Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solutions
For the first issue of Mining & Minerals Today , Bret enlightens us on that history , which goes back more than 100 years . “ Whitmore first got into mining while building the Panama Canal , and they did it with P & H shovels ,” he begins .
“ Since then , the company has developed significantly . We have grown into a very specific niche , becoming a leading specialty lubricants manufacturer for mining and rail applications , as well as heavy duty industrial uses .
“ These include open gear lubricants like Shell Gadus ( GearMate 1000 ICT ) and Shell Gadus ( SurStik 800 ), which are used on mobile equipment and meet all the OEM ’ s requirements . All our products go above and beyond and are proven in the field ; they extend the life of gears and keep machines performing above spec .
“ On the grease side , we have something truly special ,” he contends . “ It ’ s a calcium sulfonate grease with molybdenum disulfide . We call it Shell Gadus ( Matrix M ).
“ It ’ s recommended for difficult applications such as extreme pressure , water , heat , or chemical attack . I ’ ve never seen anything compete with it in the market .”
Strong portfolio
In April 2021 , Shell , one of the largest oil companies in the world , paired with Whitmore to form a joint venture with the intention of servicing two new markets : rail in the US , Canada , and Mexico ; and mining in the US .
“ We ’ ve got a strong portfolio of legacy Shell & Whitmore products , as well as a wide-ranging host of services on offer ,” Bret details .
“ Those services include designing and working on all types of lube systems and also delivering products to pieces of equipment in the field ,” he adds . “ Mining equipment ( draglines and electric shovels , for instance ) has onboard bulk tanks that need lubrication .
“ If something goes wrong , then we might have to get up at two o ’ clock in the morning and deliver products directly to those pieces of equipment .
“ Another service we pride ourselves on is our auditing of pinch points . We assess where an issue or pinch point may occur in a production process and work to alleviate and solve it .”
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