THE MARKET REPORT WHAT’S NEW

Vivo Energy Mauritius

marks 13 years of FUCHS launches lubricants
operation P. 5 for electric vehicles P.11

V O L . 3 4 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 | W W W . L U B E Z I N E . C O M

MAIN FEATURE

WHITE OILS
SELECTING THE CORRECT GRADE
BASED ON APPLICATIONS
PLUS: EXPERT INTERVIEW WITH RYMAX LUBRICANTS COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR ERIK VERMEER P.22
Grasp your industrial
performance

Beyond food safety, TOTAL NEVASTANE food grade lubricants coupled with our
expert advice will help you meet the performance demands of your processing
equipment while ensuring the reliability and durability.

www.total.co.ke customerservice@total.co.ke
 CONTENTS
VOL 34 | SEPTEMBER 2020
www.lubezine.com
Fa cebook : Lubez ine Magazi n e
L i nkeI n: Lubez ine Magazi n e
Tw i tter: @l ub e zi n e

N E W S • I N D U ST R Y U P D AT E • N E W P R O D U C T S • T E C H N O L O G Y • CO M M E N TA R Y

COVER
INSIDE SHUTTERSTOCK | SIRTRAVELALOT

REGULARS
2
Editor’s Desk

4-6
The Market Report

WHITE OILS
FUCHS South Africa announces
major investment
B Investments starts discussions to
sell its 20% TOTAL Egypt stake
Vivo Energy Mauritius launches Products and topical creams
three new lubricants as it marks
13 years of operation for which white oils are key
Oman-based oil company eyes ingredients will increase white
Rwandan lubricant market oils demand in Africa.
NNPC Retail partners with Autofit to
launch Lube Bay in Nigeria

7
Lubes Diary

8
Frequently Asked Questions

10-12
WHAT’S NEW: PRODUCTS AND
INNOVATIONS
ADNOC launches new lubricant
range for hybrid vehicles
Chevron Oronite introduces new tractor
hydraulic fluid (THF) additive
FUCHS launches lubricant
line for electric vehicles

16
Infineum launches new transmission
fluid additive
Porsche and Mobil 1™ jointly
launch new motor oil
Petro-Canada launches PURITY™ FG2
Multipurpose food grade grease

13-15
IN OTHER WORLDS

8
BP, Reliance Industries Ltd form joint
venture; sell Castrol lubes in India
Brenntag to acquire Thai finished
lubes distributor

Oil Intel announces JV with TOTAL

19
to expand Lubricants offerings in
New Zealand

Idemitsu to sell Shell Lubricants

Japan back to Shell as it opens
new lube plant

Lukoil plant in Kazakhstan starts to

deliver lubricants to China

Total Lubmarine opens new oil 8 | FREQUENTLY ASKED 26 | NYNAS FEATURE

analysis lab in Chicago QUESTIONS Critical correlations between
22 metalworking fluid emulsion
10 QUESTIONS FOR LUBRICANTS
stability and base oil properties
PROFESSIONALS
From a family business to a globally 19 | GLOBAL DEMAND
recognized lubricant brand
The impact of the COVID-19
28 pandemic on the global
LAST WORD
Biodegradable lubricants and the lubricants industry
Kenyan market

September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE 1

 EDITOR’SDESK
VOL 34 • SEPTEMBER 2020

James Wakiru
Lubezine Magazine | Editor-in-Chief

Food safety & care for

the environment
W
elcome to our 34th
edition which is heav-
ily laden with many
technical features for
your reading pleasure.
Our main feature
is about white oils. With diverse applica-
tions of this product including formula-
tion of food grade oils, cosmetics and
medicinal applications, various grades
are available, each with varying level
of purities. Our lead article provides a
detailed background of how white oils are
manufactured and selection guidelines
depending on the specific application in
hand.
Incidental contact of a lubricant with
food cannot be avoided in a food process-
ing set-up. White oils come in handy as
the base oils in the manufacture of food
grade lubricants, however, with high
purity level. With the growth in agri-
culture and food processing industry in
Africa, white oil application and demand
can only be expected to continue to
increase.
In our last word feature, we look at
the need for bio-degradable lubricants
in Africa. Although this is considered an
extremely niche and tiny market, the need
to minimize environmental degradation
emanating from lubricants spillages
during usage is a clear justification why
such products should be embraced. Criti-
cal applications with potential impact on
the environment such as marine applica-
tions, rails, electric power transformers
and farm applications are some of the
areas where biodegradable lubes can be
required.
Despite the gloom that engulfed the
world with the onset of COVID-19, we see
vibrancy and resilience of the lubricants
industry as captured in our various
market reports. For instance, in southern
Africa, FUCHS Lubricants South Africa
has announced a massive investment of
building a warehouse, office complex and
a lubricants blending plant while Vivo
Energy Mauritius celebrated 13 years of
operation and launched a range of engine
oils. Elsewhere, BP and Reliance industries
have partnered in India to form Jio-BP
which is distributing Castrol lubricants
across India, one of the world’s most
important markets.
Erik Vermeer, Rymax’s Lubricants
Commercial Director joins us in the 10
questions for lubricants professionals and
takes us through the journey of Rymax
Lubricants from a family oil business to
a globally recognized lubricant brand.
He also talks about the business model
of Rymax that has helped them spread
roots worldwide with their products being
sold in 51 countries globally, and Rymax’s
future plans for the lubricant market in
Africa and globally. .
Happy reading.

Publisher: Contributors: Advertising & Subscription:

Lubes Africa Ltd James Wakiru AFRICA
Miriam Wangari Miriam Wangari
Editor-in-Chief: miriam.wangari@lubesafrica.com
James Wakiru Prof. Thomas Norrby info@lubesafrica.com Subscriptions: Lubezine is free to qualified
subscribers who are involved in the lubricants
Michael Lyttle
Assistant Editor EUROPE, MIDDLE
industry as manufacturer’s end-users,
Ian Moncrieff marketers and suppliers to the oil industry.
Winnie Were EAST, ASIA
Milind Phadke Lubezine is a quarterly publication of Lubes
Wanzetse David Jeffries Africa Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this
djeffries@onlymedia.co.uk publication may be produced or transmitted in
Design & Layout: Photography: any form including photocopy or any storage
Only Media Ltd, United House
info@lubesafrica.com Martin Serem Media Agencies 39-41 North Road, London
and retrieval system without prior written
permission from the publishers.
www.lubezine.com kibet.m@gmail..com Lubezine Library N7 9DP, UK ISSN 2664 3235 (Print)
ISSN 2708-843X (Online)

2 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020

In PCMO,
you need
a partner at
the heart of
change.

In PCMO, tightening legislation, uncertain markets and exacting OEM expectations

can send you in many different directions. Infineum can help you navigate these
changes. Our technology leadership, close OEM relationships and global supply
network put us exactly where you need us – at the heart of your changing world.

