In this article by Thomas Feischl, Director of Business Development at eralytics GmbH, a specific case study concerning eralytics processes will be used to demonstrate the strengths of companies incorporating oil condition monitoring technology in an in-house capacity to streamline operations and ensure a sustainable, self-contained maintenance strategy on their equipment. Read the article here!

2025 has been a tumultuous year for the base oils and finished lubricants industry. Geopolitical upheavals, tariff negotiations, as well as vessel attacks and the threat of increased sanctions have all impacted trade flows and base oil spot prices. However, the headline grabbing news has had a more minimal impact on the industry than expected. The imposition of tariffs caused more limited disruptions than anticipated and mostly on associated commodities such as chemicals and additives. The key spot price drivers of the year are more… Read more »

  Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant promise, it is here, reshaping how industries think, plan, and operate. From predictive maintenance and smart manufacturing to advanced R&D and customer engagement, AI has already begun to influence the lubricants sector in profound ways. In this special issue of Lube Magazine, we explore the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence presents to our industry. Read the fully interactive, automated digital special edition now, or download your PDF copy. Contents AI and the lubricants industry: Optimism, barriers,… Read more »

ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) has evolved significantly over time, its formulation style reflecting the changing demands of transmission hardware. The launch of GM’s (General Motors) landmark DEXRON® – VI fluid specification, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, heralded a new age of high-performance, low-viscosity ATF. Adam Banks, ATF Senior Marketing Manager, Afton Chemical, looks at why modern ATF is so vital to the reliability and longevity of today’s passenger car transmissions and shares insights into the potential pitfalls of continuing to use outdated specs…. Read more »

The global automotive industry is facing the most dramatic upheaval since the dawn of the internal combustion engine. Electric vehicles, once a niche market confined to experimental models and early adopters, are now surging into the mainstream. In 2024, global EV sales exceeded 14 million units, representing almost one in five new cars sold. Governments from Europe to Asia are setting deadlines for phasing out combustion engines, while major manufacturers are pledging all-electric fleets by the mid-2030s. For consumers, the shift is becoming visible on… Read more »

You may likely understand the difference between low SAPS oils, fuel-efficient oils, synthetic oils, and mineral oils, but do you know the difference between military lubricants and civilian ones? In this article, Major Rémi, Military Fuel & Lubricants Engineer, French Operational Energy Service, answers this question, detailing the operational requirements that set lubricants for military equipment apart from their more everyday counterparts. Click here to read and download!

It is with great enthusiasm and pride that we present this special issue dedicated to the rising stars of the European lubricants industry. In this edition, we shine a spotlight on a select group of individuals who have made remarkable contributions and left an indelible mark on the companies they represent. As the industry continues to evolve, these professionals stand out not only for their achievements but also for their innovative spirit, unwavering commitment, and capacity to inspire others. As you delve into the profiles,… Read more »

Sustainability within lubricants is of paramount importance to achieve the regulatory goals for sustainable movement. Bio-based lubricants, which offer a biodegradable and non-toxic alternative to petroleum-based products, are at the forefront of this shift. The use of bio-lubricants, prepared from renewable natural resources, is a perfect alternative of synthetic and mineral lubricants. Brajendra K. Sharma, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, Sustainable Biofuels and Coproducts Research, Gobinda Karmakar, Sri Narasingha Vidyapith, and Raj Shah & William Chen, Koehler Instrument Company,… Read more »

“Buyer behaviour in the sales process is changing. According to a recent McKinsey report, the consumerisation of the B2B sales process is complete. Buyers want an omnichannel experience backed by personalisation and delivered through a mix of traditional, hybrid and online channels. Previously sellers would have been approached once a need had been identified. Today, the buyer could have identified a need, undertaken their own research on you and your competitors, shortlisted some companies, identified some suitable products and even trialled or tested these using digital channels even before they pick up the phone or send an email. Lube magazine,… Read more »

The race to net zero has been on for some time. Electric vehicles (EVs) were seen as the answer, with OEMs racing to develop hybrid and full electric vehicles to meet emissions targets. OEMs proudly unveiled new electric vehicle models, and sales of EVs began to rise. However, increasingly, hydrogen has been making waves in the renewable energies market, particularly in the heavy-duty sector. Alan Outhwaite, Chairman of the VLS Technical Review Panel, explores the emerging technologies of hydrogen fuels, and the impact they will… Read more »

