UKLA President’s Report


Having recently attended the UKLA RAF Club lunch in London for the first time, I thought I would share some of the relevance to the development of the Royal Air Force (RAF) particularly with reference to lubrication and how this had changed over the course of its history.


This year the RAF celebrates its 100th anniversary as the oldest and longest serving air force in the world. Up until the First World War, civil aviation development hadn’t really gained much pace. This changed with the establishment of the RAF which led to aircraft development on an industrial scale. Aircraft, particularly engine design was developed from that used in wartime. The rotary engine which used pistons (not to be confused with the Wankel rotary engine which uses a rotor) was one such development. This type of engine was a real success for a while before disappearing completely. Consisting of an odd number of cylinders in a radial pattern with a common crankshaft, this engine could be produced in a very compact and lightweight configuration. The downside were resistance to left turns with a tendency


for the nose of the aircraft to rise, and right turns with a tendency for the nose to dive. Something else to be aware of in the middle of a tight manoeuvre. Lubrication at the time needed to be insoluble in a gasoline/ air mixture as the fuel/air mix was introduced through the crankcase like most small two stroke engines today. The most common form of lubrication was castor oil (which is now used for medical issues like Arthritis and as an Anti inflammatory agent).


One slight issue was that it was difficult to contain the lubricant in the cylinders because of centrifugal force and it created toxic fumes that, during flight, would be directed in front of the pilot causing nausea. Oil consumption was also very high consisting of a mixture of up to 25% of the fuel which was good for the lubricants business of the day. By comparison, modern aircraft do millions of miles between changes with small top ups along the way.


Martyn Mann, UKLA President


UEIL President’s Report


Two months have passed since the last issue of Lube Magazine was published and the UEIL Annual Congress is fast approaching. This year the theme of the Congress will be “The Lubricant Industry: Embracing the Future”. We will address a number of hot topics, from e-mobility to digitalisation, from 3D printing to sustainability.


E-mobility is definitely a very debated topic. While there seems to be a general consensus about the global electrical vehicles market being on the rise, the views on the speed and extent of conversion of the global passenger car fleet largely differ. Undeniably, there are a number of unknowns, such as the extent of the investments that will be needed in public charging infrastructure and electricity grids, and the increasing capability of battery technology and the associated decline in the cost of electric powertrains. When it comes to the impact on the lubricant industry, this is also the object of extensive


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debate. From the impact on the requirements and performance of driveline lubricants, engine lubricants and engine coolants, to the potential impact on demand for several industrial lubricants. Undeniably, the rise of EVs poses technological challenges in terms of development of fluids with a whole different set of functionalities.


At this year’s Annual Congress in Budapest on October 24-26 the discussion on e-mobility will have a central role in the programme, as we will address both the global trends on e-mobility and the expected impact on the lubricant industry with the aim of identifying together approaches and solutions to best prepare our industry for these future challenges.


We look forward to welcoming you in Budapest! Valentina Serra-Holm, UEIL President


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