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As part of its environmental policy and to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing activities, the Renault group has focused on cutting fluids. These are the most commonly used polluting products in powertrain workshops.

Cutting fluids are used in all machining processes  to lubricate and cool the tools and to remove swarf from the work area. They are a key factor in production quality and also a significant source of pollution, since they contain oils, water and a variety of additives, in particular chlorine. The ingredients used in older-generation products, such as chlorine, fortify cutting properties but are hard to process as waste. Today, most cutting fluids are chlorine-free and new products are gradually being introduced in the plant's treatment baths.

The end of disposable filters

Used cutting fluids are filtered to remove swarf, oil and particles before returning to the workshop. In the past, disposable filters were used. The new facilities are equipped with permanent filtering systems to reduce the volume of waste and bring down treatment costs.

A test rig

A test rig was designed and installed by the laboratory on the Cléon site.  The rig reproduces on a small scale the behaviour of fluids in the central unit and has made it possible to extend product life. The tests performed on the rig reduce the risks associated with new machinery and provide a greater understanding of the behaviour of fluids under a wide range of conditions.

Always on the look-out for new technologies and ways to protect the environment and improve production, Cléon and other Renault sites are pursuing their efforts in this area.

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