Shaping the Future with Technology-Driven Solutions

Sinopec has a tie-up with TYGRIS, a global leader in industrial cleaning, lubrication and protection solutions. The latter has announced the launch of its ONOS line, the company’s first-ever range of biodegradable lubricants. The company is also investing and expanding in carbon capture technologies.

BP’s Castrol brand is pushing sustainability boundaries through the MoreCircular program, launched in early 2024. This initiative recollects used oils, rerefines them and reintegrates the base oils into premium lubricant formulations. Such innovations as Castrol’s Optigear Synthetic PD ES gear oil with MFT-PD technology and the Lubricant Oracle online platform enhance both product performance and digital customer engagement. Castrol’s support for MIT’s AstroAnt Payload Program further underlines its commitment to futuristic, automated diagnostic solutions for extreme environments.

Beyond product innovation, ExxonMobil distinguishes itself through digital services like Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis, helping clients reduce downtime and optimize lubricant use through AI-driven predictive maintenance. Tools like Looble for product selection and secure, anti-counterfeit packaging technologies reflect ExxonMobil’s move toward smarter, safer customer interfaces.

Similarly, Shell’s “Shell Remote Sense” is a lubricant condition monitoring service that employs smart sensors to provide real-time oil condition data for equipment in remote locations. This technology enables proactive maintenance, which reduces downtime and extends equipment life.

Fuchs offers a comprehensive range of condition-based monitoring and fluid management solutions through its Smart Services platform. The CENT system is a standout offering within Fuchs’ condition-based monitoring portfolio. It also offers its Fluid Connect system, a web-based management tool, which enables real-time monitoring of metalworking fluids. The system offers a combination of on-site testing and laboratory analysis for essential parameters like pH, bacteria count and concentration. Fuchs is also increasing its presence in efficient lubricant delivery systems. It offers a wide range of lubricating greases supplied in STAR VARIO and FLEX automatic lubricators.

Among specialty lubricant suppliers, Klüber Lubrication has emerged as a frontrunner in sustainability innovation. A pioneer in chlorine-free and biobased lubricants, Klüber continues to extend its focus toward full sustainability across its product portfolio. The development of hydro lubricants and natural-based oils positions the company at the forefront of green lubrication technology.

Additionally, Klüber is setting new benchmarks for traceability by integrating transparency mechanisms into its product life cycle—a move poised to enhance public trust and sustainability credentials. In the emerging hydrogen economy, Klüber offers specialized lubricants such as Klüberbeta VR 87-883 and Klübersynth V 94-751, designed to perform under specific H₂ production conditions.

Quaker Houghton is another key supplier embracing life cycle fluid management with its Fluidcare chemical management service. Its recent innovation, DieCast iQ, further combines process and lubrication optimization tailored specifically for the high-pressure aluminum die-casting sector.

As services and systems integration are transforming the lubricant landscape, service companies are expanding in this market. SKF stands out for seamlessly embedding lubrication management into broader industrial automation ecosystems. Despite traditionally having a limited lubricant portfolio, SKF is aggressively expanding its offerings through strategic acquisitions like that of John Sample Group’s Lubrication and Flow Management businesses in 2024. Their cloud-based platform, @ptitude Analyst, empowers predictive maintenance through data analytics, reinforcing SKF’s evolution from a bearing supplier to a full lubrication solutions partner.

Likewise, companies like Fluid Life and Predict Technologies are driving the next generation of integrated lube management, using advanced diagnostics and predictive tools to optimize operational efficiency at end user sites.

Top emerging applications include battery cooling and thermal management. The rise of electric vehicles and AI processors has opened new opportunities for not just lubricant suppliers but also chemical companies and specialty fluid companies in thermal management solutions. M&I Materials’ breakthrough with its biodegradable MIVOLT dielectric fluids is setting new standards in battery cooling, offering faster charging times and reