EDITOR INTERVIEW In conversation with...
Catherine Macklam is Sales & Operations Manager and Director for Q8Oils leading its activities across the UK & Ireland, as well as Vice-President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association.
Q8’s ultimate parent company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is a fully integrated, upstream- downstream global oil company. What benefits does this bring to Q8’s customers? KPC is ranked as the world’s 7th largest oil company. As part of the global energy industry KPC supplies the world with vital oil and gas needs via diverse business activities which encompasses all aspects of the hydrocarbon industry. From onshore to offshore exploration, to production and refining, petrochemicals, marine transportation and retailing. For Q8Oils being part of this strong group in short gives us the benefit of being “A financially secure and long-term partner with Security of supply’’.
Where does the European lubricants sector sit within Q8’s global strategy? Although Europe is often regarded as a stagnant market in terms of growth, it still leads in terms of innovation and is the benchmark for the highest standards of lubricant technology for the rest of the world. Having a strong presence and involvement in Europe is important to being regarded as a global player.
Q8 has blending facilities in Antwerp and Italy, and a research centre on the European mainland. Why is it important for Q8 to own the technology underpinning its products? Quality and innovation have always been at the heart of Q8Oils’ business. The Research & Development centre helps us optimise existing products and develop new innovative lubricants that can meet specific customer challenges. Owning the technology allows us enhance production, product application and quality control including health and safety and environmental issues.
Rather than specialising in a single area of the market, Q8 has a broad product portfolio covering many different sectors. Does having such a wide product portfolio bring any disadvantages? As long as you ensure you have the focus and resources to support each product sector within your
50 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.170 AUGUST 2022
portfolio, then a broad profile is not a problem, it’s an advantage. It gives you the strength and
depth to ride the economic cycles and customers regard you as a more complete supplier. The disadvantage is when you do not have the resources available to you, but this is not the case with Q8Oils due to our parent companies’ financial strength and commitment to the market and our customers.
Sustainability is a key issue or our sector. What sustainability initiatives as Q8 undertaken? Sustainability is at the core of Q8Oils’ business and putting actions in place to embed sustainability in everything that we do. At the heart of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development plan, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are embedded into our sustainability strategy. An example of initiatives taken thus far is a water strategy which for Q8Oils focusses on the purification of rain. At our Blending Plant in Antwerp, we collect, treat and return this rain back to nature through several different purification techniques. Q8Oils are proud to say that with initiatives such as this amongst others we help to achieve the UN SDG’s.
You are one of the foremost women in the lubricants industry. What changes have you seen over the past twenty years in the way in which the sector has embraced more diversity and inclusion? The industry has certainly embraced diversity and inclusion and there are visible signs of this being turned into action. I now go to industry events, meetings, etc and for example the number of female attendees has increased dramatically from 20 years ago. However, we still have some way to go, I believe that regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc, every one of us needs to take personal responsibility for their own performance and progression and that of their team.
LINK
www.q8oils.com
Expanded version of the article is available online at
lube-media.com
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