Vehicle Lubrication – Automatic Centralized Lubrication for Commercial Vehicles, Construction Equipment and Agricultural Machinery
Vehicle lubrication is a crucial factor for the longevity and efficiency of modern machines and commercial vehicles. With an automatic central lubrication system, you can ensure that bearings, pins, joints, and guides are reliably and evenly supplied with lubricant – even during operation. This reduces wear, lowers maintenance costs, and significantly extends the service life of your vehicles.
Whether it's a truck, tractor unit, combine harvester, wheel loader, or excavator – we offer proven components and complete systems for retrofitting or original equipment. Our solutions are based on proven SKF and Lincoln technology and are specially designed for mobile use under changing environmental and temperature conditions.
Our product range includes robust pump units with flow control, distributors for single-line or progressive systems, line systems with flexible high-pressure hoses, as well as matching control units and level sensors. The systems can be adapted to specific vehicles and offer a high degree of automation – ideal for daily use on construction sites, in fields, or in road transport.
Whether it's a single machine or a fleet – with intelligent vehicle lubrication, you protect your investment, increase operational availability, and reduce manual lubrication to a minimum.
Construction Machinery
Heavy construction machinery such as hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, or hydraulic hammers are exposed to extreme loads every day. They often operate in adverse conditions with dirt, dust, water, sand, or construction debris. Regular lubrication is essential to minimize wear on critical components.
56% of all premature bearing failures are caused by inadequate lubrication and contamination.
Modern centralized lubrication systems for construction machinery completely replace time-consuming manual lubrication – which takes around 30 minutes per machine per day. The automatic and on-demand lubricant supply increases the service life of joints, bearings, and bolts by up to 100% on average.
Our lubrication technology range for construction machinery includes, among other things:
Agricultural machinery
The failure of an agricultural machine can result in high costs. Like construction machinery and industrial equipment, agricultural machinery is subjected to intensive daily stress and must function reliably in dirty, wet, and earthy conditions. If lubrication is performed manually and improperly, premature wear and expensive repairs are often the result.
Up to 33% lubricant savings by switching to automatic lubrication.
With our many years of experience and the centralized lubrication systems from SKF and Lincoln, specially developed for agricultural machinery, downtimes, failures, and signs of wear can be effectively minimized – for maximum availability, cost-effectiveness, and safety in your operation.
Our lubrication technology range for agricultural machinery includes, among other things:
- Lubricating greases and chain oils in various containers
- Grease nipples, couplings, and fittings
- High-pressure hoses and pipes
- Manual and battery-operated grease guns
- Filling pumps and drum pumps
Why a centralized lubrication system for vehicles is essential today
In today's vehicle technology – especially in commercial vehicles, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, and municipal vehicles – precise lubrication of all moving components plays a central role. Every bearing, every bushing, and every joint is subjected to heavy loads and must be continuously lubricated to minimize friction, prevent corrosion, and avoid downtime. Manual lubrication is not only labor-intensive, but also error-prone and, in many cases, simply inefficient.
A centralized lubrication system fully automates this process. It supplies all relevant lubrication points evenly and as needed with the exact amount of lubricant required – even during ongoing operation. The advantage: No more downtime for lubrication, less maintenance, and a significant extension of the service life of components and machine parts. Central lubrication is therefore not just a technical improvement – it's also a business benefit.
The key advantages of automated vehicle lubrication in detail
1. Minimized downtime and uninterrupted operation
Centralized lubrication systems operate automatically and continuously – they lubricate the moving parts of the vehicle, even when it is in use. This eliminates the need for planned downtimes solely for maintenance purposes. Especially in industries with high machine usage, such as construction, agriculture, or logistics, this can save several hours of downtime per week. This not only reduces costs but also makes workflows more efficient.
2. Even and controlled lubricant distribution
Thanks to the precisely designed line system and automatic metering, each lubrication point is supplied with exactly the amount it needs. This reduces the risk of under-lubrication, resulting in less wear and fewer component failures. It also prevents over-metering, which not only wastes lubricant but can also lead to deposits, increased friction, and dirt accumulation.
3. Sustainability through lower lubricant consumption
A key advantage of modern centralized lubrication systems is the significant reduction in lubricant requirements. The precise and on-demand supply prevents unnecessary consumption and reduces the ecological footprint of the entire fleet. At the same time, operating costs are reduced – an advantage that is particularly noticeable in large vehicle fleets or machines in continuous use.
4. Less maintenance effort, lower operating costs
Regular maintenance effort is drastically reduced because manual checking and lubrication of all lubrication points is no longer necessary. Instead, only the central reservoir needs to be checked and refilled as needed. This saves working time, avoids sources of error, and ensures lower service and repair costs in the long term.
5. Increased safety for personnel and the environment
With manual lubrication, there is often a risk that hard-to-reach lubrication points will be overlooked or serviced under dangerous conditions. With an automatic system, this is no longer necessary: lubricant is supplied reliably and safely – without employees having to go under machines or vehicles. This significantly reduces the risk of work-related accidents.
6. Environmentally friendly operation through targeted dosing
Because each lubrication point receives exactly the amount of lubricant it actually needs, leaks, contamination, and excess lubrication are avoided. Targeted dosing not only protects the environment but also reduces cleaning and disposal costs in the company.
Typical areas of application – where centralized lubrication makes the most sense
- Commercial vehicles such as trucks, semi-trailer tractors, or low-loader trailers that are used daily for long-distance transport
- Construction equipment such as wheel loaders, tracked excavators, or crawlers that must function reliably in rough terrain
- Agricultural vehicles such as tractors, combine harvesters, or tractors, where lubrication intervals vary greatly depending on the season
- Municipal vehicles such as garbage trucks, salt spreaders, or sweepers that make numerous stops and starts every day
- Specialized industrial machinery, e.g., in materials handling or recycling, where a breakdown would result in high costs
Cost-effectiveness – is the investment worthwhile?
The costs for retrofitting or initial installation of a centralized lubrication system vary depending on the system type, number of lubrication points, and vehicle size. However, in almost all cases, the investment pays for itself within 12 to 24 months at the latest – particularly through saved maintenance time, reduced wear, reduced downtime, and a longer service life of vehicle components. For companies with multiple vehicles or machines, centralized lubrication is a calculable and sustainable productivity factor.
Frequently Asked Questions about Centralized Vehicle Lubrication (FAQ)
How complex is it to retrofit a centralized lubrication system?
The retrofitting depends on the vehicle type and access to the lubrication points. Installation by our experienced technicians usually takes a few hours per vehicle. Many systems are modular and can be flexibly adapted to existing vehicles.
Which lubricants are suitable for my system?
Depending on the ambient temperature, load, and manufacturer's specifications, greases of class NLGI 000 to 2 or special industrial oils are used. Sufficient fluidity at cold temperatures and adhesive strength under high loads are important. We're happy to advise you.
How often does lubricant need to be refilled?
This depends on the size of the reservoir, consumption, and the intensity of driving. For a typical truck, one refill often lasts for several weeks or months – sensors provide timely notification of low levels.
Can I service multiple vehicles at the same time?
Yes – it is possible to install central refill stations, especially in workshops or fleets. Diagnostic tools for fleet management are also available with modern systems.
Is centralized lubrication compatible with harsh operating conditions (e.g., dust, cold)?
Centralized lubrication systems are designed for use in extreme conditions. Pressure-resistant lines, frost-resistant lubricants, and robust pumps ensure operation even at very low or high temperatures – ideal for construction and agriculture.
