1. Home
  2. Learn
  3. Industrial resources
  4. Case studies
  5. Castrol Molub-Alloy prevents stoppage of the blast furnace

Averted unplanned stoppage of the blast furnace, saving $1,000,000 per day

With use of Castrol's Molub-Alloy GM 969/320 leak-resistant gear compound, the customer saved $1,000,000 per day in unplanned stoppage of a blast furnace.

  • Molub-Alloy GM 969/320 
  • Leak-resistant Gear Compound
  • Blast Furnace-Coke Conveyor
  • Fire-related risks were averted

 

The challenge

There was a persistent and increasing oil leak from a coke conveyor gearbox, risking it to run dry, which would have eventually resulted in gearbox failure. 

  • Failure of the gearbox would stop iron production for 7 to 14 days until a new gearbox was sourced.
  • Operators had to be extremely vigilant in topping up the small sump of a gearbox, which was in a dusty and hot position.

 

The solution

  • The gearbox design was suitable for a leak retardant gear oil.
  • Hence, we recommended using Molub-Alloy GM 969/320 Leak Resistant Gear Compound. 


The business benefits

Since the implementation of this product, the excessive leakage from the conveyor gearbox was eliminated, averting the need for an unplanned stoppage of the Blast Furnace at the cost of $1,000,000 per day.

  •  The potential fire-related risk was eliminated.
  •  Oil top-up was eliminated.

 

Castrol Molub-Alloy GM 969/320 advantages

  • Gear oil leakage is a common problem when there is heavy vibration. 
  • Molub-Alloy GM 969/320 is enriched with a synthetic thickener, forming a mat-like matrix at the leakage points to minimise oil flow. 
  • It is immensely effective where immediate access is a challenge.