INDUSTRY NEWS UMIST
HONOURS PETER JOST
WORLD-CLASS MARINE & POWER INNOVATION CENTRE OPENS IN HAMBURG
Companies that develop lubricants, fuels and additives should be able to benefit from world-class expertise, technical support and testing facilities at the new Shell Global Solutions’ Marine and Power Innovation Centre in the port of Hamburg, Germany.
In recognition of his achievements in Science and Technology, the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology has conferred the degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa on Dr H Peter Jost CBE, Hon. FIEE and Past President of the I. Prod. E. The award was made at a ceremony by UMIST Chancellor, Sir Terry Lahy who, like Dr Jost, was a UMIST student.
Peter Jost is Chairman of Centralube Engineering & General Equipment Ltd.
The facilities in Hamburg replace Shell Global Solutions’ existing centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and offer a range of low and medium- speed diesel engines, from fully commercial multi- cylinder engines, such as the Wartsila 4L20D medium- speed engine, to single-cylinder research engines. These machines reproduce harsh working environments and help to enable customers to predict the performance of the finished application. Customers will also be able to benefit from Shell Global Solutions’ expertise: “The centre’s scientists are experts in this field,” says Paul Snaith, Vice President, Shell Global Solutions (UK). “The centre will serve a global market and will have the flexibility to accommodate future requirements within the marine and power sector.”
Leading additive manufacturer Infineum UK Ltd has made a long-term commitment to the new facilities. “Infineum is proud to be a major sponsor of the new Marine and Power Innovation Centre,” says David Adams, Worldwide Technical Manager, Marine and Large-Engine Lubricant Additives,
Infineum UK Ltd. “The agreement to carry out large- engine testing with Shell Global Solutions represents a major commitment by Infineum to its marine and power generation additive business.
Testing in fired-up engines is a key part of the product development process, enabling Infineum to remain at the forefront of large-engine additive technology.
In addition, it will allow us to undertake more fundamental studies to aid future developments for all our customers.”
The new centre is also designed to provide benefits for the marine and lubricants businesses of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies, which will also be sponsoring the new facilities. “Technology and innovation in marine fuels and lubricants is a cornerstone in addressing the evolving needs of our customers,” says Michiel Kool, Chief Executive, Shell Marine Products Ltd. “The centre will provide extensive technical support and lead the development of a range of exciting customer offers.”
The Shell Lubricants power business is an active sponsor of this facility, which, it believes, provides a competitive advantage for Shell Lubricants. “The centre has extensive technologically sophisticated laboratory equipment, test rigs and engine test stands that, coupled with Shell’s technically expert staff, will ensure that we continue to serve our power engine customers’ needs. The centre enables us to offer our customers product technology leadership, specialised technical problem solving support plus facilities for OEM testing, approval and practical training. The outcome of this focused approach is that our customers have the opportunity to enhance their profits through increased equipment reliability and productivity, “says Charlie Chester, Global Marketing Manager, Industry Lubricants, Shell International Petroleum Co. Ltd.
LINK
www.shellglobalsolutions.com
A SMOOTH ANSWER TO A STICKY PROBLEM
The next time you pick up a bottle of motor lubricating oil on the garage forecourt the chances are that you are unlikely to forget its distinctive branding. Both oil companies and vehicle manufacturers vie for what is a highly competitive market for their products as modern cars need less maintenance, hence less oil.
One of the companies at the forefront of the race for brand leadership is Skanem, one of Europe’s largest self-adhesive label printers. It was oil and lubricants that became the first sector to buy from Skanem on a pan-European scale way back in 1996. Then the company had a central contract, printing labels for Europe at two of its sites.
According to David Harrisson, Skanem’s pan-European Sales Director, printing labels for lubricants is no mean feat. “What most people don’t realise is that the plastic bottles are filled while the oil is still hot so the labels need to be durable and shrink-resistant.”
They have spent two years developing a new adhesive that would cope with what they describe as a very “sticky problem.” Steven Dunne, Skanem’s Managing
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Director of its Liverpool plant, where millions of the labels are printed, explains. “We came up with Skanem Oil-on-Line which has become the standard for the oil and lubricants market. Skanem Oil-on-Line copes with the heat from the bottle and remains firmly fixed, which allows label applicators to run at the same speed as the filling lines, so that productivity is increased and hold-ups eliminated.”
Harrisson, who has sold Skanem labels to most of the big names in the business - Esso, Mobil, Chevron Texaco, Q8, Total Fina and Castrol, as well as several of the leading car manufacturers, says that what was once a national market has now become international.
“Multinationals now demand that labels are an integral part of the product, so that whether you buy a bottle of oil in the UK or Germany it does the same job and looks the same.”
LINK
www.skanem.com
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