Lubricant supplier celebrates long association

Following the success of a third regular review of its Coolant and Chemical Wash Management Contract with Albion Automotive, Castrol is celebrating being on site for ten years.

Following the success of a third regular review of its Coolant and Chemical Wash Management Contract with Albion Automotive, UK, Castrol is celebrating being on site for ten years.

The name Albion can be traced back to 1899 when the company manufactured cars, but is probably best remembered as a manufacturer of buses and trucks.

More than a hundred years on, the company is still involved in the automotive industry, now as Albion Automotive - a wholly owned subsidiary of American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM).

AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, engineering, design and validation of driveline systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and metal formed products for light trucks, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars.

In addition to its locations in the United States (in Michigan, New York and Ohio), AAM also has offices or facilities in Brazil, China, England, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Scotland and South Korea.

At its headquarters in Scotstoun, Glasgow the company now predominantly specialises in the design and manufacture of front and rear axles for commercial vehicles, using state of the art 3D modelling and leading edge gear cutting and machining technology to manufacture 45,000 axles a year and various transmission type components.

With customers such as Paccar, LDV, Renault, Volvo and DaimlerChrysler the company's manufacturing facility is kept busy providing finish machined steel forgings and SG Iron castings, for sub-assembly and final assembly on-site.

Castrol has been on site for more than ten years following a strategic review of cutting and other process fluids.

Castrol was initially appointed to take responsibility for coolant management only, and this was then expanded to include chemical washes.

The company currently operates with a team consisting of contract manager Phil Coyle and three fluid technicians.

Castrol monitors fluids regularly for pH and bacteria levels, changes are scheduled, and from a health and safety perspective things have improved 100%.

Over the past 10 years the Castrol team has introduced a range of fluids for the Albion site.

Hysol X, a soluble coolant, is the main cutting fluid with some Syntilo XPS and Ilocut 486 neat oil also used.

It was four years ago that Castrol was given responsibility for fluid management in the site's component washing operations to ensure that fluids and the components themselves are maintained in peak condition.

The Castrol team now makes sure that wash fluids are clean and optimum chemical mixes maintained.

In addition, Castrol recommended a change to its Iloquench No 9 for the site's 8,000 litre capacity quenching tanks.

Contract management is reviewed at regular monthly meetings with the Castrol team.

The contract manager covers any issues he has, and reports on all activities and improvements carried out since the previous meeting.

Everything is documented and Albion receives a detailed monthly report.

In spite of higher energy costs and oil price increases, Castrol's improvements have helped Albion maintain the same internal cost structure, which represents significant cost avoidance in real terms.

The Castrol team manages all metalworking and component wash fluids and the all-inclusive contract is extremely convenient for Albion in various areas such as forecasting, flexibility and expertise.

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