The "Grease Gun" Problem: Improper lubrication (too much, too little, or wrong type) causes over 50% of bearing failures. Relying on memory or paper tags is a reliability killer.
The "Route" Solution: You need software that builds efficient Digital Lubrication Routes, guiding technicians from machine to machine.
The Top Contenders: We review Fabrico, UE Systems, Des-Case, and others to find the best tool for tribology management.
Lubrication is the lifeblood of a factory.
According to bearing manufacturers (SKF/Timken), 50-80% of premature bearing failures are caused by lubrication issues.
Yet, in many plants, "Lube Routes" are managed on greasy clipboards.
The Risk: "Tom" skips a zerk fitting because he can't find it. Or he puts Lithium grease in a Polyurea bearing (chemical incompatibility).
The Result: The bearing overheats and seizes three months later.
To stop these failures, you need Lubrication Management Software. You need a system that tells the technician exactly which grease to use, where the point is, and how much to apply.
Here are the 5 best software tools for managing lubrication in 2025.
Best For: Manufacturers who want Lubrication to be part of the total Maintenance strategy.
Fabrico treats lubrication as a critical reliability task, not an afterthought. It integrates your Lube Routes directly into your CMMS and OEE data.
Digital Routes: Fabrico groups lubrication tasks into logical "Routes" (e.g., "Line 1 Weekly Grease"). Technicians open the route on their tablet and walk the line, checking off each point as they go.
Visual Mapping: Every lube point can have a photo. A red circle shows the exact zerk fitting. This prevents "missed points" on complex machines.
Usage-Based Triggers: Instead of greasing every Friday (Time-Based), Fabrico connects to the machine PLC to trigger greasing every 1,000 hours of runtime (Usage-Based). This prevents dangerous over-greasing.
Consumption Tracking: When Tom marks a point as "Greased," Fabrico automatically deducts the grease from inventory, ensuring you never run out of critical lubricants.
The Verdict: If you want lubrication to be a managed, audit-ready process, Fabrico is the complete solution.
Best For: Ultrasound-assisted lubrication.
UE Systems is the leader in Ultrasound hardware. Their software is designed to work with their "Grease Caddy" guns.
Pros: The gold standard for precision. The software listens to the bearing via the hardware tool and tells the technician exactly when to stop pumping grease (based on decibels). Prevents over-greasing perfectly.
Cons: It is hardware-dependent. It focuses strictly on the act of greasing. It is not a full CMMS for managing the rest of the machine (belts, motors, sensors).
The Difference: UE Systems optimizes the Grease; Fabrico optimizes the Asset.
Best For: Specialized Tribology management.
Noria is a famous training institute for lubrication. LubePM is their dedicated software.
Pros: Deep database of lubricants. It helps you map out every single lube point and consolidate your lubricant list (reducing the number of grease types you buy).
Cons: It is a niche tool. It creates a "Lubrication Silo." You have one system for Lube and another system (CMMS) for repairs. This disconnect can lead to confusion.
The Difference: LubePM is for the Lubrication Specialist; Fabrico is for the Maintenance Team.
Best For: Contamination control and breathers.
Des-Case is famous for its desiccant breathers. Their software focuses on oil cleanliness.
Pros: Excellent for tracking oil analysis results and breather life. Great for hydraulic-heavy industries (Injection Molding, Pressing).
Cons: Like UE Systems, it is hardware-focused. It doesn't handle the "Route Management" for manual greasing as smoothly as a mobile-first CMMS.
The Difference: Des-Case keeps the oil clean; Fabrico keeps the machine running.
Best For: Heavy mobile equipment and fleets.
Redlist is popular in mining and construction for managing lubrication on mobile assets.
Pros: Good cloud-based route management for assets that move around.
Cons: Less focused on the high-speed production line dynamics (OEE linkage) of a factory.
The Difference: Redlist is for the Field; Fabrico is for the Factory.
| Feature | Fabrico | UE Systems | LubePM | Redlist |
| Primary Focus | Total Maint. | Ultrasound | Lubrication | Mobile Fleet |
| Digital Routes | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Cycle Triggers | ✅ Automated | ❌ Manual | ❌ Manual | ⚠️ Odometer |
| Visuals/Photos | ✅ Integrated | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Inventory Link | ✅ Native | ❌ No | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Good |
Lubrication is too important to leave to memory.
Choose UE Systems if: You are using ultrasound guns to listen to every bearing.
Choose LubePM if: You are redesigning your entire lubrication taxonomy.
Choose Fabrico if: You want to Operationalize lubrication. If you want to build efficient digital routes, trigger them based on machine runtime (OEE), and track the costs in one system, Fabrico is the efficient choice.
Grease the right point, every time.
Book a Demo with Fabrico to see how our Digital Lubrication Routes save bearings.
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