Sunnen Products Company, a global leader in precision bore finishing and measurement technology, has announced the launch of MB-30LO, a next-generation low-odor honing oil specifically engineered for use in both general metalworking and medical device manufacturing. The new oil introduces a refined balance of performance, workplace safety, and environmental responsibility, setting a new benchmark for cleaner, safer, and more sustainable machining fluids.
Building on the success of the company’s widely used MB-30 formulation, Sunnen’s MB-30LO addresses one of the most important issues in modern manufacturing environments — air quality and operator comfort. With a significantly milder scent and an ultra-low VOC content (≤50g/L), the new formulation helps manufacturers maintain a more pleasant workspace while meeting the stringent environmental and occupational standards increasingly demanded in medical production facilities.
The MB-30LO honing oil is fully compliant with ASTM1868-10 and SCAQMD air quality regulations, underscoring its readiness for cleanroom-compatible medical manufacturing. Unlike many industrial oils that release volatile organic compounds or carry hazardous designations, MB-30LO is not classified as hazardous under OSHA 2012, enabling easier handling, storage, and compliance for manufacturers committed to ESG-aligned production environments.
According to Sunnen, MB-30LO retains the same exceptional lubricity and performance characteristics that made its predecessor a standard across industries — including aerospace, hydraulics, firearms, and defense — but optimizes the formulation for sterile and precision-focused medical machining. This includes applications like orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, endoscopic components, and micro-machined devices, where both material integrity and process cleanliness are critical.
“Medical device manufacturers demand precision, cleanliness, and safety without compromise,” said a Sunnen spokesperson. “With MB-30LO, we’ve engineered a fluid that upholds Sunnen’s legendary performance standards while delivering enhanced comfort and compliance for the people and environments involved in manufacturing life-saving technologies.”
The new oil is distinguished by its dark brown/amber color, high flash point above 110°C, and specific gravity of 0.92 (at 60°F) — a combination that delivers stable, predictable performance under demanding machining conditions. These properties minimize flammability risks and ensure reliable compatibility across honing systems and component materials. Its viscosity rating of 26cSt (at 40°C) provides the ideal balance of flow and lubrication, allowing for precise surface finishes and extended tool life, particularly when machining tight-tolerance metal parts used in regulated medical production.
MB-30LO also stands out for its five-year shelf life when properly sealed, offering long-term storage stability without quality degradation — a valuable advantage for high-volume facilities managing multiple lines or long procurement cycles.
Beyond its technical and environmental benefits, Sunnen designed MB-30LO for seamless integration into existing operations. The oil is drop-in compatible with the company’s previous formulations — including MB-30, LT9X, SHO965, and LP8X — allowing manufacturers to transition without a full system flush. Users can even top off existing machines running MB-30 directly with MB-30LO, simplifying adoption and minimizing downtime.
The “LO” designation (low-odor) reflects Sunnen’s focus on operator well-being — a growing priority in medical device and precision engineering facilities where personnel may work in enclosed, climate-controlled spaces. By removing or reducing odor-causing compounds, Sunnen has created an oil that enhances the daily working environmentwhile maintaining consistency in honing precision and cleanliness.
Importantly, MB-30LO also supports post-honing process integrity. Sunnen recommends aqueous detergent cleaningfor finished parts, ensuring complete removal of oil residues and compatibility with medical sterilization processes. This aligns with FDA and ISO standards requiring thorough cleaning validation for medical components before packaging or assembly.
Manufactured in the United States, MB-30LO reinforces Sunnen’s commitment to supporting domestic production and supply chain reliability. This made-in-America assurance not only strengthens traceability and availability but also aligns with the reshoring initiatives embraced by many U.S.-based medical OEMs seeking dependable local partners.
The launch of MB-30LO underscores Sunnen’s continued leadership in precision metalworking fluids — a field the company has pioneered for more than a century. From developing complete honing systems to advancing the chemistry of lubricants and coolants, Sunnen continues to deliver turnkey solutions that integrate machinery, tooling, abrasives, and consumables.
The introduction of MB-30LO marks a strategic evolution in Sunnen’s approach to manufacturing fluids: one that acknowledges the intersection of performance, human health, and sustainability. By combining high-performance machining properties with low environmental impact, the company aims to meet the growing expectations of both medical OEMs and regulators for cleaner, safer, and more sustainable production environments.
The introduction of Sunnen’s MB-30LO honing oil marks a major advancement in precision fluid technology — not just for metalworking performance but for occupational safety and environmental sustainability within the medical manufacturing sector. As the demand for higher standards in both process integrity and workplace conditions grows, MB-30LO brings together cleaner chemistry, operational reliability, and compliance-driven innovation that directly supports the evolving expectations of global medical OEMs.
