Blog Single Author Big - Abanaki Oil Skimmers

belt oil skimmer, coolant, disk skimmer, mighty disk, mighty mini, oil boss oil skimmer, oil skimmer, Tote It, tube oil skimmer, tubetastic

How to Select the Right Coolant Oil Skimmer for the Machine Shop

Machine shop coolant tank showing surface oil contamination.

The use of an oil skimmer in the machine shop setting holds many benefits. Removing the oil from a machine coolant tank will initiate some esthetic benefits such as cutting down on the amount of smoke generated from the cutting tool coming into contact with oil laden coolant.

When a machine is shut down for the weekend, oil has a chance to come to the surface of the coolant tank. Bacteria that are living in the coolant tank use up the dissolved oxygen in the coolant mix, a process that is sped up by having a layer of oil on the surface. This allows odor causing anaerobic bacteria to thrive, giving off that familiar “rotten egg” smell.

Contrary to popular belief the common types of bacteria found in metalworking fluids do not cause dermatitis. However, if the skin is broken, bacteria that normally inhabit the skin may enter and cause infection. The presence of phosphates and carbonates that increase alkalinity in the coolant, however, can cause dermatitis. These impurities are found in the water being used in the coolant mix.

CIMG0548-300x225 Separating the oil from the coolant will also help reduce disposal costs. The cost of disposing of oil laden coolant is more expensive than disposing of oil. In fact, in some instances, companies may be able to re-use the oil elsewhere or sell it for recycling. Having oil free coolant can also extend its usefulness and effectiveness, reducing the expense on maintenance and coolant replacement. As the research on the different types of oil skimmers begins, a person will find that there are a variety of skimmers available to them. The most common types are the belt, disk, and tube skimmers. Each type of coolant skimmer has its advantages and disadvantages.

There are also many factors that need to be considered when choosing the correct type of oil skimmer to fit the appropriate application. Factors such as water level fluctuation, water temperature, pH level, the use of rust inhibitors, the amount of oil to be skimmed, quality, and cost, must all be considered when selecting an oil skimmer. IMG_3079-300x225

The use of rust inhibitors, high temperatures, and variable pH levels can affect the skimmers ability to pick up oil. Most skimmer manufacturers use a variety of materials for the skimming medium such as plastic, stainless steel, or poly blends to match the solution in which they will be used.

There are a multitude of oil skimmers on the market today. One of the most important things to be considered is the quality of the unit to be purchased. Points of interest should include construction materials, motor design, and the type of warranty that is offered. Is the skimmer housing made of metal or plastic? Is the motor fan-cooled? Does the motor use needle bearings or bronze bearings? How long does the warranty last and what does it cover? Most oil skimmers will perform as advertised, but remember the old adage that “you get what you pay for”.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400.

June 18, 2018

coolant, groundwater remediation, industrial applications, oil skimmer, petroxtractor, Solar Oil Skimming System

Groundwater Remediation: Abanaki PetroXtractor is The New Solution to An Old Problem

Everyone is thinking “Green” these days and looking for ways to make the world a cleaner place. Why not start with the groundwater? Pump & treat is an old solution to an old problem. The oil and groundwater are both pumped from the monitoring well. They are usually put into a collection tank and then the groundwater is treated to remove the oil. The PetroXtractor belt oil skimmer allows just the oil to PETRX1_hi_res be removed eliminating the need to treat the groundwater. The PetroXtractor line boasts models that are designed to fit in 2”, 4” and 6” (or larger) casings. The belt oil skimmer uses groundwater surface tension to draw oil to the belt. A new solution to an old problem!

The PetroXtractor groundwater remediation oil skimmer can be placed in an existing monitoring well and remove the oil from the contaminated groundwater quickly and efficiently. Just like the rest of the Abanaki oil skimmers, the PetroXtractor can remove a wide variety of oils including fuel oils, coal tar, and creosote at rates up to 12 gallons per hour. No more bailing, no more expensive pump and treat. The PetroXtractor oil skimmer is the perfect green solution for groundwater remediation.

Solar-PX-250x250 The Abanaki Solar Powered PetroXtractor gives companies options where electricity is not available. Many times well remediation will occur at an abandoned site where electricity is no longer available and the cost to run electricity is cost prohibitive. Abanaki’s solar powered systems have all the same capacities that the electrical systems offer but without the need for electricity. The Abanaki solar powered system with its battery back-up is designed to work in all parts of the country.

