INTERVIEW
Luis Garcia runs one of the main Spanish sources of specialised information on the lubrication sector, the magazine TBN. In this interview, he comments on how Spanish companies in the sector have responded to the crisis, and he takes an in-depth look at the latest trends in lubrication as an opportunity for the competitiveness of industry.
1.- The magazine TBN-Ingeniería del Mantenimiento helps to inform the sector about all the latest developments. What degree of knowledge do Spanish Industrial Companies have about the latest trends in lubrication?
The editorial aim of the TBN-Ingeniería del Mantenimiento magazine is to get closer to the strategies and innovation processes implemented by various companies and institutions; this is then added to the collaboration of scientific players like Universities and R&D Centres in order to turn this magazine into an appropriate means for transferring knowledge about technology to society. So the editorial purpose is to be a source of external knowledge for company innovation, by encouraging the various players involved to work together and co-operate.
Right now, one is getting an increasing sense of greater knowledge on a professional level about lubricants, and of industries slowly becoming more interested in improving in lubrication matters (synthetic oils, sensors, oil analyses, etc.) as well as in providing their personnel with specific training in lubrication.
2.- What diagnosis would you make of the degree of development and specialisation of the sector in Spain compared with what goes on in other countries?
Spain is at a high level in terms of lubricant manufacture and quality, and has top lubricants on the international market. Best Technical Means Available (BAT) prevail not only as far as the selecting of equipment and processes goes, but also in the way these facilities have to be operated. The things that stand out are the better use of raw materials and procedures on energy efficiency, reduction in the quantity of waste produced and the volume of emissions, matters relating to accident prevention and the handling of hazardous substances, plus the incorporation of scientific and technological advances into designs and operations.
On the whole, the policies on economic adjustment and austerity implemented in Spain have led to a fall in the internal demand for lubricants, a trend that has been repeated over a number of years. The response of many Spanish companies in the sector has been to boost foreign exports in an effort to offset the decline in the internal markets.
Contrary to what one might think and bearing in mind the economic crisis we are immersed in, ASELUBE (Spanish Association of Lubricants) has established that in most of the sectors the demand for quality lubricants has not been affected, and that the growth trend in the share of the consumption of higher added-value lubricants (bigger technological base and greater technological demand, research and development) continues, as is the case of synthetic and semi-synthetic ones over mineral-based ones. The companies that belong to ASELUBE regard the consolidated position in the matter of International Quality Certificates as essential.
3.- The institutions are trying to drive forward an improvement in the competitiveness of Spanish industry. How can maintenance and lubrication, in particular, contribute towards this aim?
There is no doubt that the improvement in the competitiveness of Spanish industries is linked to the role played by maintenance and, in the specific case we are dealing with here, lubrication. If a machine breaks down, or if something breaks or downtime occurs, earnings stop coming in, the means of production is not available and the manufactured product or raw material cannot be invoiced on the market. We call that loss of potential income, which in many cases may exceed the consequential damage itself (cost of the new piece of equipment or of repairing it). In that case, what will be crucial is the time that elapses between the incident in the equipment and getting the damage repaired to enable it to start generating an economic return once again.
Likewise, the effect of the energy aspect on competitiveness is fundamental. This can be perfectly verified and quantified: achieving excellence in maintenance leads to energy efficiency, hazardous gas emissions are cut, fuel savings are made, excessive energy consumptions are controlled (which, by the way, are rising significantly every day) and the service lifetime of the equipment is extended.
The awareness about and implementing of environmental and legal obligations are increasingly being approached as a necessary value when it comes to achieving competitiveness. This change of mentality is vital for competing on global markets.
4.- Until a few years ago tension among companies about deciding whether to offer the whole range of products or to concentrate on certain niches could be seen on the international lubrication market. What direction have Spanish companies taken?
As I have pointed out already, in response to the fall in internal demand, Spanish companies have been focussing their efforts on increasing exports to international markets. They are focussing on exporting to specific niches on the foreign market, like the railway, wind energy, solar thermal sectors.
5.- From the point of view of a privileged onlooker of the sector, how do you think an R&D centre like IK4-TEKNIKER can contribute towards improving competitiveness from the point of view of lubrication?
Awareness-building tasks with respect to the fundamental role played by lubrication in industries to improve competitiveness is a matter pending. In this respect, IK4-TEKNIKER can do a specific job. This job will facilitate the fluidity of knowledge in all directions; it will allow the capturing and providing of data to enable the lines of research and development required by industries to be promoted.
On the other hand, the R&D potential of this cutting-edge centre constitutes an opportunity for any company needing the means to research and develop lubrication products or processes for the purpose of improving this competitiveness.
