Morbi, Gujarat, is the world’s largest ceramic tile manufacturing hub — producing over 60% of India’s tiles and exporting to more than 150 countries. The machinery that powers this industrial belt operates continuously, under extreme heat and load, 24 hours a day. Lubrication in a ceramic plant is not routine maintenance — it is the foundation of uninterrupted production.
Key Lubrication Points in a Ceramic Plant
A typical ceramic tile plant has several critical lubrication points: ball mills (for body and glaze grinding), spray dryers, hydraulic presses (for tile pressing), kiln cars and kiln chain drives, roller kilns and tunnel kilns, polishing lines and rectification machines, and conveyor systems throughout the plant. Each has specific lubricant requirements based on load, temperature, speed, and exposure to dust and moisture.
Gear Oils for Ball Mill and Main Gearboxes
Ball mill gearboxes are among the most heavily loaded in any plant — they drive the drum at low speed under constant high torque. The standard specification for ball mill gearboxes in ceramic plants is VG 320 or VG 460 EP gear oil. For main conveyor gearboxes running at higher speeds under moderate load, VG 220 EP is typically used. Synthetic gear oils offer extended drain intervals and better performance in continuously operating equipment like ball mills.
Hydraulic Oil for Tile Presses
Hydraulic presses in ceramic plants operate at pressures of 250–400 bar to compact dry powder into dense tile blanks. At these pressures, the hydraulic oil must provide excellent anti-wear protection while maintaining thermal stability across extended cycles. VG 46 or VG 68 AW hydraulic oil is standard. In larger plants where press hydraulics generate significant heat, VG 68 is preferred for its greater film strength at elevated temperatures.
Kiln Chain and High-Temperature Lubrication
Roller kilns in ceramic plants operate at temperatures of 1100–1200°C inside, but the chain drives and support structures outside the kiln are exposed to radiated temperatures of 200–400°C. Standard lubricants cannot survive this environment — high-temperature synthetic chain oils or bitumen-based open gear compounds are required. Greases used on kiln car wheel bearings must be high-temperature grades (typically NLGI 2, drop point above 260°C).
Dust Management and Lubricant Compatibility
Ceramic dust (silica, feldspar, clay minerals) is extremely abrasive and penetrates bearing housings if not properly sealed. Greases used in dusty zones should have good mechanical stability (NLGI 2 or 3) and water resistance to resist washing out during wet cleaning of machinery. High-consistency greases with synthetic or semi-synthetic bases perform significantly better than standard lithium grease in heavy-dust environments.
Why Lukeron Lubricants Is the Choice for Morbi
Located in Jamnagar — just 60 km from Morbi — Lukeron Lubricants is positioned to serve the ceramic belt with fast supply, competitive pricing, and products specifically suited to the ceramic tile production environment. Our client list includes leading ceramic companies in the Morbi region. We supply gear oils, hydraulic oils, greases, synthetic chain oils, and circulating oils for the full range of ceramic plant applications.
📞 CONTACT & CTA
Contact Lukeron for ceramic industry lubricant supply: +91 73832 79438 | info@lukeronlubricants.com
