Protect gears against corrosion, loss of oil quality, poor lubrication & the escape of pollutants.
Have you noticed condensation droplets inside your transmission tank or even worse: Rust, free water and dirt in hydraulic oil, poor lubrication, signs of abrasion and an oily smell when the unit is running? The cause: moisture and dirt particles entering your system unhindered every time it draws in air to equalize pressure, plus oil aerosols escaping when it breaths out.
Let‘s face it, if you don‘t do anything about it, you‘re heading for expensive maintenance work and damage to employees and environment.
Luckily, there‘s a solution: the installation of an GIEBEL Adsorber®. It dries and cleans the supply air and prevents pollutants from escaping - saving you maintenance work and money.
Why water & dirt should be your biggest concern?
When metals react with oxygen and water, this is known as corrosion. It leads to the formation of hard, highly abrasive particles. In gear oil contaminated with water, these metallic impurities trigger an oxidative chain reaction. Free radicals are formed, which attack the hydrocarbon molecules and break down the oil. But that‘s not all: when oil additives react with water, acids are formed that further accelerate the decomposition. Over time, oil properties such as lubricity, viscosity and shear strength change.
With higher flow characteristics, friction points are no longer supplied with the necessary volume of hydraulic oil. Extremely viscous oils, on the other hand, put a strain on the system‘s drive units and reduce efficiency. Oil ageing residues clog valves, sludge formation increases filter requirements and acidification hightens the risk of corrosion of all metallic components, plus impairs the seals.
Preventing the entry of moisture and dirt as well as the formation of corrosion is therefore the top priority in order to operate gears for a long time, cost-effectively and with low maintenance! And that is exactly what our GIEBEL Adsorbers® do!
Breather dryers
Breather dryers adsorb humidity and thus prevent water from entering gears. They protect against rapid ageing and degradation of additives, corrosion and poor lubrication.
Water separators
Water separators protect gearboxes from the ingress of liquid water.
Oil mist separators
Oil mist separators prevent oil aerosols and other pollutants from escaping gears. They protect employees and the environment from contact with harmful substances.
Breather dryers for gears.
VV-D
Disposable breather dryers
Without valves
Indoor, outdoor & offshore use
ME-RV
Rechargeable breather dryers
With valves
Indoor, outdoor & offshore use
Water separators for gears.
Oil mist separators for gears.
FAQ regarding gears.
Malfunctions & troubleshooting
Corrosion inside a hydraulic tank is problematic - not just for the tank, but for the entire system. This is because the small, highly abrasive particles flake into the hydraulic oil and migrate through the entire system. In combination with water, they trigger a chain reaction in the oil that increasingly acidifies and degrades the oil and additives. On moving parts and friction points, rust particles act like sandpaper and accelerate wear. In valves and filters they cause blockages.
However, corrosion only occurs where metals can react with water and oxygen. A break in the cooling system, leaking screw connections, water in the fresh oil and the lubricating film on the piston rod are possible culprits. However, the most common cause of moisture ingress and rust formation is a different one: In order to equalize pressure, hydraulic power units continuously draw in air from the environment. Moisture and fine dust particles enter the system with this supply air. If the temperature drops, e.g. when the machine is at a standstill, the moisture condenses on the inner walls of the tank and forms a breeding ground for rust formation.
What you can do: Check the cooling system, the seals and the water content of your oil and use a GIEBEL Adsorber® instead of a classic ventilation hood. It filters moisture from the supply air of your hydraulic unit and thus provides effective protection against corrosion.
Internal corrosion happens when condensation forms inside the gearbox, especially during temperature fluctuations or when machinery stands still. Rust leads to pitting, premature wear, and even complete component failure.
What you can do: Install a GIEBEL Adsorber® to prevent moist air from entering the gearbox, stopping condensation and internal corrosion.
Oil emulsification occurs when water enters the gearbox and mixes with the lubricant. This destroys the lubricating properties, increases wear on gears and bearings, and can lead to overheating. Moisture typically enters through ventilation points when the gearbox breathes during operation.
What you can do: Use a GIEBEL Adsorber® to filter out moisture from the intake air, preventing emulsification and protecting the oil’s performance.
Overpressure during operation causes seals to stress and eventually fail, leading to oil leaks. Pressure builds up from thermal expansion, especially if ventilation is blocked or ineffective.
What you can do: Equip your gearbox with a GIEBEL Adsorber® to allow balanced pressure equalization while filtering moisture and particles from incoming air.
Fine particles can enter through standard vents when the gearbox breathes, especially in dusty environments. These particles cause abrasion, increased friction, and lead to accelerated wear.
What you can do: A GIEBEL Adsorber® filters not just moisture but also fine particles, keeping your oil clean and protecting your gearbox from abrasive contamination.
Gear oil & filtration
Oil change intervals vary depending on operation time, load, and contamination levels. By preventing moisture and dirt ingress with a GIEBEL Adsorber®, oil stays cleaner for longer, meaning longer intervals between changes.
What you can do: Use a GIEBEL Adsorber® to reduce contamination levels, minimize oil degradation, and extend the oil’s usable life.
Typical signs include a milky appearance (due to emulsified water), darkened color, burnt smell, or visible particles. Monitoring these signs helps prevent severe damage, but prevention is key.
What you can do: Install a GIEBEL Adsorber® to prevent contamination altogether, keeping your oil clear and clean from the start.
Contaminated oil loses lubrication performance, increases friction, accelerates wear on gears and bearings, and can cause system overheating and premature failure.
What you can do: Prevent contamination with a GIEBEL Adsorber® and avoid the risks of costly repairs, downtime, and premature component failure.
Efficiency & optimization
Clean, dry oil reduces internal friction, ensures smooth gear operation, and minimizes energy losses due to drag or overheating. Preventing contamination directly improves overall efficiency.
What you can do: Use a GIEBEL Adsorber® to maintain clean, high-performance oil and keep your gearbox running at optimal efficiency.
By keeping out moisture and contaminants, GIEBEL Adsorbers® maintain oil quality, slow down oxidation processes, and extend oil life significantly.
What you can do: Equip your gearbox with a GIEBEL Adsorber® to reduce oil degradation, cut down on oil changes, and prolong equipment life.
Service & parts
The right choice depends on the gearbox size, environmental conditions, and usage. GIEBEL offers compact and robust adsorbers specifically designed for industrial and mobile gearboxes.
What you can do: Contact GIEBEL for application-specific advice or use our product selector tool to choose the right adsorber for your gearbox setup.
GIEBEL Adsorbers® are mounted on the gearbox breather port or via custom adapters. They are quick to install, even in retrofit applications, and work maintenance-free until the desiccant saturates.
What you can do: Install the adsorber on the breather connection point using the appropriate adapter and follow GIEBEL’s simple installation guidelines.
Our adsorbers feature a color-changing desiccant that visually indicates saturation. When the color fully changes, it’s time to refill or replace the drying agent.
What you can do: Check the desiccant color regularly and refill or replace the adsorber as soon as saturation is reached to maintain protection.