In metalworking operations, coolant and process fluids aren’t just consumables; they rack up hidden costs across multiple departments, which lowers your bottom line. Making a CapEx investment in a centralized coolant recycling system can seem like a high-stakes game – unless you have assurance that the equipment is an optimal, high-performing fit for the application.
This is where fluid testing comes in. It provides the objective, empirical data to establish a proven performance baseline that reveals the path to cost savings and ROI, optimized to your shop’s exact conditions.
____________
The fluids used in metalworking can account for up to 10% of the total cost of a finished part. When these fluids are managed poorly, manufacturers face an expensive, twofold problem: paying for the rising cost of new concentrate (which can reach $50 per gallon) and then paying again for the haul-away.
To eliminate doubling down on these expenses, we have developed a FREE Fluid Testing Program. This initiative is designed to provide manufacturers with verified data before purchasing any equipment, effectively removing the guesswork from risky capital equipment investments.
As detailed in PRAB’s technical framework, we maintain two distinct testing programs: Fluids Testing and Materials Testing.
While both aim to reduce capital investment risk, they are performed by separate engineering teams using proven methodologies specific to the application.
The Fluids Testing program is the essential first step for operations seeking to reduce their chemical spend and minimize environmental compliance risks.
The Materials Testing Program focuses on the physical handling of metal chips and turnings, providing insight into residual moisture, throughput, and briquette integrity to slash expenses and improve scrap value.
The Fluids Testing Program: Real-World Insight
Our lab-based testing evaluates how your actual coolant, wash water, or wastewater responds to recycling and treatment technologies. This isn’t a generic simulation; it uses your plant’s unique chemistry to determine:
By establishing these performance baselines, CFOs and engineers can use real, documented results that prove the system’s effectiveness before investing. This helps determine payback periods with total confidence, guiding system selection and reducing operating costs.
The Guardian™ system is a centralized, turnkey solution that transforms fluid management from a manual, messy chore into a high-efficiency, closed-loop process. By integrating the data from your initial fluid test, PRAB tailors the Guardian™ system to your specific mix of tramp oils and particulates.
In many metalworking operations, the risks posed by water chemistry are often overlooked. Imbalanced pH levels in process water or incoming city water can cause damaging corrosion or degrade the effectiveness of expensive lubricants. PRAB’s automated systems provide the precise, real-time control necessary to protect your equipment assets.
In an era of shrinking margins and increasing environmental scrutiny, why risk guessing? PRAB’s Fluids Testing Program ensures that when you invest in a centralized system, you aren’t just buying equipment, you’re getting a guaranteed outcome.
The program provides real-world testing to ensure that results translate directly into your operation. While the customer covers the cost of shipping samples to the PRAB facility, the resulting data addresses concerns from both the engineering team and the CFO.
To learn more about PRAB’s Fluids Testing Program and to talk with the experts about improving your fluid recycling to elevate your bottom line, visit PRAB.com.
