Program:

Our technical program over the last few years was based on half day in-person workshops featuring 5-6 speakers. This worked well but with the current concerns about the Covid 19, we are adapting. A short survey determined that the most popular was a talk 30-45 minutes long, on one topic, and held mid-morning. We are also going with live video audio webinars which allows our participants to attend from wherever they are working and there is no time lost for travel. Plus, questions can be submitted in advance or during the presentations. As before we are focusing on technologies that can help save your company resources. This can be better as it might help tribological products last longer, save energy, reduce waste, and/or increase productivity. Win, win, win!

The STLE Toronto Section uses events like this to help spread the word and also to raise funds. These funds are used to support the section activities and to provide donations and assistance to local universities and colleges. No money raised goes to salaries or expenses.

Sep 20, 2022: Rolling Bearing Damage and Failure Analysis: A Snapshot;  By Devan Devalia – SKF Canada

Oct 11, 2022: ‘Food Grade Lubricants – an Overview: By Behshad Sabah P.Eng CLS, OMA I,II – HF Sinclair -Petro Canada Lubricant

Nov 11 2022: ‘Ageing & Reconditioning Of Oil: The Tribological Perspective’, Sassan Hojabr, SKF RecondOil Technical Manager

Jan 10th, 2023 , Engineered Bearings and Industrial Motion Components, By: Ryan D. Evans, Ph.D. | Director – R&D, TIMKEN USA

Feb 14th, 2023. ‘Operational Savings Using Calcium Sulfonate Grease’  , Frank J. Hayes, CLS, CLGS, MLA-I, MLT-I, OMA-I |CITGO Petroleum Corporation

March 14th 2023. Role of IoT and Machine Learning in Predictive Maintenance . By: Hossein V. Farahani CAT IV

April 18th , 2023: What You Do Not Know Can Hurt – Tribology for Everyone and Now . By: Ken Brown, PEng, MASc, STLE, CLS . Utility Service Associates

Titles might change, but topic will be the same or very similar. Suggestions for speakers to fill the gaps would be appreciated.

Webinar Notice April 18, 2023 10-11 AM EST, What You Do Not Know Can Hurt – Tribology for Everyone and Now . By: Ken Brown, PEng, MASc, STLE, CLS . Utility Service Associates

Abstract:

Many international surveys including the 1964 Jost report with the new word Tribology, showed that friction and wear loses were adding up to 2% of the Gross National Product. This included Canada where the friction and wear industrial losses in a 1986 NRC report were estimated to be $5 billion. In 2023 dollars this is closer to $14B. On the plus side it has been shown that many tribological failures are often the result of factors that can be easily prevented. These failures can be the result of some or all of the following: design, manufacturing, commissioning, maintenance, and operation. The solutions are often just slight changes but require improved awareness at all levels. This is from the factory floor to the executive suites. All must be involved. It also requires better education for technicians, engineers, management, and accountants. For engineers, few universities in Canada even have a tribology course and their coverage on what they do have, can be very superficial. For example, they might learn how to calculate the L10h design life of a bearing. But few bearings ever get to fail by sub surface initiated fatigue. They need to learn about how to prevent these other failures and to learn more about root cause analysis. The need is not just for bearings. Plus, there must be continual training and for the employees to be provided with the proper tools, and a constructive learning work environment. There will also be examples of how minor changes in a lubricant has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is pep talk for tribologists as part of the key to keep learning and sharing information.