Automatic lubrication system manufacturer Lincoln Lubrication South Africa is showcasing its automated lubrication and Muster II fire suppression systems as well as parts and service solutions at the Nampo Harvest Day show, in the Free State, from May 16 to 19.

“We have supported Nampo for the past seven years, exhibiting jointly with ball and roller bearings manufacturer SKF for the past two years, when we became part of the global SKF group. The exhibition stand, which is located in the main hall at Nampo, will display Lincoln Lubrication’s automated greasing systems and Muster II fire sup- pression systems, as well as SKF’s Agri hub and Yelag bearings,” says Lincoln Lubrication regional manager Jaun Herbst.

He explains that Lincoln Lubrication and SKF’s product portfolios provide farmers with the opportunity to conveniently source greasing systems, fire suppression systems, bearings and related accessory solutions from a single source supplier.

Herbst says farmers are focusing more on the quality of products rather than on price, as they realise that, in good quality, they find reliability, cost savings and uptime, which subsequently leads to a return on investment and profitability.

“Our comprehensive agricultural product solutions are delivering on all fronts. The products have been tested in agriculture markets globally with great success and a number of original-equipment manufacturers have Lincoln Lubrication systems fitted as standard,” he asserts.

The South African agriculture sector is a growing market for Lincoln Lubrication and presents untapped potential to provide solutions for a number of machinery reliability issues. However, Herbst adds that the agriculture industry is not without its own inherent challenges. In order to successfully address this tough market, it is important to have an understanding of the challenges faced by farmers.

“The three-year drought that has gripped our country and which still continues in the Cape regions means that many farmers are not in a position to invest in new products or upgrades,” he says.

Herbst explains that there is a direct correlation between profitability and production. When it comes to crop farming, for example, farmers have a limited window period for planting and harvesting, so costly breakdowns in the field are simply not an option.

“Our automated lubrication systems, which include single- nipple greasing, as well as fully monitored systems, deliver fast, accurate greasing for optimum equipment reliability. When greasing the machine during planned maintenance, some points are often missed while others are either over- or underlubricated, leading to equipment downtime,” he adds, noting that over- or under- lubricated parts not only waste valuable time but also compromise equipment reliability.

“We recommended the single- nipple greasing system as the best solution. Using distribution blocks, we route all greasing points to one grease nipple, which enables lubrication of all points from one greasing point, eliminating the risk of missing any greasing points for complete peace of mind. In addition, the system also offers substantial time saving,” explains Herbst.

He adds that long-term customer relationships are of the utmost importance for both parties. Building partnerships with customers, the company supports products that come with parts supply, advice and training.

“Our highly skilled technical team delivers specialist maintenance and after-sales services. As part of our customer service, we pay regular visits to our customers to ensure that our systems are in good working order,” Herbst says.

“Lincoln Lubrication’s agricultural offering is available from SKF’s extensive agri distribution network. Product knowledge is important, so we are spending time with distributors and end-users, sharing product information and training. We have completed a number of Muster II fire suppression demos in the Free State, which we plan to roll out across the country together with our successful crop spray system,” he concludes.