SelfLube Installs a New Environmental Control System in Order to Obtain Stable Temperatures

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The new Environmental Control System will help stabilize the temperature in the shop in order to maintain tolerances of the precision components.

We make precision components here, some with tolerances of just a few ten-thousandths of an inch.

Coopersville, MI (PRWEB) September 23, 2013

In its drive to continuously improve quality, SelfLube, the leading U.S. manufacturer of mold and die components, is in the process of installing a new environmental control system. The purpose of the new system is to maintain an absolutely stable temperature throughout the SelfLube manufacturing plant.

"We make precision components here, some with tolerances of just a few ten-thousandths of an inch," explains Owner Phil Allor. "To maintain tight tolerances everything, work pieces, machines and measuring devices, must be at the same temperature. This is because metals expand and contract with temperature change. In measuring a work piece, if it and the measuring device are both at the same temperature you'll get a correct reading. If they're not you won't."

Holding a stable temperature in a big manufacturing facility is a challenge. SelfLube needs to somehow offset both the normal change in outside temperature and the effect of sunlight moving to different surfaces of the building during the course of the day. There is also a need to bring in fresh air to maintain air quality, which comes in at different temperatures during the course of the day. And, there is the opening and closing of doors that bring in a flood of outside air at whatever the temperature happens to be outside.

To meet the challenges the SelfLube environmental system uses a combination of exhaust fans, roof top units and air, which make up the unit that can either heat, cool or bring incoming air as-is. Linked automatic controls and sensors, SelfLube expects that this will easily accomplish its stable temperature goal. This will be just in time for using the heating system. SelfLube is located just a few miles from the shores of chilly Lake Michigan so this system will be put to the test soon.

SelfLube is the leading U.S. manufacturer of precision components used in molds, dies and special machines and supplies build shops throughout North America. Its product line of some 8,000 standard part numbers includes wear strips, wear plates, bushings, gibs, parting line locks, lifter slides and related items.

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