See what the future holds at Infineum.com/PCMO

‘INFINEUM’, the interlocking Ripple Device, the corporate mark comprising INFINEUM and the interlocking Ripple Device and 润英联 are trademarks of Infineum International Limited.
© 2018 Infineum International Limited. All rights reserved. 2018072
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE 3
 THEMARKETREPORT
NEW S • B R I E F I N G • N E W PRO D U CTS • T E C H N O LO GY
LUBES DIARY: The 2020 European Base Oils & Lubricants Summit | FAQS: What are the general guidelines during lubricants usage?
SOUTH AFRICA
FUCHS South Africa
announces major
investment
F
UCHS Lubricants South
Africa, a subsidiary of
FUCHS PETROLUB SE
in Germany, has announced
plans to further invest in
South Africa. The investment
will involve buying land,
construction of a lubricant
plant, warehouse and an office
complex.
According to Paul Deppe, the
Managing Director of FUCHS
Lubricants South Africa, their
African market is growing
and therefore there is need for
E GY P T
B Investments starts
discussions to sell its 20%
TOTAL Egypt stake
B
Investments Holding
and its affiliates (all
managed by BPE
Partners) has announced
that it has initiated
discussions with TOTAL
Egypt to sell 20% of its
9.67% stake in the latter.
B Investments entered into
a partnership with TOTAL
Egypt in 2013 in the areas
of retail service stations,
lubricants, commercial and
industrial operations, aviation
and logistics. According to
B Investments, together
with TOTAL SA through
TOTAL Egypt, they jointly
acquired and integrated the
4 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
them to prepare for the rising
demand of their products and
services. “FUCHS’ business in
South Africa and export into
Africa is growing and we need
to plan for future expansion.”
Phase 1 of the project will
involve purchasing land,
site development, building
a warehouse and an office
complex which is expected to
be completed by October 2021.
According to Mr Deppe, the
start of Phase 2 of the project,
which will involve building the
downstream assets of Chevron
Egypt and Shell Egypt.
TOTAL Egypt was
established in 1998 and it is
active across the entire oil
product distribution sector,
with general sales, lubricants,
marine and aviation
activities as well as a retail
network. Presently, it has 230
employees with around 239
service stations countrywide.
For distribution purposes,
TOTAL has four depots; two
in Cairo and one in Suez
and Alexandria respectively.
TOTAL also has contracts with
importers and automobile
dealers for the supply of
lubricant blending plant, will
depend on the completion of
Phase 1. “The concept design
for the lubricants plant is still
being refined and no timeline
has been set for the start of
Phase 2 of this project. The
earliest it will happen is at the
end of Phase 1.”
In his response about the
production of the new plant
he said, “All types of lubricants
will be manufactured in the
new plant including products
lubricants. They include: Abou
Ghali (Hyundai, GM, BMW,
Nissan, Mapple, JMC), EATC
(VW and Audi), KAYAN (SEAT),
Diamond Motors (Mitsubishi)
and EIM (Renault). Moreover,
TOTAL Egypt has its own
lubricant blending plant
where it manufactures both
industrial and automotive
lubricants.
B Investments is an Egypt-
based private equity firm
SOURCE | FUCHS GROUP
for industrial, automotive,
mining, etc. FUCHS has a very
wide range of lubricants and
the plant has been designed to
cater for a complex manufac-
turing environment ranging
from very small batch to large
production operations. The
latest technology to control
production, ensure the highest
levels of cleanliness and
minimize contamination are
being applied.”.
and growth capital investor
which was established in
2006. It has a diversified
set of investments across
distinct sectors: real estate
development, downstream oil
and gas, IT system integration,
non-banking financial
services, renewable energy,
manufacturing and food &
beverage..
MAURITIUS
Vivo Energy Mauritius launches
three new lubricants as it marks
13 years of operation
V
ivo Energy Mauritius,
the distributor of Shell
branded lubricants has
added three new lubricants
to its product line in the Shell
Helix and Rimula ranges as it
marks 13 years of operation
in the country. The products
are Shell Helix Ultra 0W20
engine oil, Shell Helix Ultra
ECT 5W30 C3 and Rimula
Synthetic 10W40.
According to the company,
Shell Helix Ultra 0W20 engine
oil is compatible with hybrid
vehicles, petrol engines
requiring grades 0W20 and
5W20 grades. Shell Helix Ultra
ECT 5W30 C3 is suitable for
gasoline and diesel vehicles
that recommend using a
low SAPS which essentially
means having a low level of
Sulphate ash, phosphorus
and Sulphur in the product.
Rimula Synthetic 10W40 is
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
a 100% synthetic oil formu-
lated for diesel or heavy-duty
vehicles such as buses, trucks
or construction machinery.
They further stated that the
products have been designed
to reduce CO2 emissions and
enhance fuel economy.
Matthias de Larm-
inat, Managing Director Vivo
Energy Mauritius, said that
lubricant users in Mauritius
are conscious about the
quality of products hence
innovation of new and better
products is imperative to
keep them in the competitive
market. In his speech, he said:
“As the automotive oil and
lubricant market in Mauritius
is small and ultra-competi-
tive, it is imperative to con-
stantly adapt our offering to
meet automotive innovations
and the expectations of users
increasingly concerned about
the health of their vehicles.
We are confident that users
will be able to provide this
new generation of engine oils
with a welcome that lives up
to Shell’s reputation.”
Bernard Domingue,
Lubricants Manager at Vivo
Energy Mauritius further
emphasized the need of using
a quality lubricant on the
engine. “An engine is small
but at the same time it is
powerful, so the choice of the
right lubricant is crucial for
the proper operation of the
engine and its components,”
he said.
Vivo Energy said these
products will be available in
the market through licensed
dealers, specialty shops and
garages and the Shell network
of gas stations. .
SOURCE | VIVO ENERGY MAURITIUS
R WA N DA
Oman-based
oil company
eyes Rwandan
lubricant market
L
otus Oil Lubricants,
the manufacturer of
lubricants in Oman,
sent its first shipment of
engine oil to Rwanda to tap
into the growing demand of
lubricants in Africa associ-
ated with the continent’s
growth rate.
Hamdan Rashid al Eisaei,
Lotus Oil Lubricants’ owner
commenting on this said:
“Africa is the world’s second
fastest growing region,
experiencing an average
annual GDP growth of 4.6%.
It’s this rapid growth that
caught our eye and that’s
why we participated in
January’s OPEX Trade show
in Kigali which introduced
us to opportunities in the
Rwandan market and we
hope this initial shipment
of engine oil to Kigali will be
the beginning of a long-term
trade relationship.”
Saif al Mamari, Assistant
Director General of Exports
at Ithraa, Oman’s invest-
ment promotion and export
development agency said,
“I’m thrilled to see an SME
like Lotus Oil Lubricants
tap into the African market.
They’re a shining example of
what local SMES can achieve
on the export front.” He
added, “Ithraa is delighted
to have assisted Lotus Oil
Lubricants as they grow
their export reach. My team
is passionate about help-
ing Oman’s private sector
harness economic growth
wherever in the world it is
taking place.”.
5
 THEMARKETREPORT
N E W S • B R I E F I NG • NE W P RO D U CTS • TE CHN O LO GY
NIGERIA
NNPC Retail partners with Autofit to
launch Lube Bay in Nigeria
From L-R: Managing Director NNPC Retail Ltd Mrs Elizabeth Aliyuda, General Manager Shipping Mr Inuwa Waya, CEO Auto Fit Dr Olusegun Aderemi JP, and
T
he Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation’s
(NNPC) downstream
subsidiary, NNPC Retail
Limited, has entered into a
partnership with Automatic
Fit and Energy Limited (Auto
Fit), an Automobile Care
Company to set up a vehicle
servicing centre NNPC Lube
Bay in Abuja. This latest
vehicle service centre is
responsible for promoting
safe motoring in Nigeria.
During the launch of the
service centre, the Managing
Director of Automatic Fit and
Energy Limited, Dr Olusegun
Aderemi said: “With over 25
years of experience and also
being a pioneer in this same
space, with us constantly
6 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
Special Advisor to Nigerian President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu. SOURCE | AUTOFIT
updating our techniques and
equipment, we believe that we
will not be offering anything
less in this regard.”
The Vice President, Prof Yemi
Osinbajo, who was represented
by the president’s Special
Advisor Senator Babafemi
Ojudu said the service centre
will be of great benefit to
Nigeria’s transportation sector.
“The partnership is a good
development, as it will provide
motorists with highest quality
lubricants, proper lubrication
processes and services with
sustainable value for custom-
ers. The relationship will enable
customers to achieve their
goals, increase business opera-
tions and make ambitions a
reality.
“Effective lubrication service
will also boost the safety of
motorists. It is economical
when the problems of a car
are properly diagnosed and
rectified on time as it saves
people a lot of money, time and
most importantly stress. The
partnership is a good arrange-
ment and would be of huge
benefit in transportation.”
The Chief Operating officer
(COO) Downstream of the
NNPC, Ms Lawrencia Ndupu,
said the opening of the NNPC
Lube Bay is key to offering
Nigerians quality car care
services. “This commissioning
of NNPC lube bay service
centre being one of the range
of the non-fuel business, will
enhance service delivery and
customer’s satisfaction. We are
highly elated and honoured
to be able to commission the
NNPC lube bay in partnership
with Auto Fit.
“Our dedicated staff have
worked tirelessly to make
this partnership and launch
come to fruition. We assure
all Nigerian motorists, NNPC
families and friends that the
NNPC lube bay service center is
equal to none and implore you
to patronize our service center
for the care and maintenance
of your vehicle.”
Autofit further stated that all
NNPC staff will receive a 30%
discount on any vehicle repair
& maintenance services done
at any of our service centres
across the nation. .
 THELUBESDIARY E V E N T S F R O M AC R O S S T H E G LO B E

OCTOBER 20-23 OCTOBER 24-27 OCTOBER 28-30 25-26 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1-2 DECEMBER 6-10
Moscow, Russia Boca Raton, Florida, USA Athens, Greece Rotterdam, The Netherlands Euskalduna, Bilbao Spain Austin, Texas, USA

Moscow, Russia. PHOTO | BEARFOTOS / FREEPIK

December 1-2
October 20-23 LUBMAT 2020
11th global lubricant Conference in
week Conference Centre
Novotel City Hotel Euskalduna, Bilbao Spain
Moscow, Russia www.lubmat.org/en/home
www.rpi-conferences.com/en/
lubricants-week
December 2-4
ICIS Pan American
October 24-27 Base Oils &
ILMA 2020 Annual Lubricants Virtual
Meeting Conference
www.icisevents.com/ehome/
Boca Raton, Florida, USA baseoils/200502371/
www.ilmaannualmeeting.org

December 6-10
October 28-30 November 8-13 25-26 November ASTM Committee
Union of the STLE/ASME The 2020 European D-2 Petroleum
European Lubricants 2020 Virtual Base Oils & Products, Liquid
Industry UEIL Tribology Frontiers Lubricants Summit Fuels, and
Divani Caravel Hotel Conference Rotterdam, The
Lubricants
Athens, Greece www.stle.org/TribologyFrontiers/ Netherlands Austin, Texas, USA
Home/TribologyFrontiers/ www.astm.org/MEETINGS/
www.ueil.org www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/ filtrexx40.cgi?+-
TFC_Call.aspx base-oils-lubricants-summit/ P+TERM+D02+searchresults.frm

September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE 7

 Frequently Asked
Questions FAQS STAR QUESTION:
WHAT ARE THE GENERAL GUIDELINES
DURING LUBRICANTS USAGE?

Q
Can I mix packaging should be closed immediately, and
synthetic with kept closed. When opening the container,
a conventional
mineral oil?
When opening the container, do not let any dust, dirt or moisture enter.
Even a small amount of dust or moisture
It is prudent to con- do not let any dust, dirt or can affect the oil quality. Wipe

Q
firm compatibility lid or cover clean before opening.
when you have lubri- moisture enter. Even a small
Do I carry out oil
cants made from mineral and synthetic base
oils. PAO based are mostly compatible with
amount of dust or moisture analysis even
mineral oils but not always. The base stock can affect the oil quality. when I do not

Q
compatibility here should drive the solution. have failures?
However, for you to derive the full value of a This is a usual mis-

Q
lubricant, mixing is not encouraged. I’ve noticed conception that used
sediment in my oil analysis should be
Is shelf life the gear oil. Is it still done based on major equipment failures
same as func- okay to use it? and often is just based on major machine
tional life? Some oil separation, failures. For any major failure to develop to
No, shelf life is not which is sometimes failure level, the inception of the process
the same as func- seen on the bottom starts way before the failure in most cases.
tional life. Shelf life is in pails or drums, should not be a problem. Carrying out used oil analysis even when no
the period following Oil separation is usually insignificant when failures are noticed and keenly review and
the lubricant’s manufacture during which it compared with the mass of the oil in the interpret the results should in most cases
is deemed suitable for use without re-testing container. Normally, the separated oil can be reveal some patterns that if resolved then
its physical characteristics. Functional life is safely stirred back into the bulk of the gear major failures would be eliminated. Apart
determined by durability or accelerated life oil in the container. Experience has shown from the failures, used oil analysis will enable
testing of a lubricant in a component under that much of this time-related oil separation the organization to assess the condition of
expected operating conditions. It should be can be reduced if the oil is stored in a stable the lubricant as well as the equipment. .

Q
noted that most lubricants manufactured are storage environment.
designed for lifetime component lubrication,
which often exceeds 10 years in extreme What are the
operation conditions. general storage
guidelines for
lubricants?
Lubricants should be
stored in a cool and
dry indoor area. The
indoor temperature should not exceed 86°F
(30°C), and should remain above 32°F (0°C).
Do not put oil directly near a heat source
and avoid exposure to direct sunlight. After
opening and using partial amount of fluid,

8 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020

 group II base oils

this is what progress looks like

Non-conformance from 28% to zero

Deojay, a dynamic independent lubricant company in Durban, South Africa, struggled with losses.
Non-conformance averaged 28% due to the high variance in quality of imported Group I base oils.

The technical director at Umongo, their additives supplier, recommended that

Deojay switch to Chevron Group II across the board.

Today Deojay has zero non-conformance, a 19% growth in sales,

and a hydraulic oil recognized as the cleanest in Sub-Saharan Africa!

Let’s talk about your business.

We can be reached at Chevronbaseoils.com

Jackie Le Roux
Managing Director
Deojay Petroleum
©2017 Chevron. All rights reserved.

