Managing liquid assets with Permex
As a fluid handling specialist, Permex has been working with commercial vehicle fleets for more than 40 years, delivering both off‑the‑shelf and bespoke solutions for lubrication system design, equipment supply, and full project implementation and management.
“Over that time, we’ve seen the sector evolve and faced its many challenges alongside our customers,” said Permex.
The company says disruption to supply chains on a global scale has been seen more frequently since 2020, but that until now it has rarely seen a confluence of world events impact the cost of vehicle lubricants so much or so quickly.
“There seems to be no clear end in sight and even if settled in the near future, the damage to refining capacity, how long it will take to rebuild, the instability of distribution routes and the future costs of shipping oil products around the world are all currently unknown and all have the capacity to keep lubricant prices high for the foreseeable future.
“These factors add to the daily challenges when delivering high quality fleet maintenance programs as cost-effectively or as competitively as possible for paying customers and puts even more emphasis on finding cost savings or efficiencies where possible…
“Sometimes the solution is as simple as supplying the right pump to deliver product at the optimum flow rate – a small change that, particularly in commercial vehicles, can significantly reduce engine fill times.”
Specifying the right hose reel or replacing a broken or leaking reel can avoid potential accidents, or prevent needless waste of expensive lubricants, the firm adds.
It can also deploy air-operated waste oil drainers – mobile or pit-mounted – that can be discharged directly from the unit to the waste tank.
“In a larger workshop draining the waste oil unit take a considerable amount of time for technicians when added up over a week or month. Having waste pumped directly from a pressurised or pumped waste oil drainer from easily accessible points to the tank can significantly reduce technicians’ time away from the vehicle. In addition, they also help to keep the workshop floor cleaner, safer and reduce avoidable contact with potentially harmful fluids for workshop staff.
“Even these simple, often minor changes can save time, improve efficiency, and can even have a positive impact on technician morale.”
But Permex says the most significant cost reductions and improved profitability, as reported by workshop management and accountants, are achieved when measures are implemented to ensure every litre of lubricant can be accounted for and/or charged.
The Oilwatch fluid management system, manufactured in the UK by Permex, will secure, monitor, and record all lubricant dispenses and tank levels, and provides full audit capabilities. It can be installed to new or existing piping systems, and allows technicians to dispense product using their own unique PIN number. Oilwatch records the time, date, user, grade, and amount then automatically sends the data to a designated PC. The software gives complete oversight of all dispense data, fresh and waste oil tank levels, and provides visual warning for high or low levels to avoid costly run outs or overspills. Dispense data can be exported in numerous formats and is used in workshop control and finance departments for usage and accounting purposes.
