VLS
Celebrating 10 years of VLS at Automechanika Birmingham
Mike Bewsey, Chairman, VLS
VLS is an integral part of the automotive aftermarket, so we felt it was essential to exhibit at Automechanika Birmingham this year, as the event returned for the first time since 2019.
The show was busy, with 500 exhibitors from 23 countries receiving 14,400 visitors from the automotive aftermarket with many of our members, customers and end users on site. Talking and listening to workshops, wholesalers and motor factors was incredibly useful, gaining insight into what’s working for them and what we can do more of.
Over the past ten years, VLS has had a tangible impact on the UK lubricants industry. We celebrated the tenth anniversary at the show by launching our specially-commissioned white paper, looking back on developments in both the lubricants industry and VLS over the past ten years. I spoke to visitors to the stand as well as key members of the press, including Professional Motor Mechanic, Aftermarket, Autotechnician, Garage Magazine, Auto Repair Focus and Garage Talk Online about the complex UK vehicle parc and the need to protect workshops and end users.
In 2013, we saw the efficiency and economy drive in passenger vehicles and light commercials, which put immense pressure on lubricants. Technology had to move fast and adapt to more lightweight vehicles, using less oil and performing a more complex role. Concerns arose that some lubricant products were being sold with claims that did not seem believable. Closer inspection found that sub-standard formulations were occasionally passed off as the latest specifications or even failed to perform effectively. The vast majority of lubricants sold in the UK market at the time were fully compliant, as is the case today. However, out of this concern, reputable lubricant blenders and manufacturers came together to launch VLS.
Since then, VLS has investigated 89 different lubricant complaints from low temperature properties to compliance with industry standards and OEM specifications. The work is ongoing, with eight cases currently under review.
The industry has seen considerable change over the past ten years with increasing complexity in emissions, more advanced exhaust after-treatment devices such as DPFs and catalytic converters, which all need to be addressed through use of the right lubricant whilst having due regard to an ageing vehicle parc. Challenges like Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles mean that an Internal Combustion Engine needs to operate quickly once vehicle speeds exceed in-town driving conditions, all from a cold start. Lubricants have become increasingly sophisticated to cope with these challenges, and if you don’t fit the right oil, you could easily encounter vehicle reliability issues.
I am confident that ten years after VLS was formed, the message around compliance is being heard. lubricant blenders, manufacturers and distributors alike know that they will be held to account to ensure that lubricants are correctly described and can deliver what they claim. But as the industry evolves, a recent influx of cases shows that there is still work to be done to ensure an open and fair marketplace where end users can have confidence in the products they use. As the industry continues to evolve, our guidance will be more critical than ever in the years to come.
www.ukla-vls.org.uk
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.176 AUGUST 2023
55
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