September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE 9

 WHAT’S NEW
PRODUCTS & INNOVATIONS
H E Vs L U B R I C A N T S
ADNOC launches new lubricant
range for hybrid vehicles
A
DNOC Distribution has
launched a new range
of lubricants; ADNOC
VOYAGER comprising of
VOYAGER Star Plus HB and
VOYAGER Star Plus Eco for
hybrid vehicles.
VOYAGER Star Plus HB is
designed for hybrid vehicles and
it offers fuel savings and engine
ADDITIVES
Chevron Oronite introduces
new tractor hydraulic fluid
(THF) additive
C
hevron Oronite the
developer, manufacturer,
and marketer of fuel and
lubricant additives has launched
a new tractor hydraulic fluid
(THF) additive; OLOA® 9728X.
According to the company, the
new additive meets the new ZF
TE-ML 05E specification issued
by ZF Friedrichshafen AG who
develop and manufacture driveline
10
ADNOC new lube for hybrid vehicles.
lubrication protection. VOYAGER
Star Plus Eco engine oil is
fully compatible with vehicles
manufactured since 2002
and can be used for a variety
of cars, including American,
Korean, Japanese and, European
manufactured vehicles.
As stated in a press release,
the new lubricants are manufac-
systems and axles for construction
machinery.
Koon Eng Goh, Vice President,
Products and Technology, Chevron
Oronite said OLOA® 9728X has
been developed to take care of
the needs of their customers.
“Building on a legacy of over 40
years developing THF technology,
OLOA® 9728X delivers on stringent
ZF performance requirements and
SOURCE | ADNOC
tured using ADNOC’s Group III
base oil ADbase which has a high
Viscosity Index (VI) making it an
ideal lubricant component, ensur-
ing efficiency and fuel economy
for high-performance engines,
while meeting ever stringent
environmental regulations.
Concerning the new range of
lubricants, ADNOC Distribution’s
expands our THF product offering
to provide enhanced coverage for
our customers.”
In addition to meeting the new
ZF TE-ML 05E specification, which
is current and verifiable, OLOA®
9728X also meets the John Deere
JDM 20 and the latest GIMA
specifications. Testing is also
underway to support the CNH and
Volvo OEM specifications said the
company in a press release.
“Oronite is fully committed to
delivering innovative solutions to
meet the evolving performance
needs of agriculture and construc-
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Ahmed Al Shamsi said: “We
are proud to be one of the first
companies in the Middle East to
introduce the latest international
standards in vehicle oil technology
to the UAE and also to some of
our core export markets in the
GCC as well as throughout Africa
and Asia. The new range meets
the needs of the latest engine
technologies to enable better
fuel efficiency, extend an engine’s
lifespan and, create cost savings
for our customers. Our lubricants
bring together quality from their
very base to the expert techniques
used to create specific solutions
that, together with regular lube
change, maintain the efficiency of
hybrid engines.”
ADNOC VOYAGER is available
at all the ADNOC Distribution
stations in UAE and they are
exported to distributors across
the GCC, Africa, and Asia.
Furthermore, ADNOC offers a
range of lubricants comprising
of automotive and marine engine
lubricants, automotive gear and
transmission fluids, and industrial
lubricants and greases, meeting
the requirements of commercial
fleet operators, construction,
manufacturing, marine and power
generation sectors. .
tion tractors with common sumps
where the fluid lubricates the
transmissions, brakes, final drives,
and hydraulic systems,” stated Jeff
Waite, global product line manager,
Industrial Engine Oils, Specialties
and Fuels, Chevron Oronite. “Our
OLOA® 9728X technology, devel-
oped with a new approach that led
to a patent-pending formula, helps
maintain excellent noise suppres-
sion, robust protection against
gear wear, hydraulic pump distress,
rust, corrosion, and oxidation – all
hallmark performance attributes of
Oronite’s THF additives.”.
E- M O B I L I T Y L U B E S
FUCHS launches lubricant
line for electric vehicles
F
UCHS PETROLUB SE has
launched a product line of
lubricants for e-mobility,
aptly named FUCHS BluEV.
According to FUCHS, FUCHS
BluEV product line will initially
constitute of three product
categories: FUCHS BluEV
DriveFluid-transmission oils
in electric and hybrid drives;
FUCHS BluEV MotorGrease-
grease products for electric
motors designed especially for
e-mobility applications; and
FUCHS BluEV ThermalFluid-
dielectric heat transfer media for
automotive applications.
Stefan Fuchs, Chairman of
the Executive Board, said this
move portrays their effort
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
to help their customers deal
with challenges associated
with EVs and HEVs. He said:
“The transition to e-mobility is
presenting our customers in the
automotive industry with major
challenges, which we help them
to tackle. As a development
partner of numerous premium
manufacturers in the
automotive sector, we possess
the professional excellence
necessary to address global and
local customer needs in the best
possible way. Over 90 years of
expertise and experience are
reflected in the development
of new lubrication solutions
that are needed in the systems
of the future-for example, new
combinations of an electric
motor and transmission, with and
without a combustion engine.”
“We are definitely breaking
new ground at FUCHS with the
concept of a ‘product line’,” said
Joerg Wehrle, Vice President
Global Product Management
Strategy, while emphasizing the
importance of e-mobility for the
Group. “So far, we have operated
only with product brands. The
new product line will cover all
products and solutions that
are geared especially towards
e-mobility, across all product
groups, areas of application, and
industries.”.
SOURCE | FUCHS PETROLUB
ADDITIVES
PIC?
Infineum CEO Trevor Russell
SOURCE | INFINEUM
Infineum
launches
new
transmission
fluid
additive
I
nfineum has launched a new
wet dual clutch transmission
fluid additive that is suitable
even for hybrid vehicles. The
new additive improves reliability,
anti-shudder ability, and boosts
fuel efficiency.
According to Infineum, field
trials for the new additive technol-
ogy have been conducted in China
and Germany since mid-2019.
The field trials include 10 vehicles
equipped with 4 typical wet DCT
models from major European and
Chinese OEMs, including hybrid
and oil cooling versions. Using a
combination of road conditions,
including inner-city and highway,
they tested the performance in
real and challenging conditions
for 100,000km without oil change,
and the oils were sampled and
analyzed along the field trials.
“From the used oil analysis
and transmission inspection and
rating in SWRI and ISP, our new
technology demonstrates superior
protection, excellent cleanliness,
and minimum deterioration or
wear,” said Infineum in a press
release..
11
 WHAT’S NEW
PRODUCTS & INNOVATIONS
CO - B R A N D E D L U B E
Porsche and Mobil 1™ jointly
launch new motor oil
Mr. Fabio Stoelzel, Vice President After Sales of Porsche China and Mr. Richard
Yue, ExxonMobil China Investment Co. managing director. SOURCE | PORSCHE
D
r. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche AG
the German automobile
manufacturer based in
Zuffenhausen, Stuggart Germany
and Mobil 1™ the manufacturers
of automotive and industrial
lubricants and a wholly-owned
FOOD GRADE LUBES
Petro-Canada launches PURITY™ FG2
MULTI PURPOSE food grade grease
P
etro-Canada Lubricants
Inc. has launched
PURITY™ FG2 MULTI
PURPOSE a Calcium Sulfonate
food grade grease. The grease
is applicable in a wide range of
machinery including sleeve and
anti-friction bearings, slides, and
guides in various segments of
food processing including the
roller bearings in animal feed
pellet mills.
According to Petro-Canada,
the grease has wear and
extreme pressure protection
with mechanical stability in the
presence of heat and water. It
also provides resistance to water
washout, food acids, juices, steam
12
subsidiary by ExxonMobil have
jointly launched a new synthetic
motor oil line.
The three new products are
Mobil 1™ C20, C30 and C40 has
a low-ash technology formula
that extends the service life of
cleaning, most sterilizing
chemicals used in cleaning
and spray loss. It also has
an effective protection
against rust and corrosion.
Moreover, the H1 grease has
oxidation resistance which
help extend the grease life.
PURITY™ FG2 MULTI
PURPOSE is formulated with
white mineral oil and tackifiers
to help provide effective equip-
ment operation over a broad
temperature range. The grease
has good pumpability down
to -20°C (-4°F) which makes
it ideal for use in centralized
lubricating systems.
PURITY™ FG2 MULTI
the particulate filter device in
the exhaust system. They also
cater to more stringent emission
policies, enhances engine protec-
tion and improved fuel economy.
The co-branded motor oil is sold
in over 100 Porsche Centres
across China as stated by the two
companies in a press release.
“One of the main features of
Porsche’s after-sales service is
the use of original components
aligned with Porsche’s global
uniform standards, to ensure that
everything meets Porsche’s strict
engine requirements for pursuing
ultimate performance. Whether
on the road or the race track, the
high-performance lubricant Mobil
1™ has contributed significantly
to help Porsche forge ahead in
creating a period of legendary
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
history,” said Mr Fabio Stoelzel,
Vice President After Sales of
Porsche China. “The co-branded
motor oil launched by Porsche
and Mobil 1™ will thoroughly
enhance the superior perfor-
mance of our engines and set a
new benchmark for the industry.
We look forward to protecting
every trip taken by Porsche
customers via our continuous
and solid cooperation with
ExxonMobil.”
“Porsche is one of our most
significant and strategic partners.
Over the years, as the factory fill
and recommended service fill for
Porsche engines, Mobil 1™ has
always aided Porsche sports cars
to achieve cutting-edge perfor-
mance. And we will continue to
provide Porsche owners with
superior protection in the future,”
said Mr Richard Yue, ExxonMobil
China Investment Co. managing
director.
Porsche has been in partnership
with ExxonMobil since 1996. .
PURPOSE has been registered
by NSF as having used compo-
nents that comply with FDA 21
lubricants with incidental food
contact. It has further
been certified by
Kosher Pareve for the
Jews and Halal for the
Muslims.
Petro-Canada
manufactures and
markets lubricants,
specialty products and
greases. It has operations
in around 80 countries
worldwide. .
SOURCE | PETRO-CANADA
 IN OTHER WORLDS
BY MIRIAM WANGARI
PA R T N E R S H I P
BP, Reliance Industries Ltd
form joint venture; sell
Castrol lubes in India
B
P and Reliance
Industries
Limited (RIL)
announced the starting
of a joint venture;
Reliance BP Mobility
Limited (RBML) which
will be operating under
the “Jio-BP” brand. BP
paid RIL $1 billion for
a 49% stake in the
joint venture, with RIL
holding 51%.
According to a joint
press release by BP
and RIL, RBML aims
to expand from its
current fuel retailing
network of over 1,400
retail sites to up to
5,500 over the next five
years. This rapid growth will
require a four-fold increase
in staff employed in service
stations – growing from
20,000 to 80,000 in this
period. The joint venture also
aims to increase its presence
from 30 to 45 airports in the
coming years.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman
and Managing Director of
Reliance Industries Limited
said: “Reliance is expanding
on its strong and valued
partnership with bp, to
establish a Pan-Indian pres-
ence in retail and aviation
fuels. RBML will aim to be a
leader in mobility and low
carbon solutions, bringing
cleaner and affordable
options for Indian consum-
