INDUSTRIAL LUBRICANTS
The future of lubricants: how technologies and product innovations are redefining the industry
Anwesha Banerjee, Principal Consultant, Frost & Sullivan Europe
Technological breakthroughs and innovations are increasingly influencing the evolution of the industrial lubricants market. Companies are investing in advanced R&D, novel formulations, and performance enhancing solutions that are reshaping lubricant composition and consumption patterns. At the same time, a wave of new entrants is enriching the competitive landscape with specialised, high-performance offerings, signalling a dynamic phase of growth and innovation in the sector.
In the recent past, predictive maintenance has emerged as a well established, proactive strategy in the industry. Lubricant companies are increasingly forming strategic partnerships with technology providers to develop and deploy Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) systems to generate actionable insights, improving system performance and reducing failures. Companies are shifting to a lifecycle management approach, focusing on optimising overall equipment effectiveness through predictive insights. Companies such as SKF, Fluid Life and Predict Technologies provide integrated lube management. SKF leverages data analytics and cloud-based platforms such as @ptitude Analyst to provide actionable insights. In 2024, SKF acquired John Sample Group’s (JSG) Lubrication and Flow Management businesses to further strengthen lubricant system solutions.
Lubricant manufacturers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and robotics to streamline their supply chain. Technologies to automate inventory management are well established with a moderate level of innovations happening through the use of AI/ Machine Learning (ML) to support predictive analytics,
12 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.187 JUNE 2025
blockchain for supply chain traceability and the use of robotic systems to assist in warehouse operations. RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and GPS-enabled tracking provide real-time data on the location, quantity, and condition of products, improving supply chain transparency and reducing losses. Companies are now exploring the use of drones for conducting automated inventory audits in large warehouses and storage facilities. Simultaneously, lubricant delivery has become more efficient through automation and microdosing technologies. Conventional lubricant delivery systems are integrated with self-lubricating materials such as polymers and nanofluids to optimise lubricant spread and volumes.
Driven by a sustainability need across the value chain, a notable advancement in the industry is the use of upcycled materials. Chemical and mechanical recycling technologies, most notably pyrolysis, are commonly employed to convert used lubricant containers into reusable materials. A more recent trend involves the transformation of various plastic wastes, including bottles and other discarded materials, into value-added products such as base oils, hydraulic fluids, and greases. Neste’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a renewable biofuel made from 100% sustainably sourced waste and residue raw materials like used cooking oil and animal fat waste. Nexus Circular’s proprietary pyrolysis technology converts plastic waste (mainly polyolefins) to a circular liquid that is upcycled to ISCC PLUS certified, new virgin plastics. Environment Energy Co. aspires to commercialise a technology called HiCOP, which uses catalysts to convert plastic wastes to crude oil and further develop gasoline and diesel.
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