In an age where no potential economy can be overlooked,
lubricants and lube-related products are increasingly seen as
another key path to reliability. (Click here for a list of this
month's Technology Showcase sponsors.) The days of randomly
applying oil, grease and fluids to machinery are giving way to a
better understanding among maintenance and operations personnel
of what lubricants really do—including the role they play in
production efficiency. The lubrication category includes four
main sectors: oils and greases for equipment operation;
penetrants, coolants and other fluids; analysis services; and
filtration products*. Significant category developments include
growth in the use of synthetic lubricants (made of compounds
created from non-mineral sources) and its sub-sector of
biodegradables (often formulated with natural oils such as
vegetable and canola) that break down when released into the
environment. More expensive than petroleum-based lubricants,
synthetics typically have better low- and high-tem