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Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) has announced the latest expansion of its lubricant oil condition monitoring (OCM) service after upgrading its laboratory in Rotterdam.

OCM is a predictive maintenance tool that uses laboratory analysis coupled with an understanding of lubricants and engineering.

"It is relevant to any organisation that sees lubricants and/or equipment as a critical resource. The common analogy is a blood test to identify and combat any potential health issues," the company explained.

VPS Global OCM Business Lead, Paul Parkinson, noted: "By testing engine, hydraulic, gearbox or stern tube oils, the OCM Service provides clients with detailed trend analysis and supporting tribology comments to assist in ensuring the protection of their machinery, prolonging mechanical life, helping in avoiding expensive breakdowns, whilst also highlighting the latest condition of the lubricant, its performance and protection capabilities."

VPS says it has carried out a "significant financial investment" to equip its Rotterdam laboratory with the very latest analytical technology, automation and robotics for the testing of lubricants.

The company says the introduction of advanced equipment and systems will lead to a "significant increase" in the Rotterdam laboratory's capacity and efficiency and further assist VPS clients' effective condition monitoring and routine maintenance programmes.

Group Commercial & New Business Development Director, Steve Bee, remarked: "VPS are both proud and excited to have made this investment. The expansion of our OCM capabilities and resources in lubricant analysis, with such state-of-the art equipment, will further assist our clients in maintaining the health and performance of their mechanical assets, through condition-based monitoring programmes."

VPS has ISO17025-accredited laboratories in Rotterdam, Singapore, Fujairah and Houston.