How lubrication can reduce farming total cost of ownership
With farmers under pressure to meet growing demand and manage tight margins, they must produce more for less. Explore how you can improve operational efficiency and make cost savings by focusing on your equipment total cost of ownership (TCO).
The role of lubrication in lowering TCO
Farmers rely on their equipment to operate as efficiently as possible, helping them to work productively and cost effectively. However, they should beware of cheaper lubricants, which can come at a price. Unexpected breakdowns and higher repair costs can often lead to increased TCO.
In agriculture, there are two key ways to reduce equipment TCO:
- Use the right lubricant for each application across vehicles and machines
- Implement effective lubrication management
Effective lubrication programmes are essential in lowering TCO across an agricultural fleet. By extending equipment life, minimising unplanned downtime and reducing oil consumption, the right lubricant products supported by expert-led services can all make sure equipment works harder for longer – driving productivity while making cost savings.
of farmers understand how high-quality lubricant products can keep their machines running for longer by providing better protection against wear.1
of farmers realise that effective lubrication can help to drive optimum equipment performance in the extreme weather conditions they face.1
of farmers recognise that high-performance lubricants can help to reduce their operating costs by delivering greater energy efficiency from their machines.1
of farmers identify their lubrication programmes as a way to deliver cost savings by extending oil drain intervals and reducing oil consumption.1
of farmers realise the positive impact that oxidation prevention can have on their operating costs by reducing unplanned downtime and improving equipment utilisation.
of farmers understand how higher-tier lubricants can extend equipment life by providing contamination control that enhances protection in challenging conditions.
Six steps to effective lubrication management
Right storage and handling
Lubricants must be stored in the right conditions and handled correctly to avoid contamination and preserve their key characteristics – maintaining their ability to offer effective protection.
Right place
Equipment cannot get the protection it needs if lubricants are applied to the wrong area. To avoid this, oils and greases need to be properly applied to components.
Right time
Delays in the frequency of oils changes or re-greasing can lead to accelerated wear in equipment. Making sure the lubricants reach the surface at the right time is vital in keeping machinery running smoothly.
Right amount
Over-application or under-application can cause severe equipment issues. To protect moving parts effectively, the correct volume of oil or grease should be applied at each interval.
Right monitoring
Regular sampling and analysis can make sure that lubricants remain fit for purpose, check for early indications of equipment wear and provide confidence that application practices are correct.
Right people
Effective lubrication relies on the skills and knowledge of the people applying the oils and greases. This makes lubrication expertise essential for keeping machines working harder for longer.
Reducing TCO through preventive maintenance
Discover how a preventive approach to maintenance can help farmers to improve the reliability of their equipment, reduce unplanned downtime and lower their overall costs.
Read the transcript
Read the transcript
Title: TCO impact of machinery
Duration: 2:31 minutes
Description:
Global film created to visually articulate the Total Cost of Ownership or TCO impact of machinery in the Driveline sectors (Construction, Agriculture, and Fleet), through animation.
TCO impact of machinery Transcript
[Background music plays]
Bright uplifting music plays lightly in the background
[Animated sequence]
Three machines – an excavator, a truck, and a tractor – make their way along a stylised graphic timeline which has oil running through the pipe with the Shell pecten indicated on top.
Each vehicle and Shell pecten changes as time moves on until we reach the present day.
[Voiceover]
Over the last 100 years, innovation has revolutionised equipment in the fleet, construction and agriculture industries and beyond.
[Animated sequence]
The oil running through the pipe leads to a new panel: a moving tractor. As each equipment part is mentioned, the vehicle is overlaid with icons of equipment parts and each are animated while the tractor moves.
Oil continues to pump around the panel through the pipes.
[Voiceover]
Just as it has transformed Shell’s high-performance lubricants that look after your machinery’s critical parts.
Such as engine oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission oil or grease. To ensure equipment is constantly performing at its best throughout its lifecycle.
[Animated sequence]
Oil in pipe moves to a new panel that features a digger moving in snow. We see a site being built in the background and the oil continues to pump around the panel through the pipes.
[Voiceover]
Demands on operators, machines and service requirements are increasing. They need to operate in more extreme conditions, on complex projects, within tighter timeframes.
[Animated sequence]
Oil in pipe moves to a series of moving icons that animate across the screen. Each illustrates a machine’s health, efficiency, and eco-standards across time to highlight reliability and environmental awareness.
Oil in pipe continues to frame these icons and moves across each icon as highlighted in the voice over.
[Voiceover]
High-quality lubricants will help make your equipment more reliable, reduce downtime, lower your total cost of ownership and protect the environment. Through products that are biodegradable, can reduce fuel and cut CO2 emissions, meeting industry regulations worldwide.
[Animated sequence]
Oil frames a new panel that shows a customer support technician on the telephone, with a Shell pecten on their shirt. Lube chat is also highlighted on the right of the panel.
Oil continues to move around the panel and onto the next.
[Voiceover]
Our global digital and personal expert services provide trusted and immediate advice.
[Animated sequence]
Oil in pipe moves to a laptop screen with Solutions Hub in view. Icons from Solutions Hub gradually appear to display Shell’s services.
[Voiceover]
From technical training to on-site support, our services are available at your fingertips. To help you choose the right lubricants and get the most out of your equipment.
As well as provide the health checks your machinery needs to never let you down.
[Animated sequence]
Oil in pipe moves to another monitor on screen, showcasing Shell LubeAnalyst.
[Voiceover]
At Shell, we believe in the power of preventive maintenance and taking action at key moments of the machine’s lifecycle, such as:
[Animated sequence]
The oil then moves to a series of infographic style action panels to illustrate the script including updating machinery, an expired warranty, engineer looking at a vehicle, cross on top of a lubricant bottle, a graph illustration, and a split panel featuring a customer on the phone trying to connect.
[Voiceover]
Integrating new or upgrading machinery
Warranty expiration
Equipment problems
Ineffective recommendations and lubricants
Unexpected price changes
Or simply, not getting the response you need to run your business effectively
[Animated sequence]
Oil moves to a panel of machines working well in the rain and sun, with a performance gauge at the bottom left.
[Voiceover]
Lubrication is the key to unlocking vehicle performance, greater reliability and ongoing operations, come rain or shine.
[Animated sequence]
The next panel introduces another sequence of animated infographic style illustrations, highlighting the statistics and visualising equipment maintenance and cost savings.
[Voiceover]
83% of construction businesses believe that effective equipment maintenance has led to cost savings.
In fact, lubricants can be as little as 1-2% of your total maintenance budget but could help save a third of your operating costs, boosting your bottom line.
[Animated sequence]
Another timeline is introduced from 2020 onwards, as the oil moves along the pipe. An excavator moves along the timeline as a piggy bank animates in place highlighting cost savings.
The excavator lifts up in a futuristic fashion and the piggy bank and timeline move away.
[Voiceover]
Just imagine: if YOUR vehicles could work harder for much longer, how much would YOU save?
[Animated sequence]
Grid lines fade away leaving a white frame. The pecten and call to action reveal themselves.
[Voiceover]
Find out more by visiting Shell.com/LubricantSolutions
[Text displays]
shell.com/lubricantsolutions
[Shell mnemonic plays]
Reducing TCO through preventive maintenance
Discover how a preventive approach to maintenance can help farmers to improve the reliability of their equipment, reduce unplanned downtime and lower their overall costs.
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Disclaimers
1Shell global survey of lubricant decision-makers in agriculture on their understanding of how lubricant product features can correspond to TCO savings - March-May 2018
