ExxonMobil Lubricants Making Value Developments
What usage and new developments are you seeing in the field of lubricants (hydraulic oils, grease, engine oils) for the Indian construction and mining equipment?
The strength of a nation’s construction and infrastructure (C&I) sector is a key indicator of its economic growth and development. India is well-placed here and by 2025, the country is predicted to have the third largest construction market in the world – increasing the demand for seamless profitable construction operations.
The development of smart cities, industrial corridors, mega ports, etc., have all aided the growth of India’s construction industry, which today spans a number of interconnected sub-sectors. There is, consequently, a parallel demand for high-calibre lubricants that guarantee uninterrupted and smooth operations to achieve the desired levels of equipment performance.
Industrial lubricants ensure energy-efficiency and smooth operations with little downtime by maintaining the safety and functionality of critical components, including machine engines and gearboxes. Moreover, quality lubricants can make a positive impact by eliminating machine malfunctions, reducing manhour losses, increasing output efficiency per unit of input, and increasing overall productivity. Additionally, lubricants are now actively helping businesses prevent harmful environmental effects and increase operational efficiency.
How do you see India as a rapidly growing market with its dynamic business environment?
The development of industries has been greatly accelerated by the infrastructure sector. Alongside, the government’s emphasis on policies like open FDI regulations, significant budgetary support for the industrial sector, the smart cities mission, etc, bodes well for the building and infrastructure sector.
As India tries to create an economy worth USD 5 trillion, the manufacturing sector is undergoing a rapid shift, making India a desirable global manufacturing hub. Today, greater emphasis is being placed on profitability and productivity, and energy-efficiency is receiving a lot of attention as a result of the developing manufacturing and construction sectors.
The power sector is also experiencing significant rise in demand as countries across the globe prepare for an energy transition. In the coming years, choosing superior lubrication solutions will aid the sector in reducing unnecessary breakdowns, cutting overhead costs, and ushering in greater profitability.
What are ExxonMobil’s energy efficient products and practices for on- and off-highway construction & mining equipment?
With skilled professionals studying how lubricant use could reduce power-related expenses and lengthen fluid life,
MobilTM Lubricants has been driving energy-efficiency in critical industries. As an illustration, the Mobil DTE 10 ExcelTM Series work wonders at cutting power usage and boosting machine production. It has been demonstrated that they can increase hydraulic efficiency by up to 6%, which can reduce power consumption and improve system responsiveness*.
The Mobil Delvac 1TM ESP 5W-40 has been developed to provide great performance in both newer and more seasoned engines that operate hard, particularly those that include emission control systems, guarantee superior engine performance, and support a long engine life. By extending regreasing intervals, extending equipment life, and offering superior protection even in harsh situations, Mobil’s greases are also setting the bar for effective operations.
What are the company’s recent launches in engine oils and greases with higher drain-out intervals?
With a legacy of 150 years, Mobil has established its reputation as a leading industrial provider. For instance, the sophisticated synthetic heavy duty diesel engine oil, Mobil Delvac 1TM ESP 5W-40 can help diesel engines run more efficiently and longer while also extending engine life in demanding situations.
The MobilubeTM 1 SHC 75W-90 is also a completely synthetic, high performance commercial gear lubricant for heavy-duty manual transmissions and rear axles. Extreme pressures, a wide variety of working temperatures, and stress loading were all considered in its design.
Again, the Mobilgrease XHPTM 460 Series are extended service lithium complex greases that provide high chemical stability, excellent stickiness, and structural stability in addition to providing protection against rust and corrosion. These are just a few of the numerous, varied alternatives we have for India’s expanding construction industry.
There is a growing demand for value-added lubricants for use in the hydraulic systems of equipment working in harsh construction sites like quarries. Has ExxonMobil introduced such lubricants or made improvements in the compositions of its existing products?
Mindful of safety, expensive downtime, and challenging breakdown maintenance owing to site conditions, construction operations demand utmost reliability. All equipment in this sector are expected to work under hot temperatures to carry out demanding tasks while enduring shock loads.
