwealth Oil
Apr 29th
The Transition to Green
Apr 27th
With the ever increasing pressure to reduce energy usage and become socially and environmentally conscious we want to be a part of the solution!
Since 2000 when Commonwealth Oill built our new plant we had the land surveyed for environmental cleanliness and received a clean assessment. With the construction of the new plant we ensured that there were no drains in the production plant that lead to the outside. Since then we have also applied the usage of energy efficient lighting, schedule theromostats and much more.
Along with the NSF approval of our top selling EDM fluids we will also be creating a list to help end users and distributors findn products that are both safe and environmentallyl friendly. Over time the list will also expand and incorporate new products and reformulated products. We are hoping to increase environmental awareness and be part of the solution for tomorrow!
Here are some quick tips so you can become green too:
- use compact fluorescent lightbulbs. This helps save money and energy!
- Use your thermostat wisely. Adjust your settings so they only operate when you are home!
- Check your water heater. Try keeping your water temperature below 120°F.
Lo-Amp: Energy Reducing Gear Oils
Apr 23rd
By Fred Herdman
Commonwealth Oil Corp. has just completed the midway point of developing a new and revolutionary type of gear lubricants. It is our goal to develop and significantly prove to end-users that by changing over to this new family of Lo-Amp industrial gear oils they can actually save measurable levels of electrical energy.
Because this new technology originated in our laboratory it is unavailable to any of our competitors. We manufacture the component that gives us this super lubricity.
Some of the things you will notice when you receive this gear oil for the first time is its lighter colour. Much of this is because we are using food grade quality base oils as the primary building blocks. You will also observe this gear oil does not smell like conventional gear oils. Typically when you open a barrel of gear oil you will immediately notice that pungent odour of the sulphur phosphorous additive that gives it that characteristic odour. That smell is completely gone. The second thing you will also notice is this gear oil is almost colourless.
Typically when you open a barrel of gear oil you will immediately notice that pungent odour of the sulphur phosphorous additive that gives it that characteristic odour. That smell is completely gone. The second thing you will also notice is this gear oil is almost colourless. In spite of the change in odour and colour this new lubricant meets all of the latest requirements and standards for an AGMA/American Gear Manufacturers Association Type Gear Oil that is required for enclosed stationary gear boxes.
We are so confident in this new technology that we put it into our largest Lightnin’ Gear Box that mixes our synthetic coolants. Within seven working days while mixing the exact same volume and product we are able to verify while using the same viscosity gear oil that the temperature in the gear box dropped 14ºF/7.77ºC at six different points on the outside of the gear box. This is a remarkable achievement. The temperature drop is directly related to a significant reduction in friction at the interface between the teeth in the gear box.
Another issue we have been able to resolve is that this new family of gear oils has much greater oxidation stability than any gear oils using both Group I and Group II base oils than we have ever seen before. This gear oil is able to run a complete falex test without failure and the vee block and pin is much cleaner that anything we have ever seen before.
At this point we are now getting ready to go into a pre-determined beta test sight. As soon as these results are completed we will be sure to let everyone know about both the results and the marketing program we have for this new family of gear oil products.
Don’t Stop the Flow
Apr 22nd
A daily question that we seem to face is the need to switch products from one of our competitors to an equivalent (or better) product of ours. Being that this is no new feat, Commonwealth Oil has built a database spanning decades of information to help us prescribe the best possible product to make the transition as smooth as possible.
In an attempt to place this information at your finger tips we have developed online interactive controls to help you find a quick cross over. Currently the cross over is only available for users in the Food Grade world of Exact, but with the launch of the new Commonwealth Oil website the cross overs and more will be available for our industrial solutions. The new website is due to be launched any day now!
Check here to try out the Food Grade cross reference tool.
Welcome Strategic Sourcing Inc.
Apr 21st
Commonwealth Oil would like to welcome Strategic Sourcing Inc. to the Cutting Edge Blog. Strategic Sourcing is located in Winsloe, Prince Edward Island and is run by Lou MacDonald. You can view more information about Strategic Sourcing here: LINK
Welcome Can Star Industrial
Apr 19th
By Dave Foster
Can Star Industrial has been in business since 1999 primarily servicing the oil & gas industry in Edmonton, Alberta. Can Star is owned and operated by Mark Edwards who cut his teeth working for other industrial distributors in the area selling cutting tools and equipment. Mark has taken Can Star in the direction of being a specialized industrial distributor, carefully adding quality lines of tooling, machine tools and coolant that has helped grow his business steadily over the years. Commonwealth Oil would like to thank Can Star and Mark Edwards for his loyalty to our brand and look forward to growing the relationship further.
CommQuest MPG
Apr 19th
By Fred Herdman
There is a general and rightly held feeling throughout North America that every one is on a daily quest to drive down their cost. The directives we are all under is that if you do not reduce your cost then they will get someone in here immediately who is prepared to do so. This approach is not going to go away anytime soon.
We may have part of the answer for you with our newest product called CommQuest MPG.
CommQuest MPG is a full synthetic machining coolant that is probably the absolute lowest cost metalworking fluid in North America today. It does not stain copper, brass, bronze or galvanized metals, however it is not designed to work with aluminum. It is low misting, low foaming, not dyed and best of all it has an incredibly aggressive pricing structure. All of this while still maintaining your profit structure. CommQuest MPG is available by drum, tote or tanker.