Dr. Raj Shah is a Director at Koehler Instrument Company in New York, where he has worked for the last 28 years. He is an elected Fellow by his peers at IChemE, CMI, STLE, AIC, NLGI, INSTMC, Institute of Physics, The Energy Institute and The Royal Society of Chemistry. He earned his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and is a Fellow of The Chartered Management Institute, London. Dr. Shah is also a Chartered Scientist with the Science Council, a Chartered Petroleum Engineer… Read more »

Carbon intensity scores are pivotal for quantifying the climate-related activities of companies. These scores, established by entities such as the Department of Energy, measure the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents emitted per unit of output or activity. In this piece for the September Lube Digital Exclusive, Dr. Raj Shah, Director of Koehler Instrument Company, Jeff Gao, and Dr. Mathias Woydt, Managing Partner, MATRILUB Materials, take a detailed look at the utility and implementation of carbon intensity scores as an indispensable tool in the drive towards… Read more »

In this article, Lou Honary, President of WAVEtek Process technology, aims to inspire the reader to consider the potential use of electromagnetic induced manipulation of products for processing lubricants, greases, additives and other related substances, and offers insights into the potential use of a variety of wave-based technologies that can improve the way we treat or prepare lubricants and their derivatives. Click here to read and download!

What key words come to mind when thinking about artificial intelligence (AI), namely: automation, creativity, cybersecurity, data, disruption, ethics, innovation, opportunity, productivity, strategy, transparency? Colin Morton, an independent consultant with almost 25 years international experience in the specialty chemicals industry in both technical and commercial roles, offers his views on the future impacts of AI on the lubricants sector. Click here to read and download!

In this very special digital exclusive issue of Lube, we are delighted to share the stories of 22 pioneering women in our industry. With a veritable plethora of experience, knowledge and their own personal insights to share with you regarding their careers, how they manage work-life balance and share their advice for new talent coming into our industry. Click here to read and download!

Boris Zhmud explores the remarkable 120 year history of the Ir Michel Roegiers family business, and the century of scientific discovery leading up to its formation. Go to article

The global lubricants market is one of continuous evolution. To meet today’s and tomorrow’s demands, the lubricants industry must deliver high-performance fluids by taking advantage of new additive technologies. Go to article.

In September, Mike Bewsey, Moove Lubricants, started his two-year tenure as president of the UKLA. Tina Reading talks to him about his life and career. Go to article

Premium hydraulic fluids with the latest zinc-free additive technology can deliver exceptional, long-lasting protection for even the most demanding pumps and systems, validated by bench and pump testing as well as extended field trials. Charlotte Edwards, Industrial Marketing Specialist, and Clare Gosling, Industrial Customer Technical Service Specialist, Afton Chemical, elaborate… Read now

In the latest Lube Digital exclusive, UKLA Director General David Wright takes a look at the latest developments for environmental regulation in the UK and the EU, detailing ways in which both parties are adhering and deviating from previously stated targets, and discussing the potential effects this will have on the lubricants industry.

Lube editor Tina Reading talks to Nigel R Bottom, Managing Director, Witham Group. Read the full interview with Nigel here.

The world at large is undergoing massive change, and there are significant implications for the lubricants and specialty chemicals industries. As global markets seek to decarbonise and adapt to climate change, all lubricant industry stakeholders will have a significant role to play. Read the full article from Flavio Kliger of Lubrizol here.

Much of the world has moved towards sustainable practices within the last fifteen years thanks to the contributions of various industries. Throughout this trend, the lubricants industry’s efforts towards sustainability have held the greatest impact on the natural environment with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. However, to meet the growing eco-conscious interest, the lubricant itself must add new non-technical attributes. But how are these attributes defined? Dr. Raj Shah & Mr. Gavin Thomas, Koehler Instrument Company, and Dr. Mathias Woydt, MATRILUB… Read more »

Dr. Raj Shah, Director and Ms. Mrinaleni Das, Senior Intern, Koehler Instrument Company, and Ken Hope, Ph.D., CLS, Global PAO Technical Services Manager, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and STLE Immediate Past-President look into the developments taking place in the automobile industry, how new technologies have affected the effectiveness of lubricants and lubrication regimes, and how new materials have been developed to circumnavigate these factors. Read the full article here.

