Engineering solutions provider BMG’s team works closely with key players in the sugar sector to enhance production efficiencies, minimise downtime and extend the service life of critical systems in the field and during harvesting, transport, milling and refining.

“To ensure the local market has access to the latest sugar technology, trends, components and equipment, BMG continually launches new products, that are enhanced by critical technical support,” states BMG group sales development manager Carlo Beukes.

A recent development has been the addition of high-performance additives to BMG’s range of industrial lubricants. Cera Tec has exceptional resistance to high temperature and pressure. It is highly effective in protecting gears in industrial transmissions in many sectors, including sugar mills, mining, chemical plants, manufacturing and general engineering.

Cera Tec was developed by oils, lubricants and additives specialists Liqui Moly and it is a micro-ceramic solid lubricant suspension based on hexagonal boron nitride (BN) in selected base oils. This product reduces friction and protects the engine and transmission against wear, thus extending service life of assemblies.

Cera Tec also improves reliability of industrial equipment, lowers engine and transmission noise, minimises maintenance requirements and reduces downtime. Other benefits include energy savings, reduced risk of contamination, lower pollutant emissions and more efficient operating costs.

The graphite-like structure of resilient ceramic particles, with high mechanical and thermal stability, fills in the roughness in the metal of oil lubricated engines, transmissions, pumps and compressors, thereby preventing direct metal-on-metal contact.

An active chemical uses the existing friction energy to ensure a smooth-running effect that reduces fuel consumption in gasoline and diesel engines.

“The < 0.5µm particle size guarantees optimum filter flow properties and protects against depositing of solid lubricant particles. Cera Tec is miscible with all industrial oils,” Beukes explains.

According to BMG specialists, local operators face continuing difficulties with transmissions – for example, with the gearing in conveyor systems. Problems occur largely in applications where dust accumulates in the transmission, thus increasing friction between the gears and other components, thus accelerating wear.

This results in greater wear and higher temperatures. An additional troublesome factor is the high ambient temperature, which increases the temperature of the oil in the transmission. The risk of inadequate lubrication and excessive wear thus increases, adding the threat of defects of the conveyor system and subsequent loss of production.

Experts have proven that with the inclusion of Cera Tec additives in transmission oil, the temperature of the transmission oil decreases by up to 15 ºC. This solution not only offers better protection for machines, but also reduces the risk of malfunctions and lowers maintenance costs.

It is critical that gearboxes in the sugar industry function at optimal performance at all times, to efficiently be able to control the speed of motors used in various applications. Without regular lubrication, friction would affect integral parts of the gearbox, thus compromising efficiency and resulting in failure. Lubrication cools internal components and protects metal from corrosion, which reduces wear of the system.

Through BMG’s range of energy efficient products – which includes synthetic oils, lubricants and bespoke lubrication systems – and the support of a technically competent team, the company ensures efficient maintenance, extended life of components and energy savings in the sugar sector.

BMG’s Liqui Moly Cera Tec additives are also used to enhance the efficiency of vehicles operating in sugar fields and for the transportation of sugar cane to mills and refineries.