Q1.  Can LRS provide management and recycling services to companies that don’t have centralized coolant systems? (Please discuss why/ why not, differences)

First, let me clarify that Lormar Reclamation is involved with fluid reclamation services solely. We are expert at knowing what processes are required to rapidly restore contaminated coolants to an excellent condition for continued use and how best to benefit by this technology. Our clients make coolant management decisions in-house with the guidance and assistance of the original coolant supplier and Lormar.  

While Lormar does serve a few, close-in clients with 1,000-gallon batches of coolant, most operate large, centralized coolant systems. Cost-savings usually drive the client’s decision to reclaim. Since Lormar charges a $1,500.00 minimum charge to recover costs for set-up and shutdown, plus a transportation charge, spreading these costs over thousands of gallons instead of a few hundred gallons makes the service more affordable. In addition, the extraordinary efficiency of Lormar’s large volume systems is best realized on larger projects like centralized coolant systems

Q1.  Can CMS provide management and recycling services to companies that don’t have centralized coolant systems? (Please discuss why/ why not, differences)

Coolant Management Services can provide recycling service for central systems or stand alone machines.

Q2. How does LRS interact with the shop maintenance/MWF team?  In regards to what specific issues does it depend on the facility?

Lormar becomes an integral member in a three-way partnership with the client and coolant supplier. Our mutual objectives are to reduce operating and disposal costs while improving coolant performance and service life. Since the plant’s MWF personnel are the experts at observing the appearance, odor, and performance of the coolant and how it relates to degradation in machine tool life, parts finish or other problems on a daily basis, their information is critical. The coolant supplier, the formulator of the fluid with expertise in knowing what additive levels and physical properties to maintain, remains the expert at advising when these parameters are outside recommended levels. Lormar helps the client and coolant supplier use this information to their mutual advantage. We possess the expertise to know which problems can be corrected with fluid treatment, how best to achieve rapid, effective results, and at what frequency to interrupt the cycle of degradation experienced with most central coolant systems. The result of this partnership is a dramatic improvement in the clients coolant management program.

Q2. How does CMS interact with the shop maintenance/MWF team?  In regards to what specific issues does it depend on the facility?

Coolant Management Services believes that a coolant committee type approach is best and as a result interacts with maintenance as well as manufacturing.

Q3. Is there a technical service representative (or rose by any other name) assigned to each facility, and if so, what should a customer expect his resume of education and experience to look like?

The greatest asset Lormar brings to a project is the quality of our on-site personnel. Presently, all of Lormar’s personnel have 3 to 15 years experience operating Lormar equipment and completing fluid reclamation projects. As a result, the skill, confidence and problem solving ability our personnel possess is unsurpassed in the industry. A Rig Supervisor and Rig Technician arrive on-site to perform the operations required to complete each project. Rig Supervisors possess a minimum of 5 years employment experience with Lormar and have no fewer than 500 projects to their credit. Rig Technicians are required to complete a rigorous, 6-month Equipment Operations & Maintenance and Coolant Training program not to mention Lormar’s continuing Safety Program.

Q3. Is there a technical service representative (or rose by any other name) assigned to each facility, and if so, what should a customer expect his resume of education and experience to look like?

There generally is no technical service representative on mobile recycling accounts but Coolant Management Services assigns a coolant trained representative to each account.

Since virtually all of Lormar’s larger customers are Fortune 500 Manufacturers, Lormar is not allowed to publicize their name without express written consent. We would be pleased to provide Company Names and Contacts on an individual basis. With that said, our clients manufacture many if not most of America’s Commercial Aircraft, Agile Military Fighters, Outboard Boat Motors, Aluminum Cans and Foils, Faucets, Automotive Wheels, Bearings and Piston Rods, Air Conditioning Compressors, Lawn Mower Engines, Aircraft Turbine Engines, Oil Drilling Bits, and Oil Field Pipe. They are located nationally.

Coolant Management Services serves accounts from large national companies to small job shops.

Q5. What is the fluid testing program used by the LRS team in management of the fluids, and what are the steps used in determining that program?

Records of the ongoing condition of the coolant are generated and maintained by the client and coolant supplier. Parameters tracked include concentration, tramp oil, total solids, biologicals, and additive levels. Observations of coolant color, odor, plant smoke, tool life and parts finish are also recorded. This information is used by Lormar to determine when a system requires servicing.

Q5. What is the fluid testing program used by the CMS team in management of the fluids, and what are the steps used in determining that program?

