Science beats elbow grease in proven parts washing system

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Motion

CRC’s SmartWasher® replaces solvent-based parts cleaning with a safe, closed-loop bioremediation process – cutting hazardous waste, simplifying maintenance, and improving WHS outcomes.

Traditional parts washing often involves the constant purchase of solvent cleaners and the tedious removal of hazardous waste, wasting time and money for maintenance teams. Whether removing oil, carbon, gunk, or grease from parts, the process has long called for an easier, safer, and more environmentally friendly solution.

Thanks to Motion’s partnership with CRC Industries, a leading supplier of chemical maintenance products, that solution is readily available, easy to use, and conveniently mobile for busy workshops and plants.

The CRC SmartWasher® is a bioremediating parts washing system that removes the need for manual solvent cleaners or aqueous-based parts washers. Bioremediation uses beneficial microbes to break down or neutralise contaminants – a proven approach used on much larger scales for oil-spill clean-ups.

How does the SmartWasher® work?

Parts are cleaned with OzzyJuice®, CRC’s powerful water-based degreasing solution that is non-hazardous and non-flammable. The used fluid drains into the SmartWasher® reservoir and passes through the OzzyMat®, which releases specific microbes that digest oils and greases. As microbes consume the contaminants, OzzyJuice® is restored to a usable state – ready for reuse on the next batch of parts.

Routine upkeep is simple: replace the OzzyMat® monthly, top up OzzyJuice® when the low-fluid light appears, and remove any non-organic debris (e.g., dirt, other particle matter) the microbes can’t digest.

The closed-loop process means no hazardous solvent disposal, fewer fluid purchases, and lower admin and transport costs. With non-flammable, low-odour chemistry, teams also reduce fumes and fire risk – supporting WHS and environmental compliance. Because OzzyJuice® is continually restored, cleaning performance stays consistent while running costs remain predictable.

Motion recognises SmartWasher® as a convenient, cost-effective, and safer alternative to solvent cleaning. For system care – or to restock OzzyJuice® and OzzyMats® – contact Motion.

SKF Lubricators – Hands-off reliability

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Motion

Manual greasing is inconsistent, labour-intensive, and risky in hard-to-reach spots. SKF’s automatic single-point lubricators – supplied by Motion – deliver precise, continuous lubrication to extend equipment life and cut maintenance time.

Unexpected plant stoppages can be caused by inconsistent lubrication. Manual greasing can be irregular, difficult to schedule, and a hazardous operation for staff at elevated heights, confined spaces or close to rotating assemblies. SKF’s single-point automatic lubricators take the guesswork – and the ladder climbs – out of the job, by dispensing the right amount of grease at set intervals, directly to the lubrication point.

Compact and easy to fit, units can be configured to deliver consistently from 1 to 12 months, matching rate to operating conditions. That precision prevents under-greasing (heat and wear) and over-greasing (waste, mess, and elevated temperatures), while reducing hands-on labour during production.

For food and beverage facilities, food-grade lubricant options support hygiene and audit compliance. Typical applications span bearing housings on motors and pumps, fans, conveyors, cranes, and chains – anywhere regular greasing is essential but access is difficult or safety exposure is high.

The benefits go beyond reliability. Automation frees maintenance teams from repetitive routes, cuts the risk profile around live equipment, and helps standardise best practice across shifts and sites. With flexible settings and a small footprint, SKF single-point lubricators also suit retrofit programs where space and access are tight.

SKF TLDD – Connected single-point lubricators

A solution for wireless monitoring of automatic single-point lubricators.

The connected single-point lubricator utilises a web dashboard and interface to monitor the status of each lubricator and provides the ability to remotely change its settings.

Motion’s lubrication specialists can help you select the correct unit, lubricant type, and settings for each asset, then support rollout to harmonise maintenance plans across your plant. The payoff is fewer breakdowns, longer component life, and time back for higher-value tasks – all from a quick, low-effort upgrade.

Cutting faster, lasting longer

Posted on July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by Motion

Slow, short-lived abrasives drag down productivity and drive up costs. 3M’s latest Cubitron™ 3 range – available through Motion – delivers higher cutting speed, longer life, and improved operator comfort for maintenance and manufacturing teams.

When every minute on the tools counts, abrasive performance matters. 3M™ Cubitron™ 3 builds on the brand’s shaped abrasive grain breakthrough, refining grain geometry and bonding so each particle cuts with a sharp point, rather than ploughing the surface. The result is a cooler, cleaner cut that removes more material per pass and stays sharp for longer.

