Following another future focused presentation on ‘Energy & Lubricants’ made by Sandy Reid-Peters of ExxonMobil there was a break for lunch and then we went into Parallel sessions where Metal Working subjects were taken separately from Automotive. It was at this juncture I joined the automotive session and presented, on behalf of the UKLA VLS programme our progress after 18 months operation – ‘Next Step’. Here the emphasis was placed on the number of cases that VLS now has in progress and the learning curve we have experienced with engaging with named parties. Additionally the positive reception that VLS has received was conveyed.
Immediately following the Coffee break we had our next speaker Apu Gosalia, Head of Global Competitive Intelligence for Fuchs Petrolube SE. Apu gave a most interesting insight into the Macroeconomics of the European Lubricants Market.
One of the highlights for me from the remaining presentations from the automotive forum was the Infineum paper by Ryan Welton on ‘Natural Gas Vehicles’. One of my previous areas of Technical involvement was in the area of natural gas fuelled stationary engines for power generation and it was interesting to contrast the technical differences and similarities. On day two I was particularly drawn to the report from Arne Richters UEIL, EU Policy Advisor. This is an area of great concern just keeping abreast of latest EU planned and implemented legislation. Arne is definitely the man in the picture where the EU legislators are concerned which is necessary if timely lobbying is concerned.
He took us through the ups and downs of lubricants sales over previous years, through the reality of the recession, mapping sales with industry factors and European country GDPs over the period. Apu has now agreed to participate as an advisor with our EuropaLub team, a most useful addition.
Day two also had a powerful message from Valentina Serra- Holme of Nynas on the changing market for Group I and Naphthenic base oils. Highlighting the issue that not all products necessarily benefit from Group II base oils Valentina identified the challenge of declining volumes of Group I production to product formulators.
Again there have been too many items covered during Congress for me to comment on them all. Let me say I cannot do justice in this report to the very high standards achieved by all presenters. If you could not make Congress this year, I would recommend diarising for 2015.
Rod Pesch UKLA Director General
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.124 DECEMBER 2014
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