Medical device production demands the highest level of process control, where even minor inconsistencies in lubrication or surface finish can impact device performance and regulatory approval. Sunnen’s MB-30LO was specifically formulated to meet these requirements, providing stable viscosity, predictable lubricity, and consistent cooling during high-speed machining and honing operations. Its viscosity of 26cSt at 40°C ensures optimal film strength for fine-tolerance finishing — critical in producing surgical-grade components such as orthopedic implants, catheters, cannulas, endoscopic instruments, and cardiovascular stents.
Sunnen’s engineers focused on three central challenges in medical machining: operator exposure, environmental emissions, and surface integrity. Traditional honing and metalworking fluids often emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and strong odors, making them unpleasant and potentially hazardous in controlled manufacturing environments. By developing a low-odor, ultra-low VOC formula (≤50 g/L), Sunnen created a solution that drastically reduces airborne chemical exposure while maintaining mechanical precision.
In addition, MB-30LO’s ultra-low VOC levels ensure compliance with Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and ASTM1868-10 standards — among the strictest industrial emissions regulations worldwide. These compliance benchmarks are not just box-checking measures; they reflect a fundamental shift in manufacturing philosophy, where environmental stewardship and worker well-being are as vital as performance metrics.
“Medical device manufacturers face the dual challenge of precision and purity,” explained a Sunnen technical representative. “They must achieve perfect bore geometry and surface finish while maintaining cleanroom-level air quality. MB-30LO delivers both — it performs like a high-end industrial fluid but behaves like a cleanroom-compatible product.”
The oil’s high flash point (above 110°C) further reinforces its safety credentials. In machining environments where heat generation and friction are unavoidable, a higher flash point significantly reduces the risk of fire or smoke generation. This feature is especially important for sterile medical device manufacturing zones, where even minor contamination or smoke particulates can compromise production integrity.
Beyond its safety profile, MB-30LO demonstrates superior compatibility and versatility across a broad range of Sunnen systems and other industrial machines. It’s fully drop-in compatible with MB-30, LT9X, SHO965, and LP8X, meaning facilities can transition without system purging or downtime. This “plug-and-play” approach minimizes operational disruption, enabling medical device manufacturers to adopt the new formulation incrementally — an essential advantage for validated production lines where system changes require requalification.
Sunnen’s material science expertise ensured that MB-30LO retained the same lubricity performance associated with its predecessor, MB-30 — long regarded as a gold standard for honing precision. However, by removing or replacing odor-causing hydrocarbons, the company achieved a balance between comfort and consistency that supports long-term use in high-throughput facilities. The result is an oil that not only meets technical expectations but also enhances daily working conditions for technicians, machinists, and quality control personnel.
For manufacturers operating under ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, or EU MDR frameworks, MB-30LO supports compliance efforts through its traceable formulation, consistent lot quality, and compatibility with validated cleaning processes. The oil’s formulation facilitates aqueous detergent post-cleaning, ensuring that honed medical components can be effectively cleaned without chemical residues that might interfere with sterilization or coating processes.
Sunnen also emphasizes MB-30LO’s contribution to sustainability and lifecycle efficiency. Its five-year shelf lifeminimizes waste, while its low volatility reduces fluid loss through evaporation, translating to lower consumption rates over time. For global manufacturers, these attributes contribute to reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) and smaller environmental footprints — outcomes that align with the medtech sector’s broader move toward greener production ecosystems.
From a performance standpoint, Sunnen reports that MB-30LO maintains consistent honing precision across both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, including stainless steels, cobalt-chrome, titanium, and nickel-based alloys commonly used in implantable and surgical devices. The oil’s formulation provides excellent lubrication film stability, reducing tool wear and achieving mirror-finish bore quality required for friction-sensitive applications such as orthopedic bearings and miniature pump components.
The oil’s dark brown/amber hue and stable physical properties also help technicians visually monitor system condition — an often-overlooked feature in industrial operations. By enabling early detection of contamination or degradation, MB-30LO helps prevent process interruptions and supports proactive maintenance routines.
Sunnen’s MB-30LO represents more than a product update; it symbolizes a paradigm shift in precision metalworking fluids — where chemistry meets compliance, and innovation aligns with the ethical imperatives of medical manufacturing. As the medtech industry continues to evolve toward smarter, cleaner, and more automated production, such next-generation fluids will play a pivotal role in enabling both precision engineering and sustainability goals.
With MB-30LO, Sunnen reinforces its position not only as a leader in honing technology but also as a forward-thinking partner to industries that depend on exacting standards — from aerospace to orthopedics. The company’s century-long legacy of innovation continues to evolve, reflecting its commitment to performance, people, and the planet.
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