After the morning coffee break sponsored by VSI, its Managing Director Stephan Baumgärtel gave an impressive presentation on the nature of the German lubricants market. Stephan predicted that In future the market volume will contract as the automotive sector embraces a move towards more hybrid and electric vehicles which use less fuel and consume fewer litres of lubricants. At the same time the demands on lubricant performance will increase although an expected increase in the value of the lubricants market will only partially, and not fully, offset the contraction in market volume.
Peter Brammen from the German Centre for Protection Against Unfair Competition followed with an engaging session on the enforcement system against unfair commercial practices using cases and statements concerning the lubricant market. Peter demonstrated that responsibility for enforcement of local law lay not with the regulators but with other organisations that could enforce fair commercial practices through the courts although in reality few cases ever made it that far.
Following the lunch break sponsored by Zeller+Gmelin, newly inaugurated UEIL President Valentina Serra-Holm took over Moderator duties and led two engaging presentations firstly by Michael Herson of The Strategy Works on the structure of the Automatic Transmission Fluid Market, and secondly Bhaskar Mukherjee of Chevron Oronite who presented his ideas on the Fleet lubrication of heavy duty diesel engines beyond 2018.
Andre Adam International Sales Director of Fragol GmbH gave an engaging presentation on food grade lubricants; the current challenges for lubricant producers and food stuffs and future developments following the afternoon’s coffee break sponsored by Sea-Land Chemical Europe. Andre reported that even today there were many misconceptions about the use of food grade lubricants in food production and in future regulators will come forward with even more stringent standards to ensure the high quality of food enjoyed in Europe today, is maintained.
Gregoire Poisson, Managing Partner EU at Interel, finished the afternoon’s proceedings with an EU Policy Update. Tackling the elephant in the room ‘Brexit’, Gregoire reported that UEIL had run a successful campaign to resist the inclusion of bulk lubricants of over 200 litres, in the EU’s Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS). Supported by a blocking minority of UK, France, Spain and the Netherlands the proposal brought forward by the Italian Presidency and supported by the Central European states, had fallen at the committee stage for a successive time.
I was pleased to see so many delegates stay for the afternoon sessions which were some of the most interesting of the day and after closing remarks by Valentina, the Congress finished for the first day.
The evening saw a Gala Dinner at the Wasserwerk sponsored by Puraglobe. The Wasserwerk is located in a former water pumping station built in the early 1900s which remained the main pumping station for part of Berlin for the next 50 years. Here I met colleagues from FUCHS PETROLUB at the event and sat at the same table as Beth Ann Jones the new President of ILMA, the North American Independent Lubricants Manufacturers Association. It is good to see relationships again being built across the water between the European and North American trade associations.
The following day Sebastian Crawshaw again took up his moderator duties and introduced some engaging sessions by Alvin Chew of Argus Base Oils looking at the base oils outlook for the European market. He was followed by Tim Langlais or Ergon who spoke on the topic of advancements in bright stock refining technology which was particularly pertinent given the shortages in bright stock due to the accelerated closure of Group 1 refineries.
Following the ILMA sponsored coffee break, and it was also good to see Holly Alfano their Executive Director in attendance at the Congress, Milind Phadke from Kline gave an interesting presentation on synthetic base stocks. In my mind Kline always provide a thought-provoking session that never fails to live up to expectations, and this morning’s session was no exception.
Christian Hartmann, Managing Director of PURALUBE HOLDING GmbH and also Chairman of the European Re-Refining Association GEIR, took the final session on the European re-refining industry by asking the question, what next? With the latest draft waste framework directive currently making its way through committee of the European Parliament, the question of hazardous waste, the circular economy and the role of re-refining lubricants from waste oil has never been more pertinent as it is today.
The UEIL Congress formally closed following final remarks from the Moderator Sebastian Crawshaw, and a break for lunch. A tourism day was planned for delegates on Saturday to take advantage of the history and culture that Berlin has to offer. Now this year’s successful UEIL Congress in Berlin was held a short walk from the Reichstag. When I visited the building, I was reminded of its significance to Germany as the seat of the country’s Parliament. The German Government commissioned British Architect Norman Foster to design the building for a modern country, the glass panels of the central core symbolising transparency and open democracy. I see the building as a successful symbol of our time. Whether it is Governments or industry working in partnership; Europeans work best when they come together with a shared goal and common aim.
I look forward to next year’s UEIL Congress in Bologna. David Wright UKLA Director General
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.136 DECEMBER 2016
61
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