Harriet Brice of Lubrizol details how ammonia fuels can be used as a potential means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping and maritime sector, and investigates the considerations that lubricant and additive manufacturers will need to take into account when creating materials to work in conjunction with these systems.

Across industries, equipment end users increasingly rank environmental friendliness as an important purchase factor. For any formulator, adding EALs to your portfolio can help you contribute to your more eco-conscious reputation and deliver more environmentally friendly solutions to your customers.

Lube editor Tina Reading talks to Andrew Gelder, Technical Product and Sales Development Manager – Lubricants, IMCD UK Limited

“As more automotive manufacturers commit to a net-zero emissions future, the pace of powertrain electrification is accelerating. But, while we wait for better recharging infrastructure and for consumers to fully embrace battery electric cars, hybrid architectures are helping OEMs start their emissions reduction journey today.” Sinéad Adamski, Executive Operational Marketing Manager EMEA, Infineum UK Ltd, explores how OEMs are making steps towards emissions reductions and a sustainable future, as the automotive market turns increasingly to electrification.

Lube editor Tina Reading talks to Juergen SchieferSchiefer, Sales Director, Europe, Ergon International.

Global energy and chemical markets are currently making strong advances toward energy transition, which seemed more like blue-sky thinking until 2020. The economic and health crises in 2020 have recentered the attention of the players in the chemicals and energy market toward protecting the global ecosystem and regeneration. The wax industry is also advancing toward cleaner, sustainable, and circular products, which could potentially reshape the future of this industry.

Perhaps an overused term in the past few years however, “unprecedented”, certainly seems suitable for the lubricants industry. With the fall out of Covid-19 and subsequent supply chain challenges that have ensued, manufacturers and distributors across Europe continue to work hard to meet the demands of customers, as they recover and grow in the new world we now reside.

Mattia Adani, CEO of Nowal Chimica, speaks to Tina Reading about his career in the lubricants industry, the huge part metalworking – and therefore the need for metalworking fluids – plays in the Italian economy, and the continued necessity for lubricants well into the future.

Andreas Osbar is Vice President; Transformation at Castrol Germany, GmbH, He recently spoke at Lubricant Expo on the topic of the global picture for lubricants and how sustainability targets are impacting the sector and its end users.

Dr. Mathias Woydt, Managing Partner, MATRILUB, Berlin, explores the history and growth of polyglycol based engine oils, and discusses their benefits as OEMs move towards the use of sustainable materials and environmentally friendly means of lubricating engines in modern vehicles.

Catherine Macklam is Sales & Operations Manager and Director for Q8Oils leading its activities across the UK & Ireland, as well as Vice-President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association. She began her career in Total in a variety of customer service and marketing roles before moving to Q8Oils where she has spent the past fifteen years in various management roles including customer service, logistics, sales & marketing and more recently as UK Sales and Operations Manager responsible for the entire Q8Oils UK business.

Held on the 25th May at the Institute of Directors, London, the first Lube Media Sustainability Conference saw leading industry speakers and participants inform and inspire through speeches, presentations, and open and frank discussions around sustainability, and how business can and are helping to drive industry towards a more sustainable future.

Dr. Christian Krüger, Simon Rauch, Prof. Dr. Peter Saling and Dr. Sabrina Stark of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, provide an in-depth, technical exploration of the ways in which products’ carbon footprints can be minimised in a carbon-dependent industry such as lubrication.

Argus Base Oils is a weekly, global market report including global base oils spot prices, posted prices, market commentary, news and analysis for key markets. Argus also publishes a monthly report called the Outlook which includes a 12-month price forecast and analysis. We spoke to Marc Hong and Gabriella Twining at Argus about their work.

From the pages of Smeeroliekroniek (Lubricating Oil Chronicle), Dymen van Emst, Chief Editor, explores the transition from natural gas to hydrogen as the future of power generation.

Dr. Mathias Woydt and Dr. Raj Shah explore the future of synthetic lubricants as a means to keep pace with the ever growing demands for renewability and sustainability in the industry.

Andrianne Philippou chats to Thomas Norrby, Technical Manager & Senior Specialist – Lubricants, Nynas AB

Pooja Sharma, Project Manager at Kline, details the growth of synthetic lubricants as the preferred choice of automotive and industrial end users, to help meet emissions standards and fuel efficiency targets.

