Customer Overview
A major NHS hospital in the South East operates multiple theatre suites requiring strict environmental control. Each operating theatre relies on dedicated Air Handling Units (AHUs) to maintain sterile air pressure, temperature and filtration standards.
These AHUs run continuously, 24/7, with fan motors and bearing assemblies critical to maintaining uninterrupted airflow. Any unexpected failure risks theatre downtime, cancelled procedures, and patient care disruption.
The hospital's facilities maintenance team partnered with Orbic Engineering Solutions to improve the reliability and maintenance efficiency of these systems.
The Challenge
Routine maintenance inspections identified recurring issues with fan shaft bearings within several AHU units:
- Bearings operating continuously under load with inconsistent manual lubrication intervals
- Limited access to lubrication points due to AHU enclosure design
- Risk of over- or under-lubrication from manual greasing
- Increasing labour time required for routine preventative maintenance
- Manual lubrication required isolating AHU units and opening access panels, increasing contamination risk
In critical healthcare environments, consistency and reliability are essential. Inconsistent lubrication was creating an unacceptable risk to theatre availability.
Orbic's Solution
Orbic supplied and implemented the NTN-SNR LUBER READY HEAVY DUTY+ automatic lubricator across multiple AHU bearing locations. This electrochemical single-point lubricator delivers precise, controlled grease discharge over a defined period, ensuring continuous lubrication without manual intervention.
Key Product Features
- Adjustable lubrication periods from 1 to 12 months for predictable maintenance scheduling
- Continuous, controlled grease delivery to prevent lubrication-related bearing failures
- Compact design suitable for confined or difficult-to-access locations
- Heavy Duty+ grease providing excellent resistance to heavy loads, wear and moisture
- IP-rated and reliable in humid or contaminated environments typical of HVAC systems
The units were fitted directly to bearing housings and configured for six-month discharge intervals aligned with planned maintenance schedules.
Implementation
Orbic worked directly with the hospital's maintenance engineers to assess AHU lubrication points and operating conditions, specify the correct lubricator type and discharge period, supply and install lubricators across multiple theatre AHUs, and provide guidance on replacement intervals and ongoing management.
Installation required no system modification and was completed during planned maintenance windows — minimising disruption to theatre operations.
Results
Customer Outcome
Following implementation, the hospital reported improved confidence in AHU reliability, reduced maintenance intervention requirements, and streamlined servicing procedures. The success of the project led to expansion of automatic lubrication across additional HVAC and mechanical plant equipment throughout the facility.
Why Orbic?
- Expert product selection based on real operating conditions
- Supply of authorised NTN-SNR lubrication systems
- Technical guidance and implementation support
- Reliable local supply and ongoing service support