Spin-On Filtration: Is Convenience Worth The Cost?

Spin-on filters are very commonplace in the world of hydraulic filtration. Unlike cartridge filters, spin-ons combine the filter media, housing, base plate, and gasket into one disposable unit.

While they are known for their convenience, the disposable design of these filters comes with drawbacks. Does the ease of use really outweigh the downsides?

Let’s review the pros and cons of spin-ons!

Spin-On Filters: The Benefits

It’s not for nothing that spin-on filters are popular in hydraulic applications:

• User-Friendly Maintenance. Unlike cartridge filters, spin-on filters generally don’t require any special tools during connection or removal from a system. Change-outs and maintenance can be performed more quickly than with a typical cartridge filter due to the all-in-one design.
• Lower Up-Front Cost. The price of spin-on filters is lower than the up-front cost of a traditional cartridge-style filter assembly.
• Minimal Spillage. The self-contained design of a spin-on filter prevents oil leaks for a more sanitary change-out process.

Spin-On Filters: The Drawbacks

But, while convenience is a helpful quality of spin-ons, their disposable nature has some significant downsides:

• Oil & Metal Waste. Due to the all-in-one design of spin-on filters, the entire housing is disposed of along with the element. Not only is any trapped oil discarded, but the metal which forms the spin-on housing, core, and gasket are unrecoverable.
• Inefficient Disposal. Spin-on filters cannot be recycled, shredded, or incinerated through normal waste-processing. As a result, spin-on filters eat up landfill space.
• Lower Performance. Spin-on filters tend to have lower efficiencies compared to cartridge filter media, which can reduce overall system efficiency.

Counting the Cost of Spin-Ons

The greatest downside of spin-on filters is the sheer amount of material and oil waste involved. Let’s look at an example of how much waste is produced by a very common spin-on type:

Waste Reduction example, per 1,000 spin ons:

7″ M10 (cellulose 10 micron) Spin On

• 1,966 pounds metal scrap waste
• If not properly drained, wastes approximately 450 gallons of oil
• CO2 emissions: approximately 10,600lbs of CO2

Millions of spin-on filters are discarded every year, contributing to a staggering amount of unnecessary waste!

Is It Time For A Change?

While spin-on filters are a convenient and effective choice for filtration, the wasteful nature of conventional spin-on technology can’t be ignored.

Between environmental repercussions and potential missed revenue, spin-on filtration technology is long overdue for an upgrade.

Material and oil costs rise with each passing year. With the amount of metal and oil wasted with each spin-on, it’s likely that users could be paying more than they need to for their spin-on filtration.

Could a less wasteful, more cost-effective spin-on alternative not only reduce emissions, but save money for hydraulic-driven operations?

Can the convenience and user-friendliness of spin-ons be combined with the economical, lower-waste benefits of cartridge filters?

Schroeder Industries thinks so.

Coming Soon: A Sustainable Revolution in Spin-On Technology.

A low-waste, cost-effective, high-performance spin-on alternative is coming soon. Stay tuned for Schroeder Industries’ most game-changing innovation yet!

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