Tackling Counterfeit Lubricants
Today lubricants are more readily available to consumers than ever before. The rise of internet shopping has helped these products become more readily available to end users alongside more traditional outlets of high street stores and local dealerships. Lubricants do not come cheap, and their price reflects the cost of raw materials as well as the complex chemistry that goes to make up a modern, high performance product.
A competitive, vibrant marketplace is to be welcomed as a sign of a healthy environment although end users have to be careful that the products they purchase accurately reflect their own requirements in terms of performance characteristics and technical specification.
I am therefore encouraged about news that ATIEL, the European technical association, will be releasing a notice detailing the steps they are taking to tackle the difficult issue of counterfeit lubricants. Not only can counterfeit lubricants cause damage in their application but more widely the industry’s reputation suffers if fraudulent lubricants are left unchecked and find their way onto the market.
Unlike some other European countries the UK does not levy duty on the sale of lubricants which reduces the incentive for less scrupulous companies to circumvent relevant regulations by passing off lubricants as other types of non-duty bearing products. Nevertheless counterfeit products must be tackled effectively at source in order to ensure the industry continues to retain the confidence of our end users in the products we make and market.
VLS believes that distributors and end users can take three simple steps to safeguard against counterfeit lubricants;
Firstly consumers and distributors should always ensure that they purchase lubricants from reputable sources. Companies that are well-established in the UK or Europe over a number of years value the reputation that their organisation and their products carry in the marketplace. These companies will fight hard to
maintain this reputation and ensure the continued confidence of their consumers in high quality products.
Secondly always check that new products being offered are of comparable quality and performance to existing lubricants. If you are offered a pack of cheap lubricants from an unknown source, then check it out. Any new products being offered at prices significantly, and I mean significantly below the current rate could be a reflection of healthy competition or an indication that it might not be wholly comparable with your existing lubricants. Does the new product meet the same automotive car manufacturer requirements or carry the same approvals, has it the correct technical ratings such as those from the European Technical Association ACEA, the American Petroleum Institute (API) or the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)? Always check that the product’s technical specification and performance characteristics by reference to company information, the product’s own Technical Data Sheet or other relevant literature.
Finally if you are being offered a product with the same product or brand name from a wholly new source and at a significant discount, then check it out alongside your existing product. Does the lubricant carry the same barcode number? Is the batch code on the pack in a comparable alpha-numeric format to other products? Is the stock code the same? Is the label crystal clear with the right type of font in the right colourways or is the label fuzzy round the edges, the colours not quite matching other stock and the print finish on the pack a little sub-standard?
VLS is committed to ensuring the reliability of lubricant products in the UK marketplace to drive up standards, maintain customer confidence and ensure the integrity of the sector.
Andrew Goddard, Chairman, Verification of Lubricant Specifications
LINK
www.ukla-vls.org.uk
Executive Industry Briefing Spring 2017
A two day residential course giving senior industry managers an overview of the fundamental areas of the Lubricants industry including exploration, refining, manufacture and marketing.
Day one will cover topics such as: • Crude Oil, Exploration & Refining • Lubrication Fundamentals, Tribology & Wear Mechanisms
• Base Oil Types & Characteristics • Additive Technology • Power Generation & Marine • Automotive
Day two: • Off-Highway & Mining Equipment • Industrial Lubricants • Cement Industry • Railway Lubricants • Greases • Metalworking Fluids • Used Oil Analysis • Oil Industry Glossary of Terms • Oil Industry Abbreviations
www.ukla.org.uk/training
Who Should Attend? Senior managers working in leadership roles within the Lubricants Industry , as well as those who need to be brought up-to-speed on all the relevant information pertinent to the UK & European lubricants markets. It is particularly pertinent for those working in non technical areas of the industry, such as legal, marketing, HR and finance.
Date and Venue: The next course will be held on 25th and 26th April 2017 at the De Vere Horwood Estate, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0PH.
Cost: The cost for UKLA members will be £549 (excl VAT) and for non members £649 (excl VAT). This fee includes all course materials, meals and accommodation for the first night.
Trainer: The trainer will be Rod Pesch CChem MRSC. With over 50 years experience in the Oil Industry few people can beas well placed to lead this executive overview of the sector.
secretariat@ukla.org.uk T:+44 (0)1442 875922
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