EMEA News
Total Lubmarine Boosts Research Centre to Develop New Lubricants
Lubricant company Total Lubmarine has opened new laboratory facilities at its existing research centre in France to focus on developing new marine lubricant products, the company announced in an emailed release.
The company said that stricter sulfur regulations, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, had prompted the need for a "next generation" of lubes.
Since January 1, 2015, sulfur content in marine fuel used in Emission Control Areas (ECA) has been limited to 0.10 percent, leading many companies to switch to low-sulfur fuel or alternatives such as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Total Lubmarine highlighted engines capable of burning two types of fuel as examples of technology which have made creating suitable marine lubes much more complex.
"Total Lubmarine's success to date has been due in large part to our commitment to long-term research programmes," said General Manager Norbert Schieren.
"We are re-imagining the lubes of today and developing lubes suitable for the stresses and strains of the marine environment: whatever the fuel and whatever the engine."
The new facilities include engine testing and tribology equipment, along with new analytical resources.
Early this year, the company received approvals for its line of Bioneptan lubricants, which were designs for vessels' stern tubes.