May 17, 2018

coolant, groundwater remediation, industrial applications, oil skimmer, parts washer

Abanaki Oil Skimmers: Not a “One and Done” Deal

Abanaki blog banner featuring an industrial worker, oil skimmer, and quote request form.

Many customers have come to realize that, when they purchase an oil skimmer from Abanaki, it is not a “one and done” deal. Although the rugged construction of all of Abanaki’s oil skimmers assures a long-lasting, beneficial product, proper maintenance is important.

April 26, 2018

Concentrators, coolant, oil skimmer, Tote It

Bill Clinton-era Skimmers Still in Use 20 Years Later

Abanaki belt oil skimmer mounted on a stainless steel industrial tank.

Lasco Fittings, Inc., a global leader in pipe fittings for Irrigation/Golf, Plumbing, Pool/Spa, and Industrial customers, maintains a 26-acre manufacturing facility in Brownsville, Tennessee. Hundreds of different parts with multiple manufacturing processes are created at their extensive facility.

Oil plays a vital, yet bothersome and dirty role in their production. This is where Abanaki Corporation entered the picture for them, as it has for thousands of manufacturers worldwide.

Tote It (2).jpg According to Ryan Hilliard, Maintenance Supervisor for Lasco Fittings, 10 Abanaki 2-inch Tote-It oil skimmers were purchased in 1999. “Our (manufacturing) machines leak oil into this 110-foot long, 6-foot deep pit. Our skimmers are permanently mounted on the end of this pit and run 24/7 with very little trouble.”

Lasco periodically inspects and maintains the units, ensuring that the Abanaki skimmers keep the company running with cost-saving, manufacturing-enhancing, and environmentally-compliant benefits.

Abanaki oil skimmers extend the life of parts washers while also making them more efficient — by ending recontamination of parts. Abanaki skimmers have actively served for nearly two decades for a high-quality manufacturer like Lasco Fittings, Inc., and they certainly can for you. Are your parts washers working efficiently?

As always, the Abanaki sales team is here, ready and waiting to help you choose the right oil skimmer for your application.

March 29, 2018

coolant, mighty mini, model 4, model 8, oil skimmer, Tote It

“Hopeless” Oil Skimming Emergency? Abanaki Comes to the Rescue!

Abanaki industrial blue belt oil skimmer studio shot.

There are over 25,000 plating companies in the USA operating under challenging manufacturing conditions. Facing high temperatures, abrasives, extreme pH and chemicals in parts washers and holding tanks, effective oil skimming seems like a nearly hopeless task.

Some companies know a solution. A select group of plating companies and metal finishers across the country are extending the life of their parts washer and eliminating recontamination of their parts. These companies recognized that removing oil from their parts washers and holding tanks would enhance manufacturing efficiencies and provide cost-savings. They found the solution with the trusted the leader in oil skimming over the past 70 years — Abanaki Corporation.

By working with the oil skimming experts at Abanaki, each of these customers have been able to determine the most appropriate skimmer for their own specific application — the Mighty-Mini, the Tote-It, the Model 4 and the Model 8.

And, rest assured, when all of the other plating companies and metal finishers are ready to address their “hopeless” manufacturing conditions, they’ll dial Abanaki Corporation at 440-543-7400 to find their solution.

March 27, 2018

coolant, model 8, oil skimmer, petroxtractor, Solar Oil Skimming System, Transfer Package

How a Refinery Oil Skimmer Saves Time and Money

Refineries are capable of producing a range of materials as different as gasoline, jet fuel, or even asphalt. Like most large-scale, high-capacity plants, they require process optimization and advanced process controls. Refinery oil skimming is necessary for retrieving hydrocarbons from wastewater.

Implementing an oil skimming solution makes it possible for refineries to achieve the goal of recapturing 100% of all hydrocarbons before they go down the drain. A refinery oil skimmer collects the bulk of the hydrocarbons and sends them back to a crude tank. Filtration or chemical treatment can remove any residual oils. Refinery oil skimmers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and require very little oversight and no maintenance. The time they save more than offsets the cost of the electricity needed to operate them.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your refinery application the best, click here to launch our E-Book guide.

For information on how our skimmers work in refinery applications, refinery case studies, and more, click here.

February 28, 2018