Company: Lafarge North America

Industry: Cement & Aggregates

Services: Design & Installation, Maintenance

Products: Lubricators, Custom Systems, Watchman Lubrication Systems, Pumps

The Problem

Sloan Brothers first met the folks at Davenport Cement (now Lafarge North America) in April 1988. They had bought lubrication systems from the OEM and had a pump that failed...the first of many.

The Solution

We replaced the first pump. In May, another pump failed. We replaced it, too. Because of continued difficulties, they eventually had us repair their old Model 25 mechanical lubricators rather than buy any more new systems.

In 1996, two more old lubricators were sent back for repair, and we convinced the company to try its first Watchman Lubrication System to stop the continuous need for repairs. Two custom systems were designed and installed on C-225 Duplex compressors. In 1997, another C-225, two C-300s, a C-350 and a duplex C-150 went in – all custom Watchman Lubrication Systems.

The Result

All seven lubrication systems that Sloan Brothers installed are still running flawlessly, ensuring that the Lafarge compressors receive continuously accurate and dependable lubrication that protects them against failure.

Our success with those systems prompted the company to contact us in 2006 to help with another lubrication problem – the trunnion bearings on a rotary kiln. While this is a system type that we don't typically focus on, we accepted the challenge and designed a custom circulating oil lubrication system that took the oil from the bearing sump, filtered it, and heated or cooled it as required. Another success – and we're ready for our next challenge from Lafarge North America.