We have an in house lab to test fluids for concentration, conductivity, PH, bacteria, fungus and tramp oil.

Q6. What recordkeeping practices are associated with a mobile recycler such as LRS, and how are those responsibilities divided?

While on site and processing, Lormar tests hourly to determine the level of solid and liquid contaminates, color and concentration of the coolant. Observations of the removal rate of these contaminates are monitored. Client MWF personnel monitor their observations of machine side changes in tool life, parts finish, plant smoke & odor, foaming, etc. At the conclusion of a project, Lormar provides a record of the amount of waste oil and solids resulting from the service.

Q6. What recordkeeping practices are associated with a mobile recycler such as CMS, and how are those responsibilities divided?

A lab report is made up for before and after recycling and sent to the customer.

Q7. What is the minimum metalworking fluid volume a shop is managing before they can economically consider using LRS recycling services?  Also, how would you describe the best candidate for mobile recycling services?

Considering my response to your first question, the typical client more than 200 miles away from Central Oklahoma operates a central system of 10,000 to 80,000 gallons. The best candidate is likely a manufacturer that has an advanced understanding of their coolant and system and has an established coolant management program. They are driven by economics to reduce operating costs and improve fluid efficiencies and therefore appreciate the financial benefits of improving coolant performance and extending service life. They are sophisticated enough to recognize the correlation between contamination levels as they relate to development of problems and with our assistance can predict which levels are cause for concern and correction. Frequency of coolant problems is occasional (semi-monthly to annually, etc.) which makes it difficult to justify the significant investment required to buy, operate and maintain an in-plant fluid treatment system.

Q7. What is the minimum metalworking fluid volume a shop is managing before they can economically consider using CMS recycling services?  Also, how would you describe the best candidate for mobile recycling services?

About 300 to 400 gallons of sumpage in a shop can justify recycling.  We have accounts with as little as 100 gallons.  The best candidate is the one who wants his coolant controlled to minimize coolant  related problems.

Q8. What are the disposal criteria for a metalworking fluid, that is?  How is it determined that it is time to dispose of a fluid volume as opposed to filtering it?

Lormar will usually recommend a system dump if a coolant has been contaminated with incompatible soaps or other water-soluble chemicals that react with and deteriorate the coolant package. We also recommend dumps when dissolved solids (hardness) levels are very high for certain coolants.

Q8. What are the disposal criteria for a metalworking fluid, that is?  How is it determined that it is time to dispose of a fluid volume as opposed to filtering it?

If coolant is properly recycled there will be no disposal.  Coolant should be recycled every 30 days.

Q9. Does LRS dispose of metalworking fluids as part of the service?  If so, by what methods?

Lormar does not dispose of coolant. We do however operate mobile ultrafiltration systems that are utilized to treat spent oil based emulsions and other oily wastewater at customer locations. Treatment typically results in a 90 –95% clarified water phase that is reused at the plant or disposed to the sanitary sewer and a 5-10% oil phase that is recycled.

Q9. Does CMS dispose of metalworking fluids as part of the service?  If so, by what methods?

Coolant Management Services does not dispose of any customer- generated waste.

Q10.  How exactly does LRS recycle the metalworking fluid? What filtration equipment is used and what affects are achieved?

Lormar’s personnel access the central system via a supply and return line hose.  A side stream of coolant is first pumped through a pre-filter to remove large debris and heated a few degrees to improve process efficiency. Next the coolant is processed through a large, 10,000 “G” (10,000 times normal gravity), 3-phase (liquid/liquid/solid), self-cleaning centrifugal separator. The separator, operated at only 1/3^rd of its rated flow capacity, subjects the coolant to extreme centrifugal forces. These forces cause solids and unstable oils to separate from the coolant emulsion. Tramp oils (hydraulic oil, way lube, etc.), loose oil emulsions (partially broken down coolant base oils), and metallic soaps (sub-micron metals that chemically react with oil to form greases), are separated and pumped to a waste oil tank or drums for subsequent recycling. Dirt, metal fines, swarf and other non-filtered, suspended solids, are separated and periodically dumped with a small volume of coolant to a sludge tank. This waste stream is pumped to chip bins or drums for disposal. Coolant is then passed through a low micron polishing filter and pumped back into the system. The process usually requires about 3 passes (300% of reservoir capacity) to achieve optimal results on an operating system. A single pass works on batch projects.

