2026 Buyer’s Guide: Maintenance Product Releases
Reliable Machining, Low-emission Production
Zeller+Gmelin (Richmond, VA) has expanded its portfolio with the metalworking oil Multicut SE 13, a multifunctional machining oil suitable for a range of machining and grinding processes. This includes turning and milling to demanding applications such as broaching and deep-hole drilling. With high thermal stability, low evaporation, and minimal smoke generation, Multicut SE 13 is a proven performer in both conventional gearbox manufacturing and e-mobility components.
Even under highly variable machining conditions, such as in automated production lines or with complex component geometries, its lubrication performance remains stable. The combination of high-quality hydrocracked base oils, synthetic greases, and coordinated EP additives ensures reliable performance even under high thermal and mechanical loads.
A key feature of the new lubricant is its thermal resistance: The viscosity changes comparatively little upon significant heating, ensuring consistent lubrication even at intense machining temperatures. The oil exhibits a very low Noack evaporation loss, which not only reflects the high lubricant quality but also significantly reduces lubricant consumption. Foam formation is also very low, ensuring maximum process reliability, especially in automated processes.
Multicut SE 13 is also designed for a clean working environment. The formulation minimizes the formation of smoke and oil mist. The multifunctional oil combines high technical performance with a sustainable formulation and maximum process versatility. The non-water-miscible cutting fluid is suitable for machining a wide range of materials, including cast iron, steel, stainless steel, and selected aluminum alloys.
Fast, Economical, and Sustainable Water-based Fine Cleaning
With the EcoCvario, Ecoclean Inc. (Southfield, MI) has developed a highly flexible solution for water-based precision cleaning. The modular concept allows different cleaning technologies and drying processes to be combined and adapted to individual requirements in such a way that high cleanliness specifications can be met reproducibly, quickly and sustainably. In addition, innovative equipment details, effective heat management, optimized media flow, and efficient media treatment contribute to cost- and resource-saving processes.
The powerful spray-flood cleaning system with a vacuum-tight working chamber is designed for batches weighing up to 150 kg and measuring a maximum of 650-x-470-x-400 mm and is equipped with three flood tanks as standard. Its compact footprint and wide range of automation options also make it ideal for seamless integration into the production chain.
By using various cleaning technologies that can be combined as desired, this innovative all-rounder can be adapted to a wide range of requirements. For example, the pulsated pressure cleaning (PPC) pressure change process enables contaminants to be reliably removed from complex internal geometries, fine capillaries, narrow undercuts, deep bores with small cross-sections, or the delicate structures of printed components.
With power-controlled ultrasound at different frequencies, individual vibration units can be selected or deselected depending on the application and parts. For stubborn contamination, high-pressure cleaning comes into its own. Gentle flooding ensures that delicate and sensitive components emerge from the cleaning system clean and undamaged, in line with requirements. The rinsing function of the working chamber via additional nozzle bars reduces carryover to a minimum.
Regarding drying, equipped with combinable hot air and vacuum drying, optimal results are achieved in every case with minimal energy consumption and the shortest possible time. This is supported by sensor-controlled moisture measurement and monitoring integrated into the working chamber.
The EcoCvario system’s technology is designed for high cleaning quality, and its effective media treatment reduces operating costs.
Advanced Calcium Sulfonate Complex Greases for Metal Processing
The RENOLIT CXS CRM/AM Series (RENOLIT CXS CRM 1 and RENOLIT CXS AM 1) from FUCHS Lubricants Co. (Harvey, IL) leverages a state-of-the-art calcium sulfonate complex thickening system paired with semi-synthetic base oils for extended drain intervals in centralized lubrication systems. This advanced formulation delivers outstanding mechanical stability, even in environments exposed to chemically treated water, acids, detergents, and other process fluids known to break down traditional greases.
These greases retain their consistency under high water contamination and mechanical stress, ensuring reliable protection for critical equipment such as casters, hot strip mill back-up bearings, pickling lines, and galvanizing lines. An optimized base oil viscosity provides a thicker lubricant film, extending protection against shock loading and heavy loads, while a sophisticated additive package offers comprehensive corrosion, antioxidant, anti-wear and extreme pressure protection. The series is engineered for excellent thermal and oxidative stability, supporting reliable operation across a wide temperature range and in high-temperature environments. Its exceptional water resistance and shear stability further ensure consistent performance and equipment longevity, even in harsh industrial settings.
These greases not only match or surpass lithium-based products in key performance metrics such as thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and water resistance, but also offer greater sustainability and supply security: calcium is a more abundant and environmentally responsible resource.
