Preventative maintenance reduces gasket failure in equipment

Heat and dust can have a detrimental effect on equipment, particularly in gruelling manufacturing environments like paper mills. Machines in these environments endure high levels of mechanical wear and tear, while ever-increasing production speeds put added pressure on them. Maintenance solutions are essential to ensure the highest efficiency and lowest mileage. 

Companies that adhere to a preventive maintenance schedule and regular (weekly and monthly) equipment inspections will be able to detect leaks and vibration issues, and ensure the correct operating pressure is maintained.

In a recent article, Henkel MRO application engineer Adam Lyman highlighted how Henkel products can help reduce gasket failure — a common issue in paper mill equipment that results in costly oil leaks, which cause equipment malfunction, product contamination and worker safety issues.

Lyman offers the dryer section gear casing as an example. The casing, he says, is subject to continuous rocking and vibration that loosens assembly bolts, and adds stress to the gasket leading to the compression set. However, Henkel’s Loctite anaerobic products can help.

“With Loctite anaerobic products incorporated into a preventive maintenance regimen, the risk of oil leak and equipment failure can be drastically reduced, saving time and money,” Lyman says.

Loctite 243 Threadlocker applied to dryer casing assembly bolts prevents the loosening of fasteners due to vibration and stress. It is an oil-tolerant, removable, medium strength, blue threadlocker designed for the locking and sealing of threaded fasteners between 1/4 and ¾ inches (six to 20 mm). Meanwhile, Loctite 518 Flange Sealant replaces traditional gasket materials with a form-filling, solvent-resistant seal that will not shrink or crack, even in harsh, high-temperature conditions. Recommended for use on rigid iron, steel and aluminum flanges, Loctite 518 seals to 300 degrees F and fills gaps to 0.05 inches with primer. 

Loctite has answers for many of the most common and costly paper mill equipment issues — from machinery adhesives that prevent corrosion and seizure, to thread sealants that stop expensive oil leaks, to wear-resistant coatings that offer long-term protection against mechanical and chemical attack.

For more information, contact Henkel. 

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