• Can I switch over in phases without taking the ship out of service?

    Yes. The SKF modules build on each other. You can start by consolidating lubrication points via distributor blocks or with single-point lubricators on the hardest-to-reach points, later add a pump and controller, and grow into a connected system later still. Euroquip typically suggests starting with the equipment with the highest downtime or safety impact, and

  • What does automatic wire rope lubrication actually deliver?

    By hand, a crew member lubricates an average of half a metre of steel cable per minute; an automatic cable lubricator covers over thirty metres in that same minute. What’s more, the grease penetrates deeper into the cable than with manual application, reducing corrosion and wear — and it saves time that someone would otherwise

  • Are there versions for explosion-hazard zones?

    Yes. SKF offers explosion-protected solutions as part of the portfolio, including the ZPU pump in an ATEX version. Class-approved and ATEX- or IECEx-certified products are available on request for all applications. Euroquip aligns the exact certification requirement per zone with you.

  • Can the system lubricate while the equipment is running?

    Yes, and that’s exactly the point. A bearing needs lubrication while it’s moving. Automatic systems deliver the exact amount at that moment, without anyone having to climb the crane mast or lean over the rail. Besides a reliability argument, that’s above all a safety argument.

  • Does a lubrication system work in salt spray without corroding itself?

    Yes, provided it’s built correctly. Components permanently exposed to salt spray are made of stainless steel or housed in a stainless steel enclosure; SKF supplies the spray lubrication system for rack gears in stainless steel as standard. We place pump and controller indoors wherever possible, with piping running out to the exterior points.

  • How many lubrication points does an average ship have?

    SKF assumes more than a hundred lubrication points on an average sea-going vessel, well outside the engine room. For ship unloaders and loading arms on the quay side, SKF counts more than a hundred points per unit. Per piece of equipment, our indicative ranges run from 10 to 40 points for a steering gear up

  • Which grease may I use on points where lubricant could end up in the water?

    For that you use an Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant, such as SKF LGGB 2. An EAL meets minimum requirements for biodegradability, toxicity, and bioaccumulation under the criteria of the US EPA’s Vessel General Permit, making the risk to aquatic life significantly lower than with a conventional grease. Biodegradable, incidentally, doesn’t mean discharge is permitted — it