Frigmaires provides state-of-the-art equipment and services for the manufacture of a wide range of mineral and synthetic oil greases. Backed by over 20 years of experience in this field, with over 100 installations worldwide, the company provides complete manufacturing technology and formulations meeting nlgi specifications. The plants are designed in a cost effective manner to produce low penetration greases with uniform dispersion utilizing only the required content of soap for per kilogram of grease produced. Grease is a mixture of petroleum oil and thickener [soap] dispersed in oil. The first stage of grease manufacture is to prepare the soap by adding the fats and specified quantity of oil in the saponification vessel until the process is complete. The next step is to transfer the prepared soap to a finishing kettle, where the product is cooled. These are large open blending vessels, provided with a jacket for water-cooling. Here, the balance amount of oil is added and gently blended until the product reaches the desired stability and temperature. Additives are then added into the cooled finished grease and mixed to achieve the required performance characteristics. Some grease requires milling to ensure that the grease is homogeneous. For this, the grease is passed through a milling machine and a deaerator. The product is at times re-circulated back into the finishing kettle until it meets the required test results. The grease is then finally packed. In some cases, it is possible to finish the grease in the saponification kettle itself.
