IRMCO committed to developing our own “cup-drawing” test process (IRMCO iTool®) not only as a valuable research tool, but also as a great added value to our customers. The basic process and technology existed for many years—pioneered by the great efforts of certain OEMs and Dr. Taylan Altan’s Center for Precision Forming. IRMCO was one of the first stamping lubricant companies to embrace and learn from the process—helping us and our customers better understand their unique application demands.
When commodity and specialty chemicals spike upward in cost—it can be tempting to cut corners or be enticed by low-priced lubricants as a means of cost savings, but is that desire clouding the true cost of those materials? Are you buying a pre-diluted lubricant for your stamping and finding it doesn’t fit the needs of all your parts? Are you paying less per gallon compared to other products—but using 3, 4 or 5 times more volume for the same number of parts? Are your lubricant costs lower, but your tooling costs have suddenly sky-rocketed? These are some of the most common and negative trade-offs to selecting your stamping lubricant purely on price per gallon rather than performance.
IRMCO has always championed minimum quantity (MQL) lubrication in stamping processes. The right lubricant, used at optimal concentration, in the lowest volume possible has been the commitment IRMCO has had and kept with our customers. Selling you 20 totes worth of a lower price per gallon lubricant—when 3 totes of the proper lubricant will do– just doesn’t make sense. Ready to use (RTU) products may be acceptable for some operations—while greatly compromising others. Profit is a great thing—especially in today’s market environment—but a customer’s trust should never be subordinate to profit.
If you have the feeling that your current supplier is a “fox in the henhouse” — reach out to IRMCO. We’ll show you how to pitch your “minimal quality lubricant” and how IRMCO and our minimum quantity lubrication approach can get you back on track.
