When raw material costs rise sharply, implementing strategies to reduce part production costs helps preserve profit margins. In metalworking, reducing variable expenses tied to cutting fluids is a logical place to start.
Companies tend to approach fluid management cost-savings in two ways:
Switching to a less expensive fluid may yield a short-term financial gain, but it can also have long-term consequences. If the cheaper cutting fluid is of inferior quality, the quality of the finished part, tool life, and machine reliability will diminish. Ultimately, this will lead to higher production costs and lower revenue.
That being said, changing cutting fluid management processes can yield bottom-line improvements that are sustainable in the long-term. Centralized fluid recycling systems, for instance, remove tramp oils and suspended solids from contaminated cutting fluids, control bacteria, and adjust fluid concentration to make cutting fluids suitable for recovery and reuse. These automated systems can reduce fluid replenishment costs by up to 75%.
Recycling cutting fluids also substantially lowers hazardous waste disposal expenses. Haul-away costs for spent fluids can decrease by up to 90% when a centralized fluid recycling system is incorporated into a fluid management program. Amid high fuel prices and rising transportation costs, these savings can have a particularly meaningful impact on variable expenses.
Watch this video to learn how PRAB’s Guardian™ Coolant Recycling System recycles spent cutting fluid to decrease coolant spend and lower variable costs. For more information, contact us.
