OIL & LUBRICANTS Bringing The CHANGE!

Heavy equipment lubricants play a vital role in the construction industry. The most important use of heavy equipment oils is to reduce wear and tear caused by friction between moving internal parts such as gears, bearings, cylinders, etc.  This oil prevents these metal surfaces from overheating and also helps them cool down faster after working continuously for long hours under high pressure or heat. Oils help keep the machine well-lubricated so that it doesn’t start making knocking noises because of lack of proper maintenance resulting in damage due to excessive heating up of metal parts which can be very expensive if ignored over time leading to unplanned downtime repair costs.

Lubricant & grease is a friction-reducing film between moving objects and helps in reducing the heat generated. Lubricants perform functions such as transmitting forces, transporting foreign particles, and heating & cooling surfaces. Depending on the nature of lubricants, they are used to eliminate heat and wear debris, supply additives into the contact, transmit power, protect, and seal.

Growth in demand for lubricants made from bio-based materials has left in shift in terms of raw materials. The demand for automotive oils and greases is expected to increase as the trade in automobiles and their replacement parts expands. The consumer cars segment is anticipated to grow, which is good for the automotive industry as a result of the significant economic recovery in North America and Europe. During the forecast period, rising auto sales are anticipated to boost worldwide lubricant and grease market industry growth. Countries like India, China, the U.S., and Brazil are principally responsible for increase in global vehicle sales. Furthermore, rapid expansion in specialized manufacturing industries such as 3D printing & medical devices is anticipated to support industrial growth in these areas. Hence, rapid industrialization in Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa (BRICS) is expected to drive industrial fluids demand, which, in turn, is expected to complement the global lubricants and grease market growth.

Key industries driving the rise in need for lubricant and grease include automotive, manufacturing, foods & beverages, and construction. The automotive industry utilizes grease in several car parts, such as CV joints, gear assemblies, and electrically operated windows, sunroofs, and seats. Numerous varieties of grease are used depending on component and temperature setting. Some of the most common ones are white grease, high-temperature wheel bearing grease, electronic grease, and chassis grease. Chassis grease, the most popular type of grease is used on suspension and steering joints of cars, high-temperature wheel bearing grease is used in hot, frictional places such as disc brakes and wheel bearings, electronic grease is used on electronic connections where heat cannot build up for safety and white grease, which is waterproof and non-toxic, is used on white-colored surfaces.

Rise of the automobile industry ultimately leads to increase in demand for lubricant and grease, owing to rising per capita income, expanding need for customized transportation, and rising aspiration to own a vehicle. Packaging of new lubricants incorporates QR codes to stop sales of fake goods. Users should experience improved fuel economy, owing to new synthetic lubricants and packaging changes, which will also make it easier for customers to handle the products.

Mining

Heavy equipment lubricants are used in mining mainly for the purpose of increasing efficiency and productivity. Usually, standard engine oil is not suitable under extreme conditions as it cannot withstand high pressure and heat. In such cases, special heavy equipment oils that can maintain viscosity at higher temperatures become necessary to increase the overall performance of mining machinery including drills, shovels, etc. It is widely used across all machinery segments including excavators, loaders, bulldozers, etc., which help reduce wear on mechanical parts thus increasing equipment life span at lower operational costs.

Latest Advancement – Graphene-based lubricant

There is an increase in the latest advancements in lubricant market i.e., the use of graphene-based lubricant. Graphene being two-dimensional material, offers unique friction and wear properties that is not typically seen in conventional materials. The extreme mechanical strength of graphene suppresses material wear. Secondly, graphene has been shown to be impermeable to liquids and gases, such as water or oxygen, thus slowing down the corrosive and oxidative processes that usually cause more damage to rubbing surfaces. Also, graphene is an atomically smooth two-dimensional material with low surface energy and is, therefore, able to replace the thin solid films usually used for reducing adhesion and friction of various surfaces.

Market Trends…

Engine oils are widely used for lubricating internal combustion engines in different types of automotive, off-road vehicles, etc., and are generally composed of 75%-90% of base oils and 10%-25% of additives. They are used in engines of different transportation modes, owing to their advantages, such as fuel efficiency, enhanced performance, temperature control, and engine protection.

Engine oils are typically used for applications, such as wear reduction and corrosion protection while ensuring the smooth operation of engine internals. The oils function by creating a thin film between the moving parts, for enhancing heat transfer and reducing tension during contact of the parts.

Furthermore, governments in countries, such as China and India, are introducing new projects for the development of infrastructure, along with providing incentives for growth in FDI. The construction industry in Qatar is growing at a strong rate with a booming public infrastructure sector.

Opportunities…

Customizing products to cater to a specific application than improvising the product characteristics on a whole has been the emerging trend in the Heavy Equipment Lubricants Market market. Enterprises should incorporate digitally connected processes and focus on operational efficiency, diversifying supply sources, and cost management to create opportunities in the Heavy Equipment Lubricants Market market.

Uneven recovery in different end markets and geographies is a key challenge in understanding and analyzing the Heavy Equipment Lubricants Market market landscape.

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