Mobil, being committed to India’s growing demand for superior construction operations, has lubricated India’s largest Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP). The hydraulic oil Mobil DTETM 25 Ultra (which has received the Bosch RDE approval), comes with superior oil drain intervals, outstanding deposit control, and wear protection – and is being used to lubricate the hydraulic drive of India’s largest TBM. Providing improved deposit control of 89.2% for longer oil life and precision operations, this oil (part of the Mobil DTETM 20 Ultra Series) also delivers superior wear protection to extend component life**.
The MobilgearTM 600 XP Series gear oils, which offer up to 15 times the wear protection as assessed by the industry standard FAG FE 8 test, are simultaneously being applied to the TBM’s primary gear drive. Through outstanding protection against wear and micro-pitting, these lubricants also help to reduce the costs associated with equipment replacement.
What R&D support and collaboration are you extending to the OEMs?
R&D is central to the success of any industry and its guiding strategy must connect board-level priorities with the technologies that the organisation is concentrating on. In order to provide cutting-edge solutions to our clients throughout the world, Mobil’s specialist Field Engineering Services (FES) team draws on its years of experience in oil analysis. The Mobil ServSM team specialises in the early detection of potential damage in machine operations with its digital oil analysis program called the Mobil ServSM Lubricant Analysis (MSLA) program and a grease analysis program called the Mobil ServSM Grease Analysis (MSGA) program. This work is backed by the technical expertise of its formulators, scientists, and engineers.
For instance, in a recent project at a mining site, Mobil has ensured significant asset health management by enabling real-time data analytics with the use of a sensor installed in the dumper. The installed fluid quality sensor is an in-line, real-time sensing technique for keeping track of lubricating fluids’ overall condition. The tool offers ongoing oil health insights, encouraging condition-based maintenance strategies, including optimised fluid drain intervals and decreased reliance on offline analysis.
How well equipped is ExxonMobil’s distribution network and its stock points to meet the requirements of construction and mining equipment on time?
A lubricant brand’s success or failure is often dictated by its distribution network. Additionally, the lubricant sector has distinct traits that make its distribution system significantly different from that of other industries. Mobil has tied up with suppliers and distributors to provide service and timely delivery of products in almost all corners of the country. Also, there are regional outlets to provide immediate service assistance within 24 hours of reportage.
Technology is evolving quickly and consistently, especially in the age of industrialization. The introduction of technology 4.0 will alter how this industry competes. The data received from the sensors then get tested in the labs and the completed report on the machine health, along with key performance metrics, allow industries to identify the problems before hand, thereby cutting down machine downtime and overhead expenditures. Initiatives such as these are strengthening our association with the C&I industry and also enhancing our brand’s reputation.
How is the company dealing with competitive pressure to stay ahead in the market?
The business of lubricants is both appealing and competitive. Value development is not distributed equally, so suppliers must develop methods to ensure access to growing areas. Premium players should prioritise R&D and enhance technology competence for specialised, high-performance, or develop synthetic items in order to optimise their portfolios.
Companies may want to pursue new market entrants, M&A, and the creation of new assets in order to guarantee volume growth. This might entail using distributors or affiliates to break into new markets; alternatively, the company’s current operations might be the greatest entrance point.
Companies will need to rely more on a lubricants-plus offer, which includes value-added services and increased client involvement that fosters customer loyalty and intimacy. Companies must advance with sales-channel integration, optimise product portfolios and routes to markets, and develop digital marketing expertise to engage customers more effectively.
*The energy efficiency of Mobil DTE 10 Excel relates solely to the fluid performance when compared to conventional Mobil-branded hydraulic fluids. The technology used allows up to 6% increase in hydraulic pump efficiency compared to Mobil DTE 20 series when tested in standard hydraulic applications under controlled conditions. The energy efficiency claim for this product is based on test results on the use of the fluid conducted in accordance with all applicable industry standards and protocol. Results may vary based on operating conditions and equipment.
**This performance is based on the experience of a single customer. Actual results may vary.
(Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso and Mobil. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and references to “corporation”, “company”, “ExxonMobil”, “EM”, and other similar terms are used for convenience and may refer to one or more specific affiliates or affiliate groups.)
NBM&CW November 2022
