As the world grows so, too, does its energy requirements. Shell is committed to meeting those requirements while keeping the needs of the economy, the environment and the people top of mind.

An essential industry that Shell is proud to support is mining. Today mines are deeper and more geographically remote than before, these make access more challenging and costly which contributes to the growing complexity of the mining industry. Because of this there is great pressure to increase productivity and Shell has a unique perspective on that.

We propose shifting the focus to lubricants and viewing these essential products not just as maintenance costs but as a potential opportunity for growth. Because the global lubricant demand reached an historic high in 2020 – 37 million metric tons – Shell knows that it is more important now than ever before to mobilise our experts to work to formulate, test and shape the future of lubrication to help businesses perform in a changing landscape.

As experts in lubricants – which makes up 5% of total maintenance expenditure in the industry - Shell understands that the correct management of these fluids has the potential to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and support wider environmental factors. A smart lubrication strategy means improved machine maintenance which means increased productivity of those machines and which keeps workers safer and extends the life of the equipment. So, investing in quality lubricants has a domino effect in improving productivity, reducing the maintenance cost and taking care of the people who operate the equipment.

Services such as Shell LubeAnalyst - which provide detailed analysis of equipment from oil testing - act as early warning systems that can identify machinery issues before they lead to breakdown. Digital assistance is also at hand from technology such as Shell’s AI-driven LubeChat, which can help mining companies make faster and more informed decisions on lubricant choice and application.

Shell works closely with the maintenance teams of many mining companies and as such has gained valuable insights into how to help them achieve their productivity goals.

Our LubeExperts understand the intricacies of each individual piece of mining equipment, as well as how the equipment interacts with lubricants. This allows them to help mining companies meet the goal of maximising energy efficiency and productivity.

With over 40 years of experience and having worked closely with the maintenance teams of many mining companies, we have an understanding of biggest challenges these companies face. Together are breaking new ground in productivity, providing holistic and tailor-made solutions to keep driving the mining sector forward. 

Our Specific services and tools used to help mining companies meet the goal of maximising energy efficiency and productivity include:

• Inspecting equipment using strobe-o-scope, thermal imaging, and vibration analysis
• Auditing lubrication systems and injectors
• Fitting injector spectrum sleeves
• Optimising greases for fixed and mobile equipment

Our specially formulated lubricants contribute to energy efficiency and include the following ranges:

Shell Corena - Compressor Oils

This range of air compressor oils has been developed to let you select the oil that will help deliver optimum value to your operation through enhanced wear protection, long oil life and high system efficiency.

Shell Spirax - Axle and Transmission Oils

Designed to help keep your transmission components protected so that they can go on working efficiently. For example, Shell Spirax S6 AXME and Shell Spirax S6 GXME have special frictional properties and high fluidity that reduce power loss, lower the operating temperature, and offer higher mechanical efficiency.

Their benefits have been demonstrated through extensive laboratory tests and over 20 million kilometers of field trials.

Shell Omala - Gear Oils

The longer an oil’s life, the less fluid maintenance your equipment requires, so it can continue to operate without interruption.

Customers using Shell’s standard products, such as Shell Omala S2 G, are extending oil-drain intervals by up to 200% for some applications.  Customers are trading up to synthetic oils, such as Shell Omala S4 GX, for even longer oil life and other benefits.

Shell Gadus - Family of Greases

Improve system efficiency, extend equipment service life, and drive your productivity with the Shell Gadus range of greases.  Key Applications for this product are open gear, wind turbines, transport, electric vehicles, robotics, and automation.

The Shell Gadus range includes Shell’s synthetic greases designed to help protect bearings under extreme temperatures, heavy loads, and contaminated conditions. The longer your grease lasts, the longer your components last and the less lubrication maintenance your equipment needs. Shell Gadus greases are designed to help your equipment continue operating without interruption. Shell Gadus greases can help to maintain or even heighten the efficiency of your systems, even under harsh working conditions.