Preventing dirt and moisture infiltration into mining hydraulic systems is more cost-effective than the expenses associated with cleaning and repairing contaminated hydraulic components, reported Donaldson Filtration hydraulic product manager Bernadette van Wyk.

Speaking during a June 12 webinar titled ‘Optimise Hydraulic Performance for Demanding Mining Conditions’, hosted by Creamer Media Webinars, for unique filtration technology provider Donaldson Filtration, she said inadequate filtration is a common contributor to continuous system degradation.

Using inefficient filters, such as subpar spin-on or cartridge types, allows damaging particles to circulate freely within hydraulic systems. These particles can wear down seals, valves, cylinders and other critical components, compromising system integrity and performance, explained Van Wyk.

A critical aspect of maintaining fluid system health is ensuring good incoming cleanliness, she said, adding that this relates to the initial purity of the hydraulic fluid at the point of dispense into the machine or storage tank.

Achieving and maintaining high fluid cleanliness levels is essential for prolonging equipment life and ensuring optimal operation.

Proper filtration and contamination control from the outset helps safeguard hydraulic systems against the “relentless” challenge of contamination in demanding environments such as mining, stated Van Wyk.

Modern hydraulic systems are characterised by high-pressure fluid pathways, which have driven the industry towards tighter system tolerances.

Modern and advanced hydraulically-powered machines often operate in challenging environments, such as the mining sector, where they are exposed to some of the harshest conditions. Taking this into account, she said that throughout a typical workday, equipment is subjected to heavy dust and dirt ingress potential, posing significant maintenance challenges.

“Moisture presents another formidable adversary,” she stressed. The presence of moisture can be highly detrimental, resulting in costly breakdowns and reduced system reliability.

In the mining environment, where equipment availability is crucial to maintaining production uptime, unplanned maintenance can lead to expensive downtime and operational disruptions.

Filtration Distribution

Donaldson Filtration product distributor Filter & Hose Solutions (FHS) technical sales manager Ernest Heather, who also spoke during the webinar, added to webinar chairperson Donaldson Filtration MSA senior territory manager for Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta Giordano Trabucco’s sentiment that FHS is not just a filtration supplier.

In pursuing hydraulic products and services, Heather said it was important for clients to work with partners who understand their site conditions, who can deliver proven technology and back it up with data-driven results.

“Filtration is not a grudge purchase, it’s an investment in uptime, in performance and ultimately in the profitability of the operation,” he said.

FHS, Heather added, is an expert-driven solutions provider with an experienced team.

“Our strength lies in combining high-quality products with practical technical expertise to solve real-world problems,” he said.

FHS engineers filtration strategies to suit each client’s environment, their equipment and operational priorities.

FHS’s operational effectiveness was recently evidenced in a project undertaken with a plant hire business, where the company upgraded the client’s filtration system to the Donaldson Synteq XP system. This resulted in an extended service life, reduced maintenance cost and improved reliability, highlighted Heather.

“The new component life almost doubled from 12 000 hours to about 22 000 hours life and decreased the maintenance downtime from 20 hours to a substantially lower eight hours,” he said.