Lormar’s process reduces tramp and other non-beneficial oil levels to about ½ of 1%. Suspended solids are usually reduced to about 250 PPM with few particles more than 1 micron in size. Besides the benefits associated with dramatically increasing coolant service life and avoiding system dumps, reclamation results in reduced plant smoke, odor and oil mist levels, improved tool life and parts finish, reduced foaming and biocide use. Some clients have operated central coolant systems for over 5 years that had previously been dumped every six months.

Q10.  How exactly does CMS recycle the metalworking fluid? What filtration equipment is used and what affects are achieved?

Coolant Management Services recycles the coolant by filtration and centrifugation.  The centrifuge is necessary to remove the tramp oil and the partially emulsified tramp oil.

Q11.  Regarding the basic categories of metalworking fluids, how do they rank as to manageability and recyclability, and why? (synthetic, semi-synthetic, water soluble oil)

Regarding recyclability, all categories of coolants will benefit quite favorably by reducing the level of contaminates. Regarding manageability, while synthetics users usually run significantly longer periods between servicing, soluble oil users seem to make up the difference at the end of the life cycle by having less expensive disposal options.

Q11.  Regarding the basic categories of metalworking fluids, how do they rank as to manageability and recyclability, and why? (synthetic, semi-synthetic, water soluble oil)

We prefer high quality water-soluble fluids.  They are more machine and operator friendly.  Synthetic would be 2nd.  It allows for a better, faster separation of tramp oil.

Q12.  Not considering cost savings, what is the “rule of thumb” a shop should use in calculating an estimated cost for LRS services to manage and recycle their fluids?

The cost for the service is based on the amount of time Lormar is on-site and is billed on an hourly basis, plus a travel charge. The typical cost to process a dirty 30,000 gallon system is just under $7,000.00 (approximately $0.23/GAL), while an 80,000 gallon system costs about $14,800.00 (approximately $0.18/gal).  Add to this a $1.00 per mile round trip transportation fee from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Q12.  Not considering cost savings, what is the “rule of thumb” a shop should use in calculating an estimated cost for CMS services to manage and recycle their fluids?

Cost range from $.80 to $1.25 per gallon depending on volume and what is included.

Q13.  What is the bullet list of cost saving opportunities for a facility considering using LRS Services?

Eliminate coolant replacement & disposal costs. Avoid lost production for downtime to shut down systems. Improve machine tool life. Reduce parts rejects due to poor finish. Reduce biocide usage. What value do you place on improving working conditions by reducing plant smoke and eliminating rancid coolant odors?

Q13.  What is the bullet list of cost saving opportunities for a facility considering using CMS Services?

Lower coolant purchase cost by 40% to 50%.  Minimize disposal.  Recycling done in off hours, more machine up time.  Coolant Management Services sumping and cleaning machines, not customer.

Q14.  What areas do you currently service, and do what near future expansion plans do you have?

While we serve clients nationally from our Oklahoma base, when the demand for Central Coolant System services expands to the northern states, Lormar will base strategically placed systems to insure rapid, affordable services to our clients.

Q14.  What areas do you currently service, and do what near future expansion plans do you have?

Serve Southern California exclusively.  No current plans for expansion.

Q15.  Why are you better than your regional competition?

The large size and efficiency of Lormar’s systems puts us in a unique position to be more cost effective in solving contamination problems on large volume projects than other companies. The fact that we can travel all the way to California or Maryland and complete a 25,000 gallon project quicker, and less expensively than a local competitor speaks volumes for the value of our service. Just as important however is the knowledge and experience we bring to bear on a project. We’ve learned a lot in 15 years, treating millions of gallons of fluid, on thousands of projects. We know what it takes to solve just about any challenge. We thrive on successfully completing projects that others avoid or have failed to complete. Our personnel are skilled professionals and frankly, our clients enjoy working with them. The fact that our client list still includes our very first customer attests to our success.

Q15.  Why are you better than your regional competition?

Coolant Management recycles by starting with clean machines, using good water (DI or RO) if available, and sumping out the machine sumps monthly to remove the chips and sludge and recycling the coolant.  The coolant is not degraded because recycled coolant is mixed with the fresh coolant and there is make up coolant added at 5% to 10% a day.

Coolant Management Services specializes in machining and grinding fluids for the metal working industry.  We have been a supplier of metalworking fluids for 25 years and in the mobile recycling business for metal working fluids for 15 years.  In addition, we have coolant management contracts where we put people and/or equipment in place at a customer’s location to provide on-site management.