Water soluble metalworking fluid meets HSE guide

A water soluble metalworking fluid has been developed in response to the new Health and Safety Executive guidelines, concerning the control of bacterial contamination in used coolants.

Fuchs UK will be showing its latest development in water soluble metalworking fluids, Ecocool Ultralife, at the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool exhibition.

Ecocool Ultralife was developed in response to the new HSE guidelines, concerning the control of bacterial contamination in used coolants.

It is a cutting fluid range designed to offer users 'best in class' performance and optimum machining performance and surface finish, as well as providing the ultimate in machine cleanliness for an improved working environment.

* Resisting bacterial growth - one of the unique attributes of the Ecocool Ultralife range is the biologically hard nature of the products.

During laboratory development tests and field trials, the lubricants exhibited showed slower bacterial growth when compared with standard water soluble fluids in identical situations, said Fuchs.

Following six months of field tests, the case study documentation showed a reduced propensity to bacteria growth than conventional fluids, when operating in identical environments.

These findings are, commercially, very important to manufacturers as Paul Littley, Research and Development spokesman at Fuchs UK explained: "The presence of bacteria will degrade the technical performance properties of water soluble fluids, as they create an acid environment that causes the coolant to separate and lose its lubricant characteristics".

He said that the Ultralife range produced an environment where bacteria find it difficult to proliferate.

This in turn provides extended coolant life, reduces the need for tank side additions and reduces maintenance and monitoring in machine shops.

This consequently reduces fluid consumption, reduces waste generation and minimises disposal costs.

"Manufacturers can not fail to notice the cost advantages that these products bring".

The Ecocool Ultralife product range contains five variants designed to provide a suitable fluid regardless of machining application, metal type (from cast iron to titanium) or water quality.

* Fuchs UK at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 4, Stand 4340.

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