Businesses need to invest in lubrication training in order to minimise downtime and lost productivity, Dow Corning insists.

The company cites a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which has estimated that around $240 billion (£145 billion) - equal to between six and seven per cent of US gross domestic product - is lost due to downtime and repairs on machinery damaged by poor lubrication.

"Proper lubrication is essential to a smoothly-running operation. In many cases, less friction equals improved performance, greater reliability and lower costs," says Phil Grellier, Dow Corning global solutions development manager.

The organisation reports that a high-end lubrication supplier will provide the training necessary to ensure that the best solution is selected and applied appropriately to different types of machinery.

Meanwhile, fellow Dow Corning spokesperson Gene Finner told Transmission and Distribution World that resistivity is a key factor in selecting appropriate lubrication, while application can play a pivotal role in ensuring machinery operates smoothly.

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