https://www.lutz-jesco.com/en/blog/relief-for-quarry-operations

Cordless Drill-Driven Pump from Lutz Pumps and Woerner Enables Up to 40% Lower Costs and 80% Faster Refilling of Centralized Lubrication Systems

Steinexpo is unlike any other trade fair. Instead of taking place in an exhibition hall, the international exhibition for the raw materials and construction industry is held in Europe’s largest basalt quarry in Nieder-Ofleiden (Hessen). Visitors can experience giant excavators, dump trucks and screening plants under real operating conditions. They can also witness everyday operational challenges, such as refilling centralized lubrication systems with grease – a task that is often time-consuming and physically demanding. At their joint booth, the two Wertheim-based companies Lutz Pumps and Woerner are presenting a jointly developed solution: an innovative filling tool marketed by Lutz Pumps as LubeDrive and by Woerner as Power Fill Pro (Pavilion 1, Level D, Booth P117). Powered by a standard cordless drill, the tool enables grease refilling at up to 40% lower cost and up to 80% faster.

When operators need to fill the central lubrication systems of construction machinery in a quarry, there are two established methods: using 400-gram grease cartridges and refilling with grease guns. “However, both methods have drawbacks: Manual grease guns are time-consuming. In addition, they can lead to strain on the arms, shoulders, and hands. Grease cartridges, on the other hand, are often more expensive to purchase, store, and dispose of than larger containers,” says Andreas Frank, sales manager at Eugen Woerner GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer of central lubrication systems based in Wertheim. “We have therefore been searching for a long time for a more efficient and ergonomic solution for our customers.”

A Strong Neighborhood and combined Expertise
To ease the workload at the quarry, a partnership between two technology leaders located right next to each other in Wertheim, Baden-Württemberg, was a natural fit: Woerner contributes its expertise in automatic central lubrication systems, while Lutz Pumpen brings its expertise in pump technology. Together, the engineers developed a filling tool called LubeDrive or Power Fill Pro. “This is the world’s first eccentric screw pump that can be powered by a standard cordless screwdriver,” explains Andreas Rössler, sales manager at Lutz Pumpen. With the LubeDrive, operators can fill central lubrication systems in quarries directly from containers with standard NLGI 2 grease. All you have to do is secure the pump unit in the container using an adjustable lid, connect a hose to the central lubrication system, and operate the cordless screwdriver to start the pumping process. “Refilling is quick, ergonomic, and requires no separate drive unit.”

Reduce Grease Management Costs by Up to 40%
“When operators use 400-gram grease cartridges to fill central lubrication systems, they often cannot take advantage of the purchasing benefits offered by larger containers of grease,” says Andreas Rössler. “At the same time, the relatively small cartridges increase the effort involved in procurement, storage, and disposal, especially when multiple machines are involved.” With LubeDrive, construction equipment operators can switch to containers weighing up to 180 kg. “Depending on the lubricant and purchasing terms, costs for procurement, storage, and disposal can be reduced by up to 40 percent.”

Up to 80% Time Savings When Filling Centralized Lubrication Systems in Quarries
Using a grease gun to refill centralized lubrication systems can be time-consuming, especially when large amounts of grease are required. “The LubeDrive and PowerFill deliver lubricating grease at a rate of up to 2 kg/min directly into the reservoir of the central lubrication system,” says Andreas Frank. “This allows filling operations to be completed much more quickly.” A sample calculation illustrates the time savings: A manual grease gun has an assumed flow rate of 0.25 kg/min. If 2 kg of grease is added to each of ten machines during maintenance, the filling process takes about 80 minutes. “With the LubeDrive, the actual filling time is reduced to about 10 minutes. This saves 70 minutes on refilling alone, making the maintenance process significantly more efficient.”

Protecting Employees from Overload
Many central lubrication systems in quarries are still filled using manual hand levers or hand-operated grease guns. “However, manually dispensing lubricating grease requires a great deal of effort, especially when dealing with thick greases or at low temperatures,” says Andreas Frank. This puts a strain on employees’ hands, arms, and shoulders and, when there are a large number of machines, can become a health—and thus a business—problem. “The LubeDrive, on the other hand, handles grease delivery with virtually no physical effort.” If construction equipment operators in quarries still wish to use manual grease guns, they can use the LubeDrive to speed up the refilling process. “At full flow rate, a standard grease gun is filled and ready for use in 10 to 15 seconds.”

You can find the press release and high-resolution images here: LINK.

About EUGEN WOERNER GmbH & Co. KG
For more than 100 years, Eugen Woerner has been developing and manufacturing high-quality, innovative central lubrication systems that minimize friction and wear in machinery. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio ranging from individual components to complete units and custom system solutions. These products increase machine efficiency, extend their service life, and ensure reliable operation through optimal lubrication. WOERNER supports its customers with comprehensive services—from consulting, planning, and system design to installation and maintenance. All products are developed, manufactured, and tested at the Wertheim facility—100% Made in Germany. For more information, visit www.woerner.de.

About Lutz Holding GmbH
Since 1954, Lutz Holding GmbH has been synonymous with professional fluid management. The group brings together internationally active companies in the fields of pump technology, water treatment, and water disinfection, and maintains a global presence with 16 sales and production facilities in over 80 countries. The group includes Lutz Pumpen GmbH in Wertheim, Lutz-Jesco GmbH in Wedemark, and Lutz-Jesco Suisse SA in Couvet, Switzerland. Its product portfolio includes pumps, systems, and accessories for dosing, conveying, emptying, and mixing processes involving a wide variety of media. Products from the Lutz Group are used in numerous industries, including the chemical industry, the food industry, automotive manufacturing, water and wastewater treatment, and the paint and coatings industry.