Robots continue to gain in popularity with manufacturers. They are often lubricated with automatic systems that offer some of the same benefits as the robots themselves, the president of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers told a recent industry conference: reduced dependence on labor and increased productivity. The lubrication requirements of these robots are also quite specific.

Shell agreed to acquire the environmentally considerate lubricants business of Switzerland-headquartered independent lubricants manufacturer Panolin Group last week, a transaction enabling Shell to expand its sales of products designed for uses with potential exposure to sensitive ecosystems.

The November issue delves into South America’s base oils and finished lubricants markets. Learn about the privatization of Brazil’s base oil production and the evolution of motorcycle oils in the region. Plus, discover how waste oil rerefining is gaining momentum as well as how base stock selection can influence greater lubricant sustainability.

Greece’s lubricant consumption rose 6% to 68,000 tons in 2021, driven by the country’s economic recovery from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, an industry insider told the Union of the European Lubricant Industry’s annual congress last month in Athens.