ers with digital and technol-
ogy being our key enablers”.
Commenting on the
partnership, Bernard Looney,
BP Chief Executive Officer
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
said: “India has been leading
the way with innovations
in digital technology, value
engineering and new energy
solutions. It is a country that
will require more energy for
its economic growth and,
as it prospers, its needs for
mobility and convenience
will accelerate. BP has a
proud history in India
spanning over a century.
We are honoured to be a
strategic partner with Reli-
ance – India’s most valuable
company – and pleased
that our partnership has
grown in both substance and
spirit over this past decade.
Reliance’s digital capabilities,
technical expertise and reach
complement our interna-
tional fuels and service
offers. Today’s announce-
ment is another milestone
in our common goal to serve
the Indian consumer. This
new venture is a unique
opportunity to build a
leading, fast-growing
business that can help
meet India’s demands
and create exciting new
digital and low-carbon
options for the future.”
The joint venture
will begin selling fuels
and Castrol lubricants
with immediate effect
from its existing retail
outlets, which will be
rebranded to “Jio-BP”
in due course. A press
release by Castrol, this
new channel offers the
company enhanced vis-
ibility and reach for its
products and solutions.
“Castrol India is delighted
to be a part of the Jio-BP
network. We will offer a
premium experience to our
consumers, bringing innova-
tive value-added solutions
as together we look to
transform the Indian mobil-
ity sector,” said Sandeep
Sangwan, Managing Director,
Castrol India Limited.
Harish C Mehta, CEO,
Reliance BP Mobility Limited
added “Jio-BP puts consum-
ers at the centre of its
universe and will offer them
differentiated products and
services to set new bench-
marks in mobility solutions.
I am confident that Castrol’s
cutting-edge lubricants,
together with our fuels and
convenience offers, will
deliver best in class experi-
ence for Indian consumers
.
visiting our outlets.”
E X PA N S I O N
Brenntag
to acquire
Thai finished
lubes
distributor
B
renntag AG, a German chemi-
cal distribution company
has signed an agreement
to acquire Oils ‘R Us Co., Ltd, a
distributor of both industrial and
automotive lubricants in Thailand.
Henri Nejade, Member of the
Management Board of Brenntag
Group and CEO Brenntag Asia
Pacific said their acquisition in
Thailand will help them expand their
lubricant footprint in the region.
“Our acquisition in Thailand, which
is the second-largest economy in
Southeast Asia, perfectly drives
Brenntag’s lubricant expansion
plan in the region forward. Not
only regional but also in terms of
service offering, since Oils ‘R Us
offers us extensive possibilities to
establish lubricant decanting and
re-packaging capabilities in the
future.”
Anthony Gerace, Managing
Director Mergers & Acquisitions
at Brenntag Group said, “our
strategy is to build broad regional
coverage of lubricant distribution
in Southeast and Southern Asia.
Adding a platform in the important
market of Thailand is the next
step for Brenntag Asia Pacific to
complete its vision to become the
leading distributor and provider of
lubricants and value-added services
in the region.”
Brenntag is headquartered
in Essen, Germany and it was
established in 1912..
SOURCE | BRENNTAG
13
 IN OTHER WORLDS
BY MIRIAM WANGARI
JOINT VENTURE
Oil Intel announces JV
with TOTAL to expand
Lubricants offerings in
New Zealand
O Japan back to Shell as it opens new
il Intel has announced
a 50/50 joint venture
with TOTAL Market-
ing & Services, cementing a
partnership of 20 years since
its appointment as authorised
lubricants distributor for New
Zealand.
“Achieving growth by being
the best at what we do has
always been my key focus,
it is what the business was
built around,” says Reuben
Thickpenny, Managing
Director and co-shareholder
of Oil Intel, “We always felt
well-supported in this vision
by TOTAL.”
Both parties are further
united by a shared mission of
conducting business respon-
sibly: “Over the years, we have
taken industry-leading steps
towards responsible trading,
taking into consideration
environmental impact.”
An example is the Lubricant
Container Stewardship
Programme, whereby NZ
oil companies collectively
work towards a sustainable
process of recycling lubricant
Reuben Thickpenny, CEO Total Oil New Zealand.
14
containers. Oil Intel is one of
the leading parties in push-
ing this project to successful
completion. This is in line
with TOTAL’s ambition to
be the responsible energy
major, supported by initiatives
such as programs on used
oils recycling partnerships
or biodegradable lubricant
ranges.
“We look forward to the
opportunities this Joint
Venture partnership brings”,
says Christine Richard,
Vice President, Specialties
& B-B for the Asia Pacific
and Middle Eastern region,
TOTAL Marketing & Services.
“I am proud of our collective
achievements over the last
two decades. Our customers
now rely on the consistency
of quality services and we are
fully committed to deliver
innovative and responsible
solutions to the New Zealand
market.” He added.
Oil Intel was formed in 1999
but it has been operating in
its current legal form since
2004. .
SOURCE | OIL INTEL
ACQ U I S I T I O N A N D E X PA N S I O N
Idemitsu to sell Shell Lubricants
lube plant
I
demitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd
announced that it has
entered into a share purchase
agreement with Shell Overseas
Holdings Limited for the transfer of
all shares of Shell Lubricants Japan
K.K. (SLJ) which is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan, and
certain assets and rights currently
held by the Company for the use
of SLJ’s Shell-branded lubricants
business.
Idemitsu said this decision was
arrived at because they are looking
to expand their own brand of
lubricants. “The company has been
operating the Idemitsu-branded
lubricants business through the
company, and the Shell-branded
lubricants business through SLJ,
its wholly-owned subsidiary,
with the goal of sustaining
and expanding the lubricants
business. However, the company
considered the future direction
of its lubricants business and the
status of the business integration,
and consequently determined that
the establishment of an independ-
ent operating structure for the
mutually competitive business of
each brand, through the transfer
of all shares of SLJ to Shell will be
needed.
After the transfer, the company
will focus its management
resources on the Idemitsu-branded
lubricants business, work to
continue the development and
expansion of the lubricants
business as a global supplier
of lubricants, and supply the
best solutions for customers by
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
SOURCE | IDEMITSU
utilizing its reliable technology and
knowledge.
In line with this, Idemitsu has
opened a new lubricant manufac-
turing facility in China, Huizhou
Plant, and initiated operations in a
bid to meet the rising demand of
lubricants in China.
This plant becomes the third
Idemitsu lubricant manufacturing
plant in China. “The Huizhou
Plant was built through Huizhou
Idemitsu Lube Co., Ltd. a wholly
owned subsidiary established in
September 2018 for the purpose of
increasing our supply capacity in
order to accommodate the growing
demand for high-performance
lubricants in China. The annual
production capacity of this plant is
120,000 KL,” said Idemitsu.
The other plants are Tianjin
Plant with an annual production
capacity of 120,000KL and
Changzhou Plant which is run by
an Idemitsu affiliate Guohong Lube
China with an annual production
capacity of 50,000KL. This pushes
the annual production capacity of
Idemitsu to 290,000KL.
Idemitsu says that through these
facilities, it is aiming at establishing
a stable supply chain structure
that will be able to take care of the
entire lubricant market of China. It
further says that this step is in line
with its ambition of expanding its
footprint in the global lubricants
market.
The new Huizhou will manufac-
ture automotive lubricants like
engine oils and transmission fluids,
as well as industrial lubricants. .
I N TO N E W M A R K E T S
Lukoil plant in Kazakhstan starts
to deliver lubricants to China
L
ubricants plant PJSC
LUKOIL in Kazakhstan
(LUKOIL Lubricants
Central Asia LLP), which was
launched in September 2019
with a capacity of 100,000
tons per year, has shipped
the first batch of LUKOIL
industrial and motor oils for
passenger and commercial
vehicles to the Chinese
market. The volume of the
first delivery was more than
200 tons of Kazakh-made oils.
The favourable geographi-
cal location of the plant
close to the highway through
Western Europe – Western
China allows prompt deliver-
ies of LUKOIL oils to China; a
rapidly developing oil market
with potential for further
growth.
E X PA N S I O N
Total Lubmarine opens new oil
analysis lab in Chicago
T
otal Lubmarine has opened
a new Diagomar Plus
Laboratory in Chicago, USA.
The laboratory will offer lubricating
oil analysis services for monitoring
the performance and condition
of marine engines and auxiliary
machinery.
This brings the number to five
laboratories worldwide owned by
Total Lubmarine which are based
in Ertvelde (Belgium), Singapore,
Shanghai, and Panama City.
Olivier Suming, Service Product
Manager at Total Lubmarine
said: “Our customers around the
world value the level of technical
expertise and support our
dedicated teams can offer them
to not only help deliver engine
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
The modern automation of
the production processes of
the plant allows production
and shipping the products
to the customer to be
completed within 24 hours
and the up-to-date laboratory
equipment guarantees the
high quality of oils
as mentioned in
a statement.
High-tech
prod-
lubrication recommendations
for optimum cost control results
but crucially, through analysis
and insight of equipment, to
ensure operational efficiency and
safety, and to help reduce vessel
machinery downtime.
“We are delighted to extend
this level of technical support still
further with the opening of our
new Diagomar Plus Laboratory
in Chicago. North America is an
increasingly busy market for us
and the opening of the Chicago
Lab ensures we have a specialist
team at hand to deliver onshore
dedicated technical support to our
customers,” he added.
As per the press release, this
lab will allow Total Lubmarine
ucts exported from the
LUKOIL plant to China and
Central Asian countries con-
tribute to the development of
international trade
and work for the
interna-
customers in North America to
access lubricating oil analysis
which includes: standard analyses
for Engine Oil, Non-engine Oil,
Drain Oil, Thermal Oil, Stern tube
Oil, and EAL (Environmentally
Acceptable Lubricant).
The results from the analysis will
help ship operators and crews to
decide the best course of action
specific to their vessel.
“We have developed this level
of service globally that provides
the necessary assurance for ship
tional prestige of both Russia
and Kazakhstan.
The company produces over
800 types of oils, including
LUKOIL GENESIS, developed
using innovative molecular
technologies and approved
by the world’s leading car
manufacturers. PJSC LUKOIL
has been operating in
Kazakhstan since 1995, and
it also participates in four
other oil and gas production
projects. .
operators and engineers when they
need it most,” said Olivier Suming.
“The speed of service and delivery
of final test results using any one
of our worldwide labs is usually
completed within 48 to 72 hours.
Ship operators are supplied with
the very best technical insight on
the ‘health’ of their engines with
quality reports that detail key
findings and recommendations
from our experts to better support
decision making.”.
15
 COVER
FEATURE

