Shop Talk: Contamination Control

Wyoming Machinery Company has once again been awarded Caterpillar's 5 Star Contamination Control Award across four store locations. This prestigious award recognizes adherence to over 120 standards in all phases of contamination control.

Contamination is anything in the fluid or in a component that doesn't belong. Particulate contaminants are the most common and controllable -- dirt, metals, weld spatter, paint flakes, rag fibers, and sealing materials. Heat, water and air also break down oil's chemical composition, forming oxidation and acids.

Today's fluid systems cannot tolerate previously accepted levels of dirt and other contaminants. Customer demand for increased productivity has produced industry trends of electro hydraulics, higher system pressures and extremely tight internal clearances.

Benefits of controlling contamination include improved component life and machine performance, lower costs and increased satisfaction, extended product and component life, and reduced hazardous waste generation.