For one customer, after switching from a tacky lithium-complex grease to RENOLIT CXS AM 1, the customer eliminated water etching in bearings, reduced grease purge rates by 30%, and achieved annual savings of approximately $400,000 in purchasing costs and grease consumption.
Innovative Pneumatic Vacuum Line Sets a New Standard
PowerQUAD™ from Guardair Corp. (Chicopee, MA) is the manufacturer’s latest advancement in pneumatic vacuum technology, which sets a new standard in performance, safety and efficiency. Assembled in the United States, the PowerQUAD represents the most significant leap in pneumatic vacuum technology in more than 75 years. Featuring a patent-pending, dual-stage vacuum, multi-venturi generating engine, PowerQUAD is engineered to deliver superior vacuum performance while maximizing energy savings. PowerQUAD is also the quietest pneumatic vacuum in the industry, operating at less than 88 dBA.
PowerQUAD vacuums offer up to 35% higher vacuum head and up to 67% more vacuum flow compared to traditional systems. This exceptional performance is complemented by significant compressed air savings of up to 71% compared to conventional pneumatic vacuums, providing a lower total cost of ownership and backed by the Guardair Forever Warranty.
PowerQUAD vacuums, which are powered by compressed air, are safe and reliable. The absence of electric cords and electric motors eliminates the risks of electrical shocks, sparking, burnout, or overheating, making PowerQUAD vacuums inherently safe for hazardous locations or wet environments. In addition, all PowerQUAD vacuums feature a liquid shutoff device making them wet/dry compatible.
With customer-configurable nozzles and color-coded injector nozzle sets, users can optimize vacuum performance to match specific compressed air supply requirements. Designed for heavy-duty industrial and commercial applications, PowerQUAD vacuums are available in a range of models including STANDARD, ATEX-CERTIFIED, NED, and PulseAir™, from 5-to-55 gallon capacities. PowerQUAD vacuums are backwards compatible with existing Guardair vacuum accessories and attachments, ensuring seamless integration.
Act Now to Replace Discontinued 3M Novec Specialty Fluids
MicroCare, LLC (New Britain, CT) offers ready-to-ship, precision-matched reliable replacement cleaning fluids for discontinued 3M Novec™ Specialty Fluids with its Tergo™ Performance Fluids and MicroCare Engineered Fluids lines.
Engineered for high-reliability vapor degreasing, Tergo fluids deliver the same cleaning power and material compatibility as Novec fluids including 7100, 71DE, 7200, 72DE, 72DA and 73DE. Their high density and ultra-low surface tension allow them to penetrate complex geometries, blind holes, fine features, and tight-tolerance assemblies — making them ideal for:
- Complex machined parts.
- Small components with tight tolerances.
- Parts requiring coating or plating preparation.
MicroCare’s alternatives can be used in existing vapor degreasers with no process requalification, ensuring seamless transition and uninterrupted cleaning performance. Manufacturers can expect equal or improved results in removing machining oils, cutting fluids, greases and particulate contamination.
“Machining and metalworking shops depend on absolute consistency,” said Ray Bellavance, MicroCare’s vice president of sales and marketing. “As Novec products disappear from the market, our fluids offer a proven, drop-in solution that keeps production moving and ensures parts are cleaned to specification.”
Environmentally Friendly Metalworking Oils are Ideal for Machining Hard Materials
Renewable Lubricants, Inc. (Hartville, OH) has introduced readily biodegradable Bio-SynXtra™ metalworking oils for heavy-duty machining applications in hard materials like stainless steel, Inconel, Hastelloy and more. This biosynthetic blend is transparent to allow visibility during cutting operations. Formulated with natural and synthetic esters, it reduces smoke and mist while providing superior extreme pressure (EP) and anti-wear protection. Non-staining to yellow metals, Bio-SynXtra is ideal for ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Renewable Lubricants’ metalworking fluids are readily biodegradable, non-toxic, and not bioaccumulative, and contain no active sulfur, chlorine, zinc, phosphorus, silicon or heavy metals, so it is safer for the environment as well as employees working with it. This unique formulation is suitable for stamping, drawing, milling, drilling, turning, grinding, honing, broaching, thread cutting, tapping, and other applications in stainless steel, Inconel, Hastelloy, and other hard to machine materials.
Compliant with EPA VGL EAL guidelines, it exceeds U.S. EPA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acute toxicity standards. Stabilized™ (trademark for the proprietary and patented antioxidant, anti-wear, and cold flow technology) HOBS Technology enhances oxidative, thermal, and cold flow stability.
Also available in other formulations including Bio-Syntra, which offers lower EP performance at a more economical cost; and Bio-SynXtra LV — a low viscosity version for high-precision applications.
It is available in 1-gallon containers, and 5-gallon buckets.