Lube editor Andrianne Philippou talks to Andrew Goddard, Executive Chairman at Morris Lubricants and newly appointed President of United Kingdom Lubricants Association (UKLA).

Lube Magazine editor Andrianne Philippou talks to Colleen Jones-Cervantes, President of Chevron Oronite, about her career, and her views on the future of the chemical formulations in light of the demands of a net zero future for carbon emissions and the challenges brought by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Lube magazine’s editor, Andrianne Philippou, interviews Maurizio Abbondanza, Sustainability and Business Growth Director, Infineum

In this month’s Digital Exclusive, Lube magazine editor, Andrianne Philippou, talks to Jacquie about the ATC, its future, and how she intends to put her considerable technical insights and experiences to effective use in her challenging and exciting new role.

Lube magazine’s editor, Andrianne Philippou, interviews Petra Bots, General Manager OilDoc GmbH

Pär Nyman M.Sc. and Peter Björklund M.Sc. of Scania CV AB discuss the rise of electric vehicle production in the wake of CO₂ reduction legislation, and detail Scania’s research into the best lubricant additives to use to prevent wear and seizure in the copper components of EV engines.

Lube magazine’s editor, Andrianne Philippou, interviews Mike Skypala, Managing Director of OATS Ltd

Lube magazine’s editor, Andrianne Philippou, interviews Victor G Martinez, Global Basestocks and Specialties Sales Director, ExxonMobil

Read the extended interview with Nigel Bottom, Group Managing Director, the Witham Group, Royal Warrant holder since 1991

eMobility is the harbinger of change, not obsolescence, for the automotive lubricant market. An agile lubricant industry can exploit emerging opportunities and create value with broader coverage oils and higher performance fluids differentiated to meet the specialised needs of this growing sector.

In view of an accelerating trend of reduced supplies of Group I oils, formulators should now consider Group I replacements for applications such as industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids and process oil, write David Hedengren and Dr Gaia Franzolin, of Nynas.

The complete and unabridged interview with Erin Durham, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Kline Group, published in abridged form in Lube Issue 161

This in-depth paper provided by Erik Willett, PhD, Technical Director, Functional Products Inc., sets out to investigate the potential of various synthetic and biobased water-soluble polymers for use in the viscosity modification of water, with the goal of optimising the search for the ‘right’ viscosity modifier or VI improver in a potential water-based lubricant.

In this article provided by Koehler Instrument Company and Chevron Phillips, Dr Raj Shah, Dr Ken Hope and Nathan Aragon discuss how the correct volatility of engine oils can help to improve fuel economy.

Dr Aubrey Burrow details the advantages of newly developed nanotechnologies in lubricant additives, helping to reduce friction and prevent wear on components.

Dr. Raj Shah, Dr. Hind Abi-Akar and Mr. Stanley Zhang of Koehler Instrument outline the latest developments in engine oil standards.

The complete and unabridged interview with Dr Christine Fuchs, Vice President Global Research & Development, Fuchs, printed in abridged form in Lube Magazine Issue 158.

Dr. George S. Dodos of ELDON’S S.A. provides an overview of current lubricating grease technologies, exploring developments in formulation, and in additives used, to ensure modern greases meet current targets for efficiency and sustainability.

Read the extended interview with Peter Vickers, Chairman and outgoing Managing Director of Vickers Oils, who talks to Lube Magazine about his career in the family business and what the future holds for the company as he hands over the Managing Director role to his successor.

Join Dr. Raj Shah, Mr. Jack Jiang and Mr. Anson Law as they make an in-depth exploration of the continuing developments in marine lubricants in order to meet new targets for reduced nitrogen and sulphur emissions, whilst still retaining the material properties such as the right viscosity, basicity and surfactancy necessary for the lubricant to function in marine applications.

Sebastian Dörr of Lubtrading GmbH looks at the relationship between the situation with Coronavirus in relation to ongoing environmental concerns facing industry, asking if methodology to deal with one situation can be applied to the other, and posing the question of the role different age groups play in relation to both crises.

With the spread of COVID-19 causing an unprecedented period of global uncertainty and disruption for businesses, UKLA Director General David Wright offers his insights into the five key factors for managing your business during crises.

