10 QUESTIONS FOR LUBRICANTS PROFESSIONALS Sustainability and the lubes industry


We are honoured to have Prof Thomas Norrby, the Technical Manager – Lubricants and Electrical Industry- at Nynas AB, in this edition. Prof Norrby has been in the lubricants industry for over 25 years and shares his experience. Nynas is a global company specializing in NSP (Naphthenic Specialty Products) and bitumen. Nynas’ core competence is to refine heavy crude oil into a balanced mix of long-lasting, high-performance specialty products for sustainable use.


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Could you take us through your career journey in the lubricants industry? I was offered a position at Statoil Lubricant in 1998, my first job directly after receiving my Ph.D. in Organic


Chemistry from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. I did not know much about that business, but I thought I would try it. And here I am, 26 years later!


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What has been one of your most fulfilling experiences in your career in the lubricants industry? We had many great customer projects right from the start.


One was on early versions of what we now would call sustainable lubricants. Back then, we focused on readily biodegradable lubricants for total loss applications, such as mobile hydraulic fluids for mechanized forestry and agriculture. Through successful multi- stakeholder involvement, we could identify issues and agree on the way forward. Transparency and cooperation were vital.


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Can you tell us about your involvement in training the next generation of lubricant specialists? When I look back at my education journey and


transformation from a university graduate to someone with valuable skills in a development lab, I always send a


INTERVIEW Prof Thomas Norrby,


EXPERT


Technical Manager - Lubricants and Electrical Industry at Nynas AB


thought of thankfulness to all those who went before,


Due to increased electricity needs, demand for lubricants used in wind turbines, hydropower, and nuclear power generation will continue to grow. E-mobility will continue spreading, gradually diminishing the demand for engine oils. This will however be a long and slow process.


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who were my patient teachers in the lab, in the blending plant, at our suppliers, and in the end; the customers. Any senior person with a role of responsibility; thus, must make sure that they pay back what was once given to the new upcoming generation. A rich inheritance of experience must be taught, transmitted, and handed over. This is something I gladly do! I am involved in training internally at Nynas, universities, and schools to spread the knowledge and inspire.


4


What do you think will be the next big thing in the field of Tribology in the coming years? The megatrends of electrification and digitalization mean that even more attention will be paid to the tribology


LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | MARCH 2024


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