WHITE OILS

White Oils and

The Market
Trends for
Africa

By Michael Lyttle
Michael Lyttle is the Technical Support and
Development Manager at SIP Speciality Oils
and Fluids, who are recognised independent
marketers and distributors of Halal and Kosher
certified white oils that also have NSF H1, HX-1
and 3H registrations. Their products are widely
used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food
grade lubricants and food packaging sectors.

Special thanks to Mike Peters for his

A
contributions to the article.

frica and the Middle

East account for a sizeable
proportion of the worldwide
demand for White Oils with a market
share of estimated to be in the region of 12%,
and its importance in sectors such as cosmetics,
personal care, food packaging and food grade lubricants
cannot be understated. Understanding which grades are
suitable for which applications has become essential in an
attempt to limit the exposure of the population to some of
the more harmful trace impurities that can be found in some
grades. In order to fully explain the distinguishing features
between the various grades, an overview into the origins of
White Oils can only be beneficial. Africa immersed in crystal clear white oil.
PHOTO | ISTOCK / ANDREYEROSHKIM

16 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020

 White Oils are highly refined mineral oils
that are extremely pure, stable, colourless,
odourless, non-toxic and chemically inert.
It is in fact the benign nature of these oils
that make them ideal for those applications
that value these properties.
The term ‘White Oil’ is a little misleading
in the sense that they are not white at all,
but actually crystal clear. The term for
these high purity oils was originally used
to differentiate them from less refined
darker oils.
The technology for refining white min-
eral oil was first established in 1887 in
Russia. Over the next 25 years the process
was improved so that high quality white
oils, that could be used for medicinal and
specialist industrial applications, were
produced. These were exported all over the
world, especially to North America, until in
1917 when the US entered the First World
War, a number of major US oil companies
had to start producing white oils.
There are a number of processes that
are used in the production of white
oils and, depending on the severity of
the process and intended use, three
main types of white oil; Medicinal (or
Pharmaceutical) White oils, Technical
White oils and the less well refined,
White process oils are produced.
White oils can be produced from a
variety of feedstocks, depending on the
process used. These starting materials
include conventional base stocks for the
older acid treatment process to Vacuum
Gas Oils (VGO) for the more widely used
two stage hydrotreating method. These
processes produce colourless, odourless,
tasteless oils where all components that
might have any detrimental effects on
their end usage, such as aromatics, sulfur
or other impurities are removed.
In the past 40 years two stage hydro-
treatment has become more popular as
the process is cleaner and offers greater
economies of scale. The process entails
the initial hydro-cracking of VGO, which
breaks down heavy hydrocarbons, saturates
aromatics and olefins and removes any
sulfur and nitrogen containing compounds.
Distillation of the hydro-cracked feedstock
yields Technical White Oils. Once dewaxed
and passed through the second stage hydro-
treater, the product is further purified to
produce Medicinal White Oil. The actual
processes depend on the preference of the
particular white oil refiner.
Depending on the nature of the end
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
The major factors driving
white oil demand growth
is the increasing use of
cosmetics, hair care products
and topical creams.
application in which a white oil is used,
it can be subject to a wide range of clas-
sifications, specifications, registrations and
directives. The nature of the application can
determine the need for either a Medicinal
or Technical grade, the distinction being
that the medicinal grade can contain less
than 0.05ppm of aromatics whilst the
lower purity technical grades can contain
up to 2000ppm. Within the aromatics
content there are a sub species which are
known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
(PAH’s) which due to their toxicity are
heavily regulated in Europe. The more
severely refined medicinal grades typically
contain less than 0.002ppm of this species,
whilst the Technical grades can contain
in excess of 8 times this amount. This is
especially important when identifying an
oil for a skin care application or for use as
a plastisizer in plastics earmarked for the
manufacture of food containers, where the
higher purity medicinal grade would be
the selection of choice. PAH’s are known
to be absorbed through the skin and due to
White oils are a key ingredient in cosmetics.
their carcinogenic properties skin contact
or ingestion should be avoided.
High purity medicinal oils are defined
by their conformance to the analysis
requirements of the European and US
Pharmacopoeia, the only difference being
that the US Pharmacopoeia allows the use
of an approved antioxidant, whilst the
European Pharmacopoeia does not.
The Food and Drug Agency
The Food and Drug Agency (FDA) is the
authoritative body that regulates the use
of ingredients that are likely to come in to
contact with food in the USA and whose
standards are globally recognised in the
food processing lubricants sector. They
have categories 21 CFR FDA 172.878, 21
CFR FDA 178.3620 part (a) and 21 CFR FDA
178.3620 part(b), which define different
levels of quality i.e.
White Oil (Medicinal)
Conforms to 21 CFR FDA 178.3620 Part (a) ≡
21 CFR FDA 172.878 ≡ US Pharmacopoeia ≡
EU Pharmacopoeia – Certified pure enough
for direct contact with food. The compliance
of cosmetics ingredients to this standard is
relevant as white oils can be absorbed through
the skin.
Technical White Oil
Conforms to 21 CFR FDA 178.3620 Part
(b) – To be used on machinery where only
incidental contact with food is likely to occur.
PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK / MICHAEL JUNG
17
 COVER
FEATURE
EU Directives
An EU directive is a legislative act that
sets out a goal that all EU countries must
achieve. There are a number of these that
medicinal white oils must meet according
to the application.
• 10/2011/EU – This relates to plastic food
contact materials, where the requirement
is for a medicinal quality paraffinic oil to
meet the European Pharmacopoeia, with
a viscosity of not less than 8.5 mm2/s at
100°C and an average molecular weight
which is greater than 480
• 1223/2209/EC – This relates to the regula-
tion of ingredients for cosmetics. Medici-
nal white oils meet the requirements as
not posing a risk to health and do not
appear in the list of prohibited products.
These directives are important in that
they are universal standards to which food
contact material and cosmetics ingredients
need to comply if they are to be used in the
specified application area.
NSF H1, HX-1 and 3H Registrations
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is
a US non-governmental organisation, who
undertake the registration of lubricants
and lubricant components for incidental
food contact products. They took over this
registration process from the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1998.
The guidelines produced by the NSF are
used to gauge the quality of a product. The
relevant category codes for ‘food grade’
products are the H1, for finished oils, and
HX-1, for additives and base oils used in
these end use products. The NSF category
code 3H denotes suitability of an oil for use
White oils are also used as a component in food grade lubricants for food processing machinery. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK / S. LAVRENTEV marketplace. .
18
as a mould release agent for food container
materials for example. Companies wishing
to register their products need to provide
evidence of product quality in order to have
it listed by brand name and manufacturer in
the ‘NSF White Book’ of registered products.
Market Sectors
According to various market reports the
global market size for white oils is estimated
to be as high as $5 billion and is expected
to register significant compound annual
growth rates in the period from 2020 –
2027. The key sectors driving this growth
are as follows.
• Personal Care – baby oil, cosmetics,
hair care, emollients, lotions and
moisturizers
• Pharmaceutical – ointments,
creams, laxatives and the prepara-
tion of gelatinous capsules
• Adhesives – as a plasticizer for food
contact materials
• Agriculture – dedusting agent for
seeds, low toxicity insecticide for
plants and milking lubricants
• Food – a key ingredient in food
grade lubricants and release agents
for cutting tools, chopping boards
and hard surfaces to stop food
adhering
• Textile - used for spinning, weaving
and meshing materials. Also used
for sewing machine lubrication
• Polymers – extender oil for TPE
formulation and plasticizer for food
contact containers
• Others – candles, trimmer lubricat-
ing oil etc
What grade to use?
Fundamental to the use of white oils in
this everchanging regulatory landscape
is identifying which grade of oil to use for
which application. For over 30 years SIP
has been using its experience in this area
to inform the emerging markets such as
Africa how to best limit their exposure to
some of the harmful trace impurities that
can be found in some grades of white oil.
For use in spray oils for an insecticide
application or for a cosmetics formulation
for instance, the purest grade that meets the
requirements of European Pharmacopoeia,
CFR 21 FDA 172.878 and CFR 21 FDA 178.3620
Part (a) should be used. These grades have
had practically all of the PAH’s removed
and are therefore considerably less harmful
than lower purity equivalents. Equally as
important is the selection of these high
purity grades for applications such as
for milking salve/lubricantswhere it is
important avoid the undesirable PAH’s
entering the food chain.
For food processing machinery where
the food is unlikely to have direct contact
with the lubricant, the base oil ingredients
need not meet the more stringent European
Pharmacopoeia, 21 CFR FDA 172.878 and 21
CFR FDA 178.3620 Part (a), but must meet
the requirements of the less demanding
21 CFR FDA 178.3620 Part (b).
Future Trends
Economic and industrial expansion in
Middle East and Africa, coupled with the
rising demand for polymers and speciality
chemicals are expected to propel the white
oil market during this forecast period. The
other major factors driving this growth is
the increasing use
of cosmetics, hair
care products and
tropical creams for
which white oils are
key ingredients. My
expectation is for the
growth potential of
white oils to contin-
ue in this region and
that it will be some
time before the more
environmentally
acceptable bio based,
more biodegradable
and less bio-accu-
mulative oils make
an appearance in the
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
 GLOBAL DEMAND
FEATURE
The impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on
the global lubricants
industry
By Ian Moncrieff and Milind Phadke
Kline & Company, Inc. | TLT Feature Article July 2020
This rapidly evolving virus could
have long-lasting consequences on
the lubricants and oil markets.
Key concepts
• Economic impacts are already severe, and
evolving national policies will impact the
shape and duration of economic recovery.
• Oil markets are in free fall, with trans-
portation fuels hit hardest.
• Adverse lubricants market signals could
extend beyond 2020 if COVID-19 persists
or social distancing becomes embedded
in corporate behaviors.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in
China in November 2019, now afflicts much
of the world. What will its immediate and
lasting impacts on the global economy and,
specifically, on the lubricants industry be?
What we know now is that the virus is
highly transmissible and has a higher mor-
tality rate than seasonal influenza. There
are currently no medicines or vaccines to
fight the disease. The only effective weapon
at present is social distancing, imposed
by various means, to slow transmission
of the disease.
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
At best, it would seem that radical meas-
ures adopted worldwide could contain the
impact of COVID-19 to mid-year (a life cycle
of a little over six months). Just as likely,
based on the history of previous pandemics
such as the Spanish flu and Swine flu, its
extent could persist for up to 18 months,
lasting well into 2021.
The economic consequences
COVID-19, and the restrictions put in
place to inhibit its spread, will have massive
and potentially long-lasting consequences.
Governments are responding with measures
to stimulate economies, assure liquidity
and soften impacts on the public.
China is considered the OPEC of industrial
goods. The country has a leading role in
several industries, including automotive,
electronics and pharmaceuticals. China,
with other afflicted countries such as South
Korea, Japan, Germany and the U.S., are all
vital to global supply chains. Virus contain-
ment efforts have caused factory closures
due to worker shortages, non-availability of
parts and shutdown of logistics networks.
Even as China lifts these restrictions, the
supply-side shock will continue for some
time, as restrictions in other countries
impact Chinese exports. Early insights
into the damage caused by COVID-19 in
China show industrial production down
by 13.5% in January and February 2020
versus December 2019. Even larger declines
are reported in Chinese retail sales and
exports. The impacts on the Chinese GDP
in 2020 are still being assessed, but early
estimates suggest a decline of 3%-5%
against pre-crisis growth forecasts of +5.5%.
No real growth is a possibility.
The damage caused by COVID-19 to oil
markets has been much more severe. On
March 26, the International Energy Agency
announced that world oil demand could
drop by up to 20%, from 100 to 80 million
B/D, while the crisis persists. Though hard
data lags behind, current U.S. statistics show
the early impact on domestic petroleum
19
 GLOBAL DEMAND
FEATURE