In a sector as important and populace as the agricultural industry (whose manpower makes up an estimated 3 in 10 of the world’s employed), optimisation of efficiency is of paramount importance. In this article from Lubrizol, explore how the right lubricants can help farmers cut down on emissions and reduce cost of ownership on equipment.

Based on data from a number of recent surveys, Dr. Stephan Baumgärtel of VSI explores what are likely to be the next steps in reducing the carbon footprint of the lubricants industry and progressing towards a more sustainable future, in the first digital exclusive of 2020.

With the advent of electric vehicles and strict regulations on zero emission fuels, Yogesh Sengar of Future Market Insights explores the increasing push towards water-based lubricants and away from synthetics in the two-wheeler market.

Philipp Theilmann, Application Engineer, Timken Europe, Colmar, outlines how the correct bearing lubrication can prevent equipment failure, detailing the various types of lubrication systems and explaining the strengths and drawbacks of each.

In the September digital exclusive, Boris Zhmud, Head of R&D at BIZOL Germany discusses the importance of engine oil viscosity, the interactions between component parts of a product that effect the viscosity of the final product, and the advantages of using synthetic base oils in engine oil blending to improve product quality and vehicle fuel economy.

Andreas Dodos, Chemical Engineer at Eldons, explores the ways in which modern grease products are designed to increase the sustainability of machinery and operationsthroughout the full spectrum of processes ranging fromtransportation to food processing and heavy industrialapplications.

The complete and unabridged interview with Tracey Gardiner, Vice President of Chevron Base Oils, originally printed in abridged form in Lube Magazine Issue 150.

On International Women’s Day, read how women in the world of lubricants better balance our industry (originally published in the December 2018 edition of Lube Magazine, Issue No. 148).

David Whitby outlines his new book, Lubricant Blending and Quality Assurance, and why it is an essential resource for anyone involved in supply of high quality lubricants.

The latest news and developments from GEIR, provided by Christian Hartmann.

Following on from his article in Lube Issue No. 149 concerning lubricant plants in the EMEA regions, Omer Chowdhury of PIMS explores the ways in which American champion lubricant plants are streamlining complexity and downtime to increase plant efficiency.

Continued from Lube Magazine Issue 148 (December 2018): This paper is intended to provide information on the new EEL especially on hydraulic fluids. It is based on the third technical report (TR) 3.0 and Lubricants Act Final highlithed-after EUEB.

With a growing global population and increased technology advancements in the automotive space, it is expected that the mobility sector will undergo a number of significant changes over the next twenty years. While it is unclear which individual changes will prevail in the transition, trends such as autonomous driving, shared economy, electrification and wider powertrain advancements will all lead to…

When EURO VI emissions legislation was introduced in 2013 (and then mandatory in 2014) it saw an 80% reduction in NOx emissions from 2.0 g/kWh to 0.4g/ kWh and a halving of the particulate matter from 0.02 g/kWh to 0.01g/Kwh (figures 1 and 2) compared to EURO V. Overall since the introduction of EURO 0 in 1990 this is a reduction of over 99% in particulate matter and a 97% reduction in NOx.

Over the past few years, the efficiency of hydraulic systems has again risen considerably. This also increases the demands that are made on the hydraulic fluids that are used, since they can have a crucial effect on the wear properties of hydraulic components. Relevant standards only define the minimum requirements of hydraulic fluids. They do not reflect further technical developments…

Modern motor oils are high-tech products required to meet stringent specifcations regarding their physicochemical properties and actual performance…

Viscolube is the Italian market leader and one of the main European operators in the regeneration of waste oils. Viscolube also operates in two other different businesses: the collection of industrial hazardous waste (Viscoambiente) and the industrial waste solvent recovery and valorization (Bitolea)…

Looking back at the beginning of mobility, we see people in ancient times move objects around with the materials that were available to them. Often these materials were rudimentary in nature and freely available with very little human intervention or processing…

Communication channels today have evolved in the lubricants industry over the past 30 years. From the traditional newspaper, mobile and desk phone, to today’s tablets and laptops. Integrated digital devices have led the way in an ‘always connected’ society…

Castrol Industrial has a long history of developing greases for space missions, having worked with NASA since the 1960s, and although it’s perhaps not the most physically apparent element of a space operation, lubricant is mission critical.