Compared to 3M’s previous generation, Cubitron™ II, the new Cubitron™ 3 fibre discs deliver up to a 60% faster sustained cut rate and greater total stock removal. That uplift translates to fewer wheel changes, less time at the bench, and lower cost per part.

A cooler, sharper cut also pays safety dividends. Reduced heat means less chance of discolouration or distortion on sensitive workpieces, and the smoother action helps lower hand-arm vibration and noise – supporting operator comfort over long shifts.

Designed with automation in mind, Cubitron™ 3 abrasives help robotic and automated cells maintain throughput between maintenance intervals, making them a smart choice for plants scaling up production.

Sustainability benefits are built in: longer-lasting consumables mean fewer discs to landfill and fewer deliveries over time, and 3M’s packaging supports waste reduction goals.

As a trusted 3M distributor, Motion can recommend the right Cubitron™ 3 solution – discs, belts, and wheels – to match your materials, tools, and production targets. Talk to the Motion team to streamline changeovers, cut cycle times, and sharpen your competitive edge.

Extending wear life without hot work

Posted on July 30, 2026July 30, 2026 by Motion

In mining plants, abrasion at transfer points and/or changes in the direction of flow can turn into a constant cycle of patching, downtime, and cost. A LOCTITE® wearing compound, supplied through Motion, helped one gold mining operation dramatically extend wear life on a critical ball mill feed pipe – without welding, tiling, or specialist contractors.

Wear is a fact of life in mining. Any time rock and slurry change direction – through chutes, bins, elbows, and transfer points – surfaces are effectively ‘sandblasted’ by abrasive particles. Traditionally, sites have relied on hardened wear plates, ceramic tiles, or frequent patch repairs to protect vulnerable areas. The problem is that many of these fixes are labour-intensive, disruptive, or difficult to repeat consistently.

That was the situation for one Queensland gold processing operation, where an engineered elbow section on a ball mill feed pipe was wearing rapidly. “The ball mill feed pipe was copping a flogging from particle abrasion,” says Adam Schlatter, Product Manager – Adhesives, Sealants & Chemicals at Motion. “Previous coatings were only lasting four to six weeks, which meant constant recoating, heaps of downtime, and blowing the maintenance budget.”

The challenge: frequent recoating and an expensive alternative

The elbow feeding into the ball mill was not a standard off-the-shelf item. The mines Maintenance Manager says replacement would require fabrication and would cost “tens of thousands” to manufacture and install – before factoring in downtime.

The site had trialled other wearing compounds without success and eventually brought in a contractor-applied silicon carbide based epoxy system that required specialist application. It lasted longer, but it was very costly and logistically difficult to repeat. “They were looking for a cheaper way to achieve the same result,” Hoelzl says.

The solution: LOCTITE PC 9313 supplied through Motion

The alternative trial was LOCTITE® PC 9313, a high-impact sacrificial wearing compound designed for abrasive service. “The customer needed something tough that would handle the impact and provide extended wear protection,” Schlatter says. “LOCTITE PC 9313 offered serious abrasion resistance without the hefty price tag or extended shutdowns of other options.”

Application was straightforward, and critically, avoided hot work. “The old coating was abraded, washed down with clean water, and left to dry,” Schlatter says. “Then some PC 9313 was manually applied as a primer coating first, followed by the thicker sacrificial topcoat.”

Hoelzl describes the process as simple and accessible. “It’s like applying bog,” he says. “You don’t need hot work permits for welders and oxy torches. You don’t need a tiler to come out and replace ceramic tiles. One person can mix it and apply it.”

Results: longer wear life, less downtime, lower labour cost

The trial delivered immediate value. “The customer was blown away with how long it lasted,” Hoelzl says. Where previous products had only lasted a few weeks, “this lasted many, many months,” and became a go-to solution for other wear points in the plant.

Schlatter quantifies the improvement: “It provided a massive difference – the customer went from recoating every four to six weeks, out to 38 weeks of solid protection, which saved the customer thousands annually in labour costs alone, plus way less downtime.”

BOX OUT: What is a LOCTITE MRO wearing compound?

Trevor Hoelzl, Loctite Application Engineer at Henkel, explains that LOCTITE’s wear protection range includes epoxy-based composites designed to act as sacrificial wear layers. “They’re epoxy-based wearing compounds filled with ceramic beads and other wear prevention additives,” he says. “You mix Part A and Part B into a thick paste, then apply it as a protective layer over the problem area.”

Unlike weld-on plate or tile systems, the key benefit is repeatability. “Because it’s sacrificial, it slowly wears down,” Trevor says. “When it gets to a certain point, you just put another coat on. It’s infinitely re-coatable.”