Morbi, in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, is India's largest ceramic tile manufacturing cluster. Its plants run around the clock, and a stoppage at the press or the kiln hits output immediately. Lubrication in a tile plant faces three enemies at once: fine abrasive dust, very high heat and water. Each section of the plant needs its own approach.
Ceramic plants need clean, cool hydraulic oil for the presses, EP gear oils for mills and drives, high-temperature greases near kilns and dryers, water-resistant grease on polishing lines, and well-tensioned V-belts on mills, fans and pumps. Dust control (breathers, seals and clean handling) matters as much as the products themselves.
| Plant section | Main equipment | What it needs | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material preparation | Ball mills, blungers, agitators, slip pumps | EP gear oil (often VG 220–320), EP2 grease, V-belts on mill drives | Shock loads, dust, belt tension on large drives |
| Spray dryer | Feed pumps, fans, atomiser drives | Gear and crankcase oils as specified, high-temperature bearing grease | Heat near the dryer, fan bearing temperature |
| Pressing | Large hydraulic tile presses | Anti-wear hydraulic oil (HLP grade as specified), filtration | Oil temperature, cleanliness, leaks |
| Drying and glazing | Vertical/horizontal dryers, glaze lines, conveyors | Gear oil for drives, chain lubricant, general grease | Heat, glaze contamination |
| Firing | Roller kiln drives, fans, burners' blowers | High-temperature grease for hot bearings, gear oil for drive units | Bearings near hot zones dry out quickly |
| Polishing and squaring (vitrified) | Polishing heads, calibrating and squaring machines | Water-resistant grease, gear oil, hydraulic oil | Water and abrasive slurry everywhere |
| Utilities | Screw compressors, DG sets, cooling | Compressor oil, engine oil | Monsoon condensate, dusty coolers |
Tile presses carry large hydraulic systems with proportional and servo valves. Two things decide their reliability:
Ball mills and their drives carry heavy, continuous and shock loads. Use the EP gear oil grade the gearbox maker specifies, often VG 220 or 320, and check the oil level and temperature weekly. Where mills are belt-driven, multi-belt drives need matched sets and correct tension, or belts slip and burn when the mill starts loaded. See our V-belt tension guide.
Bearings near roller kilns, dryers and hot-air fans run far hotter than ordinary bearings. Ordinary lithium grease dries, hardens and turns to carbon. Use a high-temperature grease suited to the actual bearing temperature, and shorten the relubrication interval: a common rule is to halve it for every 15 °C above 70 °C. Our high-temperature grease guide compares the options.
Polishing and squaring lines for vitrified tiles run in a constant spray of water and abrasive slurry. Grease washes out and slurry gets past worn seals. Calcium sulphonate complex greases resist water well, and more frequent small regreasing shots help keep slurry out of bearings.
Across every section, the fastest wins are simple: closed containers, labelled grease guns, wiped nipples, breathers on tanks and gearboxes, and covered drum storage. Read our lubricant storage and handling rules.
V-belts drive mills, fans, pumps and compressors across the plant. Dust in the grooves wears both belts and pulleys, so:
Our V-belt size chart helps identify sections quickly.
A typical tile plant can run on a short list of lubricants: one or two hydraulic oil grades, two gear oil grades, a general EP2 grease, a high-temperature grease, a water-resistant grease and a compressor oil. Fewer products mean fewer mix-ups and simpler stores. Banesto is a Gujarat-based manufacturer of industrial lubricants and Beltone V-belts, and our team can help you build that list. Our cement and ceramics industry page covers the wider sector.
Which hydraulic oil is used in ceramic tile presses?Usually an anti-wear (HLP/HM) hydraulic oil in the grade the press maker specifies, often VG 46 or 68. Cleanliness matters as much as the grade.
Which grease is best near ceramic kilns?A high-temperature grease matched to the bearing's actual temperature, such as lithium complex or calcium sulphonate complex, or a speciality grease for very hot points.
Why do V-belts wear fast in ceramic plants?Abrasive dust in the grooves, worn pulleys and heavy starting loads on mills. Clean guards, gauge grooves and keep tension right.
How can a tile plant reduce lubricant costs?Consolidate to fewer products, control contamination, and use oil analysis to change oil on condition instead of by habit.
Running a tile plant in the Morbi–Wankaner belt? Send us your main equipment list and our team will suggest a consolidated lubricant and V-belt list for your plant.