Case studies: Petrochemical

Testing and Reporting of Lubricant Samples at Benz Oil

Solution: LIMS

Benz Oil

Benz Logo

When Benz Oil's legacy Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) needed replacing they turned to Autoscribe’s Xybion LIMS (formerly Matrix Gemini LIMS) to help automate and streamline their processes.

Benz Oil has been manufacturing and supplying oil-based lubricants to the US market since 1898. When their legacy Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) needed replacing they turned to Autoscribe’s Xybion LIMS to help automate and streamline their processes. As a result, they have reduced the time taken to register incoming samples from 5 to 6 hours per day to around 1 hour per day and automated many of the instrument interfaces.

Founded in 1898, Benz Oil is a leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial and metalworking lubricants. It has one of the largest on-site storage facilities for raw materials in the US Midwest, an innovative oil analysis laboratory, and the technical resources to develop and manufacture specialist oil-based lubricants. These lubricants are used in a wide variety of applications including metalworking, grinding, gear maintenance, quench fluids, engines, hydraulic, and heat transfer applications.

CHALLENGES

  • Legacy LIMS with manual registration and result recording processes
matrix-lims

RESULTS

  • Tests are now automatically assigned during registration
  • Many of the instruments now directly connected to the LIMS
  • Streamlined processes have improved efficiency of the lab
  • Modern LIMS provides greater flexibility

"Xybion LIMS has allowed us to automate tasks and reduce human touch points from around 11 to 3-4 per sample. This has dramatically improved efficiency and reduced human error"

Benz Oil

The testing laboratory manages three distinct types of testing:

  • Quality control
    Each product batch made is tested, and samples are retained from each for future cross-reference. Product is also retested when it is transferred to delivery drums, or other containers, to ensure cross contamination has not occurred during storage or transfer. This ensures customers get a consistent quality of product with every batch.