VLS
Trading Standards approaches non-compliant products that other Trading Standards authorities around the country are obliged to follow unless there is good reason. VLS is grateful for their support.
VLS’s impact has reached beyond UK borders In 2016, VLS received an enquiry from ATIEL, the European technical association of the lubricants industry. Working with ACEA, the association of European OEMs, ATIEL were looking to establish a global product compliance programme to monitor claims being made against the ACEA Engine Oil Sequences. As a result of the support of VLS, ATIEL’s programme was launched and based on the principles of VLS, although SAIL, the subsidiary of ATIEL tasked with managing its compliance programme, only addresses claims again engine oils making ACEA claims, whereas VLS’s remit includes validation of OEM and other performance claims in both automotive and industrial lubricants.
In 2021, the Australian lubricants industry (ALA) asked VLS for advice in setting up their own programme based on the principles of VLS, which has been in operation for a couple of years now. VLS also received an approach from the South African Institute of Tribology about setting up a similar organisation in South Africa. Not only pioneers in the UK, but VLS is also leading the way on a global stage.
In 2022, VLS began a proactive approach to product testing The number of cases reported to VLS dropped post-Covid, so the Board decided to purchase publicly available reports from the Institute of Materials for review by the VLS Technical Review Panel. Several cases were opened and investigated as a result. However, in 2023, VLS has already seen an influx of directly reported cases. Is that bad news that its message isn’t getting through? On the contrary, VLS believes that companies now realise that if they think a product is making false or inaccurate claims, they can confidently report it to VLS, where it will be robustly and impartially investigated.
Additive companies have also commented that more companies are approaching them about the right technology for an application required to support valid performance claims. That behaviour change demonstrates that VLS is doing a successful job of raising awareness and educating companies so that
suppliers know just how important it is to check and evidence claims they are making.
Ultimately, VLS’s goal is to educate the end user – to raise awareness of the critical issues and get the message to the marketplace about what a compliant lubricant looks like. I believe the fact that we’ve had fewer cases up until this year is proof that lubricants manufacturers and marketers are paying more attention to what they blend and what they claim.
As the lubricants industry continues to evolve, so will VLS
The past decade has seen immense change in the lubricants industry; the trend towards lower viscosity fluids, the introduction of E10 fuel, new ACEA standards, new Euro 7 regulations and issues such as Low Speed Pre Ignition (LSPI), and the introduction of EV fluids name a few.
We know that an acceleration of change is coming, driven by the impending ban on new petrol and diesel car sales. We’re already seeing the impact and challenges of electrification. Zero Emission Vehicles are in the ascendency, and hydrogen combustion engines could become a reality, as well as synthetic fuels.
Wherever the market goes, VLS’s core purpose will remain the same as it has always been: to uphold standards in the lubricants marketplace while protecting and educating end users I would like to thank every single person who has dedicated their time to VLS over the past ten years. In particular, my thanks go to previous Chairman Andy Dixon (2013 – 2015) and Andrew Goddard (2015-2022) and all of our members, without whom VLS wouldn’t be where it is today. Thanks also go to our Technical Review Panel of experts drawn from across the lubricants industry, from blenders to additive companies and base oil suppliers, whose support, given freely by their companies, is invaluable to the workings of VLS.
I am immensely proud of what VLS has achieved to date and to lead the organisation into the next decade. Though VLS has made significant progress in raising industry standards over the past ten years, our guidance will be more critical than ever in the years ahead.”
www.ukla-vls.org.uk
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.175 JUNE 2023
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