{"id":4772,"date":"2026-01-21T16:25:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=175907"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:25:09","slug":"beyond-lubricants-how-fuchs-is-tackling-minings-maintenance-skills-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/beyond-lubricants-how-fuchs-is-tackling-minings-maintenance-skills-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Lubricants: How FUCHS Is Tackling Mining\u2019s Maintenance Skills Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As Africa\u2019s mining industry faces mounting pressure from skills shortages, safety compliance demands, and rising downtime costs, FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA<\/b> is taking significant strides to address one of the sector\u2019s most pressing issues: the erosion of maintenance capability on the ground.<\/p>\n

At Mining Indaba 2026<\/b>, FUCHS will showcase how its combination of industry knowledge, on-site specialist support, and condition-based lubrication services is helping mines boost equipment reliability, improve safety performance, and stabilise operational performance in an increasingly constrained skills environment.<\/p>\n

With a skills shortage across fitters, artisans, engineers and maintenance specialists, mining companies face rising costs, safety compliance pressures and workforce turnover that directly undermines operational uptime<\/b>. These shortages remain a significant constraint on productivity and long-term competitiveness across the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven with the best equipment and premium lubricants, success depends on proper application. When teams understand how to use these solutions effectively, that\u2019s when performance and reliability truly shine,\u201d says Dave Gons<\/i> FUCHS National Manager Mining | Regional Mining Manager Sub Saharan Africa.<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>The Maintenance Skills Gap: A Real Operational Risk<\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Insufficient practical experience and relevant qualifications have direct implications for routine activities like lubrication management, which many operators still consider a low-priority task despite its widely acknowledged impact on equipment performance.<\/p>\n

Industry studies show that improper lubrication practices are responsible for a significant portion of premature equipment failures<\/b>, with estimates indicating that up to 40% of bearing failures and related maintenance issues result from lubrication mismanagement<\/b> and associated contamination or errors. These failures not only curtail uptime but also amplify safety risks, from overheating and fire hazards to unexpected stoppages and mechanical seizure.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>FUCHS: Beyond Lubricants \u2013 A Partner in Human-Centered Reliability<\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

This February at Mining Indaba, FUCHS will amplify its proposition that reliability is built not only on product quality but on human competence and process discipline.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Key solutions showcased by FUCHS at CTICC Stand 1L62 will include:<\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n