products supplied (a leading indicator of
consumption) with massive declines in
demand between March 13 and April 10
(see Figure 1).
The hardest hit have been transporta-
tion fuels (jet fuel, gasoline and diesel),
registering demand declines of 71%, 48%
and 31%, respectively, between March 13
and April 10.
Previous non-medically driven recessions,
such as the global financial crisis of 2007-
2009, have had far lesser impacts on oil
consumption in aggregate. While financial
markets and consumer spending were
affected, oil consumption fell in lockstep
with global GDP (see Figure 2).
What we can presuppose is that oil
March 2010, the cumulative reduction in a loss of nearly 13% in expected demand
U.S. lubricants consumption relative to over that time (see Figure 3). By contrast,
expected (normalized) aggregate demand aggregate U.S. consumption of all refined
over that period amounted to 9.4 million products over that same period declined
barrels (or 1.3 million tons), equivalent to by only 4% relative to expected demand.
(Week Ending March 13 to Week Ending April 10)
Gasoline Jet Fuel Diesel / Heating Oil All Other Products Total Oil Products
0%
-10%
-20%
-30%
-40%

markets will behave quite differently -50%

with COVID-19, which impacts physical
behaviours in addition to financial ones. -60%

Oil markets are already reflecting that -70%

difference.
Taking what we know, at present, about -80%
the potential impacts of COVID-19 on
Figure 1. Change in U.S. petroleum products consumption. SOURCE: U.S. DOE/EIA
global economic activity under the most
optimistic and pessimistic of assumptions,
what approximate early assessment can we
postulate for the possible range of impacts Table 1. COVID-19 Impacts
on global GDP and oil demand in 2020
COVID-19 Impacts COVID-19 Extends
(see Table 1)?
Measure 1Q/2Q 2020 Only into 2021

Impact on the global lubricants Impact on 2020 Global GDP -5% -10%
market
Impact on 2020 Global Oil Consumption -10% -20%
First, we have empirical evidence that
global lubricant consumption in aggregate • Impact on Jet Fuel -15% -30%
is driven by changes in real GDP, with
a historical negative demand elasticity • Impact on Gasoline -10% -20%
of between 3% and 4%. In other words,
• Impact on Diesel -5% -10%
lubricants consumption is expected to
change at a rate of some 3%-4% per year
below the projected change in annualized
global real GDP over the same period. Based
on the above range of real GDP growth
estimates, global lubricants demand in 2020 6.0%
could be expected to decline by between 8%
5.0%
and 15% from 2019 levels. But, in reality,
because of the unique characteristics of 4.0%
the COVID-19 pandemic, we may expect
3.0%
the decline in lubricants consumption to
be even greater. Let’s look at two examples 2.0%

from the 2007-2009 financial crisis. 1.0%

The global financial crisis of 2007-2009
0.0%
truly started in 2007 but entered the wider
public consciousness in September 2008 -1.0%
when the Lehman Brothers filed for bank- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
-2.0%
ruptcy. The impact on the U.S. lubricants Oil Consumption Real GDP
market was swift. Between September
2008 and the end of the recession (and
Figure 2. World real GDP versus oil consumption growth. SOURCES: IMF, BP
recovery in U.S. lubricants demand) in

20 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020

 The inference is that the lubricants
(Thousand Barrels/Month)
industry will have a long, hard road ahead.
6,000 Preparing for adverse outcomes of the
significance implied by our preliminary
5,500
prognostications should be top of mind
5,00 for all leaders of lubricants businesses. .
4,500
This article is adapted, by permission, from
4,000 Kline & Company, Inc. To read the original
article, visit www.klinegroup.com.
3,500
Ian Moncrieff and Milind Phadke are vice
3,000 presidents of Kline’s Management Consulting
and Market Research divisions, respectively. You
2,500
can reach Ian at Ian.Moncrieff@klinegroup.
2,000 com. You can reach Milind at Milind.Phadke@
klinegroup.com. Kline is an international
Jan - 2006
Mar - 2006
May - 2006
Jul - 2006
Sep - 2006
Nov - 2006
Jan - 2007
Mar - 2007
May - 2007
Jul - 2007
Sep - 2007
Nov - 2007
Jan - 2008
Mar - 2008
May - 2008
Jul - 2008
Sep - 2008
Nov - 2008
Jan - 2009
Mar - 2009
May - 2009
Jul - 2009
Sep - 2009
Nov - 2009
Jan - 2010
Mar - 2010
May - 2010
Jul - 2010
Sep - 2010
Nov - 2010
provider of worldclass consulting services and
high-quality market intelligence for industries
that include lubricants and chemicals. Learn
Figure 3. U.S. “lubricants” consumption versus normalized trend, 2007-2010. SOURCE: U.S. DOE/EIA
more at www.klinegroup.com.
Reprinted with permission from the July
2020 issue of TLT, the official monthly magazine
A parallel assessment of the same crisis Commercial and industrial lubricant con- of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication
on global lubricants demand shows an sumption are reacting more slowly, largely Engineers, an international not-for-profit
aggregate loss of 7.3 million tonnes, or because a functioning economy depends professional society headquartered in Park
nearly 10% of expected consumption from on those segments to provide essential Ridge, Ill., www.stle.org.
mid-2008 to the end of 2009. This compares products and services (for example, food,
with a loss of only 3% in expected global healthcare, commer-
refined products consumption over the cial transportation,
same 18-month period. communications
May we expect the same, but a dispro- and government).
portionately large, impact on lubricants But as unemploy-
consumption as the consequences of ment rises, and GDP
COVID-19 extend and mature? Early market declines, the link-
signals suggest that social distancing, age to lubricants
travel bans and the closure of non-essential consumption, as
businesses have depressed gasoline and jet demonstrated previ-
fuel demand most significantly. Diesel use ously, is inevitable.
for on-highway transportation is largely A very early assess-
fulfilling an essential service to the economy ment of the impact
and has been less compromised, at least on global lubricants
initially. But a month into the U.S. experi- demand suggests
ence of the pandemic, even diesel is now that if COVID-19 has
feeling its bite. So, by extension, do these the same leverage on
same early signals extend to lubricants? lubricants demand
Presuming that we can take these initial relative to fuels that
signs as indicators, the early impact of we saw in 2008 and
COVID-19 may be felt most particularly 2009, then the 2020
in the passenger automotive lubricants global lubricants
segment. Less driving, social distancing consumption could
and the partial closure of dealerships and drop by 15%-30%
quick lubes is taking a significant bite out of from 2019 levels.
PCMO demand for oil changes, particularly Prolongation of
in North America, which is far more depend- the pandemic into
ent on the private automobile than most 2021 could adversely
other countries. New vehicle purchases have impact lubricants
plummeted, as unemployment spikes and demand in that
consumer confidence erodes, impacting year, but by lesser
OEM initial fill volumes. amounts.

September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE 21

 10 QUESTIONS FOR LUBRICANTS PROFESSIONALS

From a family business to a globally

recognized lubricant brand

A
n interview between Lubezine Magazine and
Erik Vermeer, Commercial Director Rymax EXPERT
Lubricants. Rymax has been in existence from INTERVIEW
1986 as VPS International and it has grown over Erik Vermeer,
the years to be a recognized lubricant brand Commercial Director,
that is sold in more than 55 countries globally. Rymax Lubricants

M a n a g e r, New

1.
miss visiting our customers, travelling and
inviting them over to our house. Although
Who is Erik Vermeer and we put the health of our staff first and
for how long have you been in the follow all the regulations, I can’t wait for
lubricants industry? the moment to travel the world again.
Business Manager and
fulfilled different positions in our Logistics
and Marketing departments. In my current
position as Commercial Director, I obviously
have a lot of responsibilities but I always

I grew up in an environment of entrepre-
neurship. My father was active in the oil
and lubricants industry and started his own
oil company in the eighties. His customers
visited our house regularly, stayed for dinner
2.
Could you take us through
your journey at Rymax Lubricants
and prior to joining the company?
try to stay close to our roots: making time
for each other, truly connecting with our
customers, which at times means inviting
them over to my house with my family
and always finding the joy and happiness
within our work.

and sometimes preferred a bed in our house
over a hotel. My father conducted a lot of
his business in the African continent and I
guess that’s where I developed my interest
in Africa. After I graduated with my MBA,
I did an internship and immediately after
started working in my father’s company.
I have worked there for 12 years now. My
colleagues tell me I am an adventurer and
that is also why not being able to travel due
to the COVID-19 pandemic makes me sad. I
Mr. Erik Vermeer (second from the left) at the Rymax headquarters office in the Netherlands. PHOTO | RYMAX
I grew into the company. I already got
acquainted with the industry when I was
a little boy and I have known some of our
customers ever since my younger days. But
I consciously took some time before taking
over the ownership of the company. I first
wanted to learn all the different facets of
running a lubricants business and that is
why I only joined my business partner, Mr
Herman Peene, in the board of directors
in 2013. Before that I worked as Export
3.
Let’s talk about Rymax
Lubricants. What is the company’s
entry into the market?
Actually, Rymax evolved out of the work
we have been doing for many years. Most
of our foundation was built in the ‘80s, ‘90s
and early 2000s when we grew rapidly as
a private label lubricants manufacturer.
Although we have customers in 4 continents,
Africa has always been the place where we
felt at home. Even still today, some of our
most important private label customers are
based in Africa. Through the years however,
we learned that we were not only excelling
in manufacturing products for others, but
also in the logistics, storage, sales support
and marketing for others. And we were
looking for a way to showcase this to our
customers. In 1998 this led to the logical
step of creating a brand that is completely
ours: Rymax Lubricants (previously called
Rymco). So besides producing and marketing
beautiful brands for others, we could now
use our own brand to show our expertise. The
brand, in its current form after a rebrand-
ing, was launched in 2014. In only 6 years’
time we have been able to give Rymax a
permanent place in the market, especially
strong in Africa, Asia and Europe. I would

22 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020

even dare say that Rymax Lubricants sets
the benchmark when it comes to introduc-
ing a brand, positioning it with a smart
marketing strategy in different continents
and segments simultaneously and gaining
customer trust and confidence by always
delivering on quality and exceeding our
customers’ expectations.
4. How would you describe
Rymax’s global presence and
operations?
Currently Rymax Lubricants are sold in
more than 55 countries. We work with loyal
and professional distributing partners who
import Rymax into their markets and who
have exclusivity over the brand. We select
our partners on market expertise, lubricants
experience, existing sales network and
something less tangible: passion. Growing
worldwide is important but not a goal by
itself. It is a result of the awareness we build
through our sales and marketing activities
but moreover: through the excellent results
of our products. Personally, I enjoy seeing
Rymax Lubricants being sold in all those
different countries, markets, cultures and
communities. In Asia, other things are
appreciated within the brand compared to
Africa. And in our home-continent, Europe,
again other elements are valued. This makes
our work very dynamic and also shows
the many different USPs that the Rymax
product assortment has to offer. Looking
at operations, this is something that has
a lot of focus within our company. To be
able to sustainably grow, many operational
procedures must be optimized, automated
and looked after all the time by a team of
professionals. Our ISO-9001 certification
forces us to do so. But we also have invested
in our staff; hiring the best people we can
find and offering training and education
ensures us that we can stay on top of the
game. This goes not only for our head-
quarters in the Netherlands, but also for
our subsidiaries in Europe and Africa. And
luckily, these investments are paying off.
5.
What would you say is
Rymax Lubricant’s X factor that
has enabled it to gain footing in
the global lubricants market?
Rymax Lubricants was initially built to
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
Mr. Erik Vermeer (second from the right) at the Rymax headquarters office in the Netherlands PHOTO | RYMAX
showcase all the experiences we gained
with our private label business for almost
35 years. This case turned out to be very
successful, converting private label custom-
ers into Rymax customers. To me that is the
best proof of concept. It formed the solid
foundation for our company today. Also,
our investments in staff and operations
contribute heavily to this foundation. But
most of all, the X-factor is found in the way
we position the brand. For this, we aim to
create a world beyond the product; a lifestyle.
We want to connect with the end-user on
an emotional level, especially focusing on
people with a passion for everything with
an engine: petrolheads as we call them.
Why? Because we have the same passion.
We want Rymax Lubricants to be what we
are; we need the brand to stand close to
our personalities. This way, marketing and
selling the brand comes naturally, we are
just following our passion! And it motivates
us to constantly challenge ourselves. That
goes for our private lives: signing up for a
marathon, driving a desert rally, drifting a
car in competition or riding a bike as fast as
we can. But it definitely goes for the way we
work. We always try to challenge ourselves to
improve. Improve our products, our logistics,
our marketing. It is not always easy but if
it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change
you. It is this passion for improvement
that customers appreciate in our company
and products. If you look at our website or
Social Media platforms, you immediately
get confirmed that we do everything with
passion: from the product design to the
services we offer and from the sponsorships
we engage in, to the content we produce.
6.
What type(s) of market-
ing and business arrangement/
partnership models does Rymax
Lubricants embrace Globally and
specifically African market if
different?
A model harnessing a growth strategy is
most applicable for Africa. This means that
within our company, we make sure that we
have enough resources available at any time
to act on opportunities that cross our, or our
distributor’s path. The world’s fastest grow-
ing population and the highest urbanization
rate of any continent combined with the
increased political stability brings economic
growth. The ever-increasing middle class
require energy sources in a faster rate
than in other regions. Motorization rates
are exploding in many countries and the
lubrication demand is expected to rise
by 13% from 2020 to 2025, according to
ExxonMobil. In comparison: global demand
is expected to grow by 2% in the same period.
So globally, we definitely practise different
strategies to market our products. Europe
is a highly competitive and mature market.
Although we are also growing here, the
strategy is not so much focused on growth.
For this continent, we focus on improv-
ing the quality of our partners through
education and selection. Partners that have
been selling oil for many years don’t have
23
 10QUESTIONS FOR LUBRICANTS PROFESSIONALS
Mr. Erik Vermeer on a visit to one of his longtime customers in Ghana. PHOTO | RYMAX
to be told how to sell the products but are
open for consultancy when it comes to
stock-keeping, replenishment, customer
relation management and marketing. Asia,
on the other hand, faces other challenges.
Counterfeit products are a serious problem
there and claims like ‘Made in Holland’ are
popular to copy. The knowledge we built
in Asia on preventing illegal reproduction
is something we bring with us to Africa
to help our customers here secure their
business. But still, Asia is a market with a lot
of potential thanks to the sheer size of its
economy. So, as in Africa, we will continue
to grow in Asia for the foreseeable future.
7. Rymax Lubricants have
been in the African lubricants
market for some time now. What’s
your current footprint in Africa?
And what are your mid and long-
term strategies for expansion in
Africa?
Every country we sell Rymax to is dear to
us, but Africa is the continent that has a
special place because it is where it all started.
Ever since the first oil was sold by us in the
early eighties, Africa has played a significant
role within our company. Currently Rymax
Lubricants is sold in 20 African countries.
Our experience in Africa has enabled us
to understand the local needs better: high
temperatures, high humidity, dust and an
aging carpark having to perform heavy duty
tasks. But also the remarkable development
24
that a lot of African countries are experienc-
ing, with thriving economies and double
digit growth figures is something we have
been able to guide our customers through,
providing them with products that both
serve the more traditional machinery in their
country and also modern cars and trucks
requiring the latest industry standards.
In addition, with training and education
through our Rymax Academy we have been
able to keep up with the growth. We have
grown together with our local partners and
many have developed from modest players
to major oil distributors. We always believed
that team improvement is more important
Mr. Erik Vermeer (left) visiting his Nigerian agent Mr. Ayo Osibogun in Lagos. PHOTO | RYMAX
than individual success; we depend on
one another and that’s why we are always
proud supporters of our customers’ teams,
supporting them in whatever goal they
want to achieve. But we are far from done
in Africa. The continent still has a lot of
potential and the pace in which economies
are developing motivates us. We also see a
shift in the focus of the traditionally strong
oil-majors, moving more to other energy
sources. Their retreating strategies will
leave distributors in the dark while they
still have an important role to fulfill to fuel
an expanding economy. We understand the
needs of these companies and will help them
move forward. In the long run, we believe
that each of the 54 African countries will
have a Rymax distributor. But as explained
before, we also have some criteria to select
our partners by, so we prefer quality over
speed in this case.
8. Africa is not a unitary
region but rather comprises of
different countries, each with
different market dynamics. How
does a company like Rymax navi-
gate through these complexities
given that one size does not fit all
as far as Africa is concerned?
To be honest: there is not a single continent
where a ‘one size fits all’ strategy can be
applied. Even in some large countries, the
differences are so big that different market
strategies are required within the same
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
country. Luckily, we have been in the game
for quite some time now, so there are not
many procedures we haven’t seen before,
logistical routes we haven’t navigated before
or sales opportunities we haven’t seized
before. But this is also thanks to our profes-
sional partners, it will always be a team
effort and we learn together. Our focus on
team effort is in my opinion also the most
important factor to successfully navigate
all the complexities of the different African
countries. We value every distributor equally,
visit them regularly and stay in touch
continuously, exploring their needs and
moulding our services to these needs. We
like to think of our partners as colleagues
and when you are equal partners you can
achieve so much more. It makes us more
creative and it broadens our horizon. To
us, it feels like we have colleagues, maybe
even friends in all those countries and we
overcome challenges together but more
often, celebrate successes together.
9.
Rymax product range
covers the key market segments
such as marine, industrial, auto-
motive, agriculture, mining etc.
Looking at Africa, which of these
segments would you say are the
most important and which ones
are projected to experience rapid
growth in the future?
Our biggest volume within the African
market is found in engine oils, led by truck
and passenger car engine oils. Hydraulic oils
used in industrial, construction and mining
applications also form a large part of the
volume. Subsequently, gear oils and ATF’s
are important as well. In the slipstream
of European developments, Africa profits
from our increasing agricultural portfolio
too. When we look at the future, our R&D
will emphasize most on high-performance
synthetic products. The biggest growth
in volume will be on-road transportation
for which we are selling and developing
specialized products. While we optimize our
product portfolio and the routes-to-market
of our product development, we also look
at the most effective way for sales-channel
integration, adding value with every step of
the value chain. Simply put, we are making
sure that our customers and their customers
can make a healthy margin. Our (digital)
marketing skills also play an important role,
with an ever-increasing internet penetration
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
Mr. Erik Vermeer (left) visiting the ALMC production site in Rwanda to meet with plant manager
rate on the African continent, propelling
our focus on value addition services like
remote stock monitoring, fluid management
systems, virtual product identification
and online lube-service channels. We will
also be looking at acquisitions to improve
our scale in order to keep up with the
rapid growth. But we do not only focus
on the macro-trends. We also listen to our
customers and service them in the segments
they are most active in. Recently, this has
pushed development of our portfolio for
agricultural, mining and passenger car
products.
10.
Sustainability
continues to be an important
topic for the lubricants indus-
try. Could you tell us if Rymax is
integrating sustainability in its
business and if so, how?
The world is changing faster than ever
before. Our industry is facing disruptive
changes and we are preparing ourselves for
a future with an increasing number of EV’s,
accelerated green regulation, increased fleet
ownership, and a diminishing B2C market,
to name a few. We are not only following
these developments, but we are also taking
an industry lead in acting upon them. A good
example is our recently launched Apollo ECO
line. It comprises of our lowest viscosity
engine oils with a 0W-16 as highlight product
to ensure minimum resistance in modern
engines. The product itself is not unique,
it is in the packaging where we make the
Mr. John Okoth. PHOTO | RYMAX
difference. The bottles are made out of
95% recycled plastic and no paint is used
to colour the bottle, following our goal to
reduce virgin materials used. In addition,
we have partnered up with the One Tree
Planted foundation that plants a tree for
every box of Rymax ECO line products sold.
And to show that being green can still be
attractive, we sponsor the ‘Photon’, the Solar
Boat built and ran by the HAN University
of Applied Sciences and participating in
the prestigious Monaco Solar & Energy
Boat Challenge. We also go further when
it comes to making a sustainable contri-
bution to the preservation of the earth.
Our headquarters office building in the
Netherlands for example is equipped with
high performance solar panels, making us
self-sufficient when it comes to energy.
However, operating a sustainable busi-
ness involves so much more than just the
environment. High on our agenda are topics
like ethnicity, gender-equality and personal
development. Rymax Lubricants feels it has
a responsibility towards the people that buy
our products and the communities they live
in. A good example of this is the ‘Tuma Viela’
initiative supported by us in Ghana. This
is a job-creating project in which women
and unemployed youth have a chance to
develop themselves, which allows them to
earn an income and become independent.
All this is done with the goal of creating
a less polluted urban Tamale; educating
schools about preserving the environment
and putting smiles on the faces of children
who can acquire a beautiful product if they
help clean up the streets. .
25
 NYNAS
FEATURE
BASE OILS
Critical correlations
between metalworking fluid
emulsion stability and base
oil properties
Prof. Thomas Norrby
Nynas AB, Naphthenics TechDMS, Sweden
Introduction
Metalworking fluids (MWF) are used to aid
the process of metal machining, mainly
by providing lubrication of the workpiece
and tool, and also by providing cooling
and corrosion protection. Many different
MWF formulations are needed for the vastly
differing needs under varied operating
conditions.
The make-up of a typical metalworking
fluid emulsion is a dilution of 5 to 10
volume-% mineral oil concentrate in water.
This water could be tap water, with whatever
water hardness the local source offers, of
demineralised (Demin) or reverse osmosis
(RO) water which is very soft. The mineral
oils content is high, typically 60-80% of
the concentrate, and the remainder being
oil soluble additives: emulsifiers, lubricity
additives, corrosion inhibitors, biocides,
antifoams and mist suppressants.
Naphthenic base oils provide several
advantages to MWF formulations. High
solvency allows for the dissolution of high
amounts of additives and contributes to
increased emulsion stability. Emulsion
stability is key to metalworking fluid (MWF)
usefulness - if the emulsion breaks, it has
ceased to function. Investigations of the
26
relationship between formulation and
emulsion stability thus is the first step
towards a better understanding of the
complex chemistry of a fully formulated
MWF. We sought to understand how the
properties of the base oils, especially sol-
vency (as indicated by the Aniline Point)
would influence emulsion stability over
the test period for up to one week.
Naphthenic base oils
provide several advantages
to MWF formulations.
High solvency allows for
the dissolution of high
amounts of additives and
contributes to increased
emulsion stability.
Experimental work
Metalworking fluid emulsions
A MWF soluble oil emulsion stability study
was set up, comparing the properties of a
naphthenic base oil, versus three paraffinic
type base oils of similar viscosity, ca. 20 cSt
(100 SUS) at 40 °C. NYNAS® T 22 is a good
example of the quintessential “100/100”
metalworking fluid oil, having a viscos-
ity of 100 SUS at 100 °F. As Group I oils
we picked a traditional SN 100 base oil,
and the NYBASE® 100, which is a Group I
replacement base oil. A Group II base oil of
similar viscosity was also included.
The solvency, as indicated by the Ani-
line Point (AP), varies across the base oils
studied:
1. Naphthenic NYNAS® T 22 (~100
SUS), AP = 76 °C
2. SN 100, AP = 100 °C
3. NYBASE® 100, AP = 101 °C
4. HP4, a Group II base oil, 20 cSt @
40 °C (4 cSt @ 100 °C), AP = 108 °C
Two non-ionic emulsifiers: Span 80
(Sorbitan monooleate), with a Hydrophile-
Lipophile Balance (HLB) number of HLB
4.3, and Tween 80 (Polyethylene glycol
sorbitan monooleate), with HLB 15, were
utilized to make nine different blends with
HLBs ranging from 9 to 13, in half-steps.
Butyldiglycol was employed as solubiliser
(co-emulsifier, coupling agent).
All emulsion concentrates were of the
same oil content, with surfactants to make
up the required HLB value. The concentrate
LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
was added to the water at ca. 5 v/v-% and
sonicated at low power for three minutes.
Droplet size distribution experiments
The soluble oil emulsion droplet size
distribution (DSD) was determined at
three different times. The droplet size was
measured at high dilution by a Malvern
Mastersizer 3000 E. In Figure 1, the droplet
size distribution statistical Dx50 mean value
is plotted versus HLB. These graphs typically
will show a “U”-shaped minimum where
the emulsion droplet size is the smallest,
and hence at which HLB the most stable
emulsions are formed. Similar plots were
obtained for the Group I, NYBASE® new
range Group I replacement, and Group II
formulations. For the more paraffinic oils,
the optimum HLB was close to 10, but the
value of the minimum droplet size was in
no case below 10 µm, more than 20 times
larger than for the naphthenic NYNAS®
T 22 oil.
An increase in mean droplet size over
time is observed: Day 0 (blue bar), Day 1 (red
bar) and Day 7 (green bar) in general show
increasing droplet size with time. Since
an increase of droplet size is the earliest
warning sign and the first steps towards
coalescence and emulsion break-up, this
is very interesting information.
Emulsion phase thickness and stabil-
ity determination
The emulsion stability was also determined
by light back scattering utilizing a Turbiscan
LAB, measurements at actual concentration
160
140
120
DX (50) (µm)
100
80
60
40
20
0 0
9 9.5 10 10.5
Day 0 Day 1
Figure 1. DSD development over 7 days versus TSI (purple line) for a NYNAS® T 22 based milky
September 2020 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE
“as-is”. The Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) the paraffinic Group I and II base oils
was utilized to characterise emulsion stabil- and this would serve as a rule-of-thumb
ity. The TSI development during the first recommendation.
ten minutes after sonication is shown for Increasing the fundamental understand-
nine samples with HLB from 9.5 to 13. The ing of important oil and emulsion proper-
most stable properties for the NYNAS® T 22 ties is a useful tool for formulators and
based emulsions were found around HLB 12, developers in different parts of the world,
similar to what the droplet side distribution where the choice of base oils available may
(DSD) experiment indicated (Figure 1). The be bewildering. .
“U-shape” of the DSD is mirrored by the
TSI values (the thin purple line).
References
Results and discussion [1] Norrby, T., Salomonsson, P., and
In this study, we set out to investigate Malm, L. “Group I Replacement Fluids – a
different parameters affecting the primary Hydraulic Fluid Formulation and Compat-
emulsion stability of model metalworking ibility Study”, Tribologie + Schmierung-
fluids. We could determine the optimal stechnik, Vol. 64, No. 1 (2017), pp. 31-41.
HLB value for the different base oils and
could also observe large differences in © 2020 Nynas. All rights reserved.
emulsion stability. The primary contribution NYNAS® and NYBASE® are trademarks
to stability, as demonstrated by a low (1 of Nynas
µm or less) mean droplet size, was found
to be solvency; the lower the Aniline Point,
the more stable the emulsion formed. The
naphthenic base oil emulsions display
the highest stability, followed by the
Group I base oils, then Group II.
Conclusions
Two complementary methods for the
determination of droplet size were utilised
to study emulsion stability, and the two
methods yield comparable results.
We could determine a preferred HLB
value for each base oil type. This was
found to be about two (2) units higher
for the naphthenic base oil compared to
16
14
12
10
TSI (Global)
8
6
4
2
11 11.5 12 12.5 13
HLB
Day 7 TSI @ 600 s
emulsion, soft water (0 °dH). SOURCE | NYNAS
27
 LASTWORD
By Miriam Wangari

S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

Biodegradable lubricants
and the Kenyan market

T
he need to conserve the environment and the cost and ease of availability. These
lubricants are costly in that their price is
the campaigns championing the same are
three to four times more than the price
heightening day in day out. Climate change of conventional lubricants. Given that the
concerns like global warming are pushing for market is cost-conscious, most institutions
actions that ensure less environment pollution shy away from these lubricants because of
and its conservation. In the lubricants industry, the price. Majority of those who use them
regulations are being set in place to lower environmental are conscious of the potential effects of
the lubricants to the environment and the
pollution that originates from this sector.
need to mitigate. The applications strictly
require biodegradable lubricants, or they
If the oil is incorrectly disposed of, it elements when exposed to the environment. subscribe to operational standards that
becomes an environmental hazard. Bio- This, therefore, stipulates the sectors in demand such type of lubricants.”
degradable lubricants have been intro- which biodegradable lubricants should be Lack of a regulatory framework in Kenya
duced in the market in a bid to reduce used. According to Mr Biyogo, an applica- that directs some applications to use envi-
the environmental pollution caused by oil tion that comes into direct contact with ronmentally friendly lubricants is another
contamination. Most oil companies have a the environmental elements should use a challenge which affects the use of these
range of biodegradable lubricants, used in biodegradable lubricant. “Marine applica- lubricants in the Kenyan market added Mr
various applications and sectors, to prevent tions, rails, electric power transformers, Biyogo. “In Kenya, no regulations demand
environmental pollution from oils. farm applications and hydraulic systems are the use of these lubricants to protect the
Total’s Kenya Lubricants Sales Manager some of the application that will require the environment. When legislation comes to
Oliver Biyogo shared with Lubezine Maga- use of biodegradable lubricants because for Kenya that restricts some applications to
zine about biodegradable lubricants and marine, there might be oil leaks and aquatic use biodegradable lubricants in specific
their performance in the Kenyan market. toxicity is a key element for consideration, sectors, the demand for these products will
“Biodegradable is a subjective notion: for rail and farm applications, the soil might grow. For Total, our range of rail traction
that can mean acceptable for the environ- be contaminated by oil leaks as well.” motors grease is strictly biodegradable
ment, compatible with the environment or Total has a range of biodegradable lubri- because of the possible harm to the environ-
suitable for sensitive areas. A biodegradable cants which include antifreeze, gearbox oil, ment if we use conventional lubricants.”
lubricant is a lubricant that can break down transmission oils, hydraulic fluid, turbine The technology to produce biodegrad-
when exposed to biological organisms, i.e. oils, chain oils, transformer oils, and greases. able lubricants is limited as compared to
the ability of a molecule to be degraded by However, Mr Biyogo notes that their adop- conventional lubricants as highlighted by
the action of biological organisms,” said Mr tion in the Kenyan lubricant market is still Mr Biyogo. “The range of biodegradable
Biyogo. These lubricants can be made from very low. lubricants is petite compared to the range
non-toxic, biodegradable bases which are “What discourages the Kenyan consumers of the conventional lubricants that we have
mainly vegetable oils, rape seed, sunflower, from using biodegradable lubricants is at Total. This is attributed predominantly to
synthetic esters and special additives are the technology in their production, which
used to give them their desired properties. is limited and very specialized.”
While the working of a biodegradable and According to Mr Biyogo, industry self
a conventional lubricant is similar, the main -regulations seem to be the best way to
difference is the fact that conventional oil What discourages the bring change in the Kenyan and by exten-
is a significant environmental hazard if it
comes into contact with the environment.
Kenyan consumers from sion African lubricants market and push
for the use of biodegradable lubricants.
It needs proper disposal methods that using biodegradable “The adoption of biodegradable lubricants
comply with the environmental regula- cannot be pegged on time. Regulations,
tions of disposing used oil. In contrast, a lubricants is the cost and however, will ensure that different sectors
biodegradable lubricant can easily break ease of availability. wadopt these lubricants as a move towards
down (to an acceptable level) to harmless environmental conservation.” .
28 LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | September 2020
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