KLÜBER ON THE SPOT: "Flying pinions" in Kourou - and the countdown’s running...

A gigantic lifting platform somewhere in the South American jungle. It’s hot and sticky, the men are sweating. "All the ring-gear pinion drives of the eight winches are exhibiting damage in the same direction, towards the building", says one. "Probably the pinion shafts of the ‘flying pinions" are suffering from intensified bending." - "But we haven’t discovered any cracking at the tooth faces we inspected", rejoins another. Moreover, replacing or turning the ring-gears at this height would not be easy: they have a diameter of more than 2 m, and cannot be divided ...

Klüber’s specialists are always on the spot, wherever there’s a need for new, innovative lubricant solutions - today at the European Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Together with the experts from MAN Technology, they are checking the drives of the winches: can their useful lifetime be extended? Is the tried-and-tested lubrication with GRAFLOSCON CA 901 ULTRA Spray - so far being carried out by hand every two hours - still up to date?

Following extensive tests, the Klüber team recommends installing an automated lubrication system, which in future will prelubricate the pinion flanks at every start-up procedure for the drives. As the preferred product, the specialists advise a "new-generation lubricant", a white tacky lubricating grease (without graphite). "We’re going to solve this for you" is the team’s parting message. And now they’re ready to handle your problem. Just get in touch with us.