High-Performance Lubricant Additives Kunal Nadkarni, Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing and Commercial Excellence, Lubrizol
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.
High-performance fluids and lubricants have come The Changing Nature of Lubricant Performance a long way. From early simple monogrades to No matter the industry or application, today’s original today’s formulations, the modern lubricant provides equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are demanding numerous operational benefits in their end-use higher performance from fluids and lubricants. They’re applications, from higher levels of efficiency to also demanding fundamentally different performance long-lasting protection. in some applications. The growing market for additives reflects this trend, and there’s no reason to To achieve these levels of performance, lubricants expect it will reverse any time soon. A few examples have utilized a wide range of additive chemistries. include: Anti-wear additives, viscosity modifiers, detergents, dispersants and more all contribute to performance— Electrification and Dedicated E-Fluids. As and that’s not changing anytime soon. next-generation electric drive units (EDUs) continue to push the envelope for maximum performance, our The nature of modern and future applications, along industry should anticipate an increased demand for with global growth and demographic trends, will dedicated e-fluids. Many first-generation EDUs were dictate the continued application of high-performance designed with e-motors that were either air cooled or additives around the world. The drivers of this growth cooled indirectly using a standard automotive coolant are worth further exploration — and with the right that flowed through a cooling jacket surrounding the additive partners, lubricant and fluid marketers are in motor. In these designs, the e-fluid used to protect the a position to capitalise. Here’s how... gear sets was not required to interact with the motor.
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But that is changing as OEMs seek to gain efficiency, and lubricant marketers will need to adjust in order improve range and reduce weight and cost. to capitalise. For example, an expanding number of OEMs doing business throughout the Middle East, Next-generation EDUs are designed with an e-motor many of whom maintain their own specifications that is integrated with the gearbox and inverter, and for lubricants to be used in their vehicles, will create OEMs are utilising a single fluid to cool the motor and increased difficulty for a single formulation to lubricate the gearbox. In this arrangement, the fluid maintain broad applicability. This will require strategic must perform all the same functions as before, while thinking for lubricant marketers, as well as strategic also protecting against copper corrosion and keeping sourcing of additive chemistries. the motor at optimal temperatures. These demands will require specially formulated e-axle fluids that Fluid Engineering Growth in China. As noted significantly differ from those available today. earlier in this article, China represents a massive opportunity for global lubricant marketers. As New Demands in Industrial Equipment. In demand increases across all industries, both industrial applications, high-performance lubricants performance requirements and complexity of product and hydraulic fluids are increasingly required as OEMs lines are increasing throughout the country. For continue to design more-efficient machines. New lubricant marketers looking to take advantage of the hydraulic equipment is achieving increased power opportunity, delivering high-performance products densities with higher-pressure pumps, finer filtration, with the right additives will be equally important as all while reducing sump sizes and downsizing or strategic portfolio management. outright eliminating coolers — all of which can create more challenging conditions for hydraulic fluids. Growing Need for Refrigerants in India. India passed China as the most populated country1 in The Need for Environmentally Friendly the world in 2023 and is home to roughly 18% of Lubricants. Because many gallons of fluids and the world’s population. As of 2023, only 36% of lubricants inadvertently escape into the environment India is currently urbanised—but that is changing. every year, numerous industries are seeking lubricants Urbanisation and modernisation in the country that are friendlier to the environment. It’s why will drive greater demand for air conditioning and demand for environmentally acceptable lubricants refrigeration—and thus reliable refrigerants. As this (EALs) will continue to grow in 2024 and beyond. happens, refrigerants suppliers must simultaneously move toward formulations that have low global EALs are fluid formulations that have been shown to warming potential (GWP), requiring the right additive meet such regulatory standards for biodegradability, chemistry to lessen their impact on the environment. non-bioaccumulative potential and minimal toxicity to aquatic life compared to conventional lubricants. The Importance of the Right Partners Importantly, EALs require fundamentally different Meeting the needs described throughout this article additive packages than their traditional counterparts. will fundamentally depend upon working with the Zinc, for example, is widely used as an anti-wear right additive suppliers and partner network. additive—but because it does not meet the stringent criteria for biodegradability, it cannot be used in EALs. When evaluating your additive partners, there are certain capabilities you should look for to help you Global Growth Is Driving Greater Demand meet evolving demands around the world. A long Some global markets are presenting new history and deep experience in the additive chemistry opportunities for the lubricant space—and those space is important, as is rigorous quality assurance opportunities will require the requisite additive and consistently high-quality products. A robust chemistry. Some examples include: supply chain to help you get the additives you need to do business around the world is also critical to Rapid Evolution in the Middle East. The Middle capitalise on new, global opportunities. Finally, East region is rapidly evolving in terms of mobility, technological leadership and expertise, backed by lab
Lube and real-world testing capabilities, will be essential to meet the increasingly difficult performance demands of tomorrow’s lubricants.
For the lubricants industry, change is inevitable and
is something that we will need to navigate together for the foreseeable future. As applications evolve, as sustainability efforts continue apace and as global THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
markets grow and change, the right partnerships can
make all the difference. The official journal of
subscribe Kunal Nadkarni is vice president LUBE is the largest and leading FREE of global strategic marketing publication for the European and commercial excellence for lubricant industry, advertise with us today! Lubrizol, where he is responsible • 32,000 readers across 100 countries for leading a global team • Essential reading for the entire supply chain to grow Lubrizol’s additives • Authoritative, original content business in key growth regions and segments. He brings over 22 years of experience in the Subscribe here: www.lube-media. oil and gas and industrials, spanning two continents com/subscribe and multiple industries. He holds his master’s degree in international business from Symbiosis and in Commerce from Savitribai Phule Pune University and has completed his executive Master of Business Administration from McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
