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Jesurun Ramesh standing with GreaseTech’s smart grease gun.

As a young engineer at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) in Jackson, TN, I was eager to make an impact. One of my earliest challenges was tackling lubrication Preventative Maintenance (PM) processes—a critical yet often overlooked aspect of plant operations. It didn’t take long to realize just how overwhelming this task was for maintenance teams and how much room there was for improvement. This experience planted the seed for what would eventually become GreaseTech.

The Problem: Complexity and Chaos in Lubrication PMs

In the corrugating industry, production often takes priority over everything else, and PM downtime is consistently squeezed. This creates significant challenges for maintenance teams, especially when it comes to lubrication. As I observed technicians attempting to grease hundreds of bearings during limited windows of time,

I saw how difficult it was for them to:

• Track every bearing and ensure none were missed.
• Identify the correct lubricant for each specific point.
• Apply the precise amount needed, avoiding under-greasing or over-greasing.

The situation wasn’t any easier for maintenance managers. They had no visibility into what work had been completed, what was skipped, or whether the lubrication was done correctly. Improper lubrication—a key contributor to nearly 70% of mechanical failures—was wreaking havoc on operations.

It was clear to me that something had to change.

The Spark of Innovation

Years later, while pursuing my Master’s in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology at the University of Waterloo, this problem kept nagging at me. I realized that the tools available to maintenance teams were outdated and inadequate, and I was determined to find a better way.

That’s when I met Nathan Wong, a brilliant computer science student at the University of Waterloo. Nathan had been coding since the age of 11, and his technical expertise was the perfect complement to my industry knowledge. We quickly realized we shared a passion for solving real-world problems and started brainstorming how technology could transform lubrication maintenance. Together, we began developing what would become GreaseTech.

The GreaseTech Solution

GreaseTech combines cutting-edge hardware and intuitive software to address the challenges I saw firsthand in the corrugating industry. Here’s how it works:

1. Automated Tracking: Every lubrication point in the plant is digitally mapped and tagged. Technicians use a smart grease gun equipped with sensors to track which points have been serviced, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

2. Lubricant Matching: GreaseTech’s system stores detailed specifications for every bearing, including the exact type and amount of lubricant required. This eliminates the guesswork and reduces mismatches that lead to equipment failures.

3. Real-Time Visibility: Maintenance managers can access a centralized dashboard to monitor progress, identify skipped tasks, and ensure compliance with schedules—all in real time.

4. Data-Driven Maintenance: Digital records allow plants to analyze lubrication trends, address recurring issues, and optimize their PM schedules.

Why It Matters for Corrugating Plants

Corrugating plants operate in high-pressure environments where unplanned downtime directly impacts production and profitability. Lubrication PMs, while essential, often take a backseat to immediate production needs.

GreaseTech bridges this gap by empowering maintenance teams with tools that ensure efficiency and accuracy. Bearings are no longer over-greased or under-greased, and managers gain the insights they need to optimize their operations. The result?

Reduced downtime, fewer equipment failures, and greater overall reliability.

Building a Vision for the Future

The journey from identifying a problem at PCA to building a solution at Waterloo has been one of collaboration and innovation. Nathan and I poured countless hours into understanding the needs of maintenance teams and designing a system that truly addresses their pain points. Today, GreaseTech is helping corrugating plants across North America improve reliability and simplify lubrication processes.

At GreaseTech, we believe that innovation starts on the plant floor. My experience at PCA and Nathan’s technical expertise have allowed us to create a solution that’s not only practical but transformative. Together, we’re committed to making the lives of maintenance technicians, planners, and managers easier—one bearing at a time.

To learn more about GreaseTech and how it can improve your plant’s lubrication PMs, visit our website or contact us directly.

Let’s redefine reliability, together.

Website and demo video: https://www.greasetech.ca/product

Jesh Ramesh
The Co-Founder and CEO of GreaseTech

Where he combines his deep industry experience with a passion for innovation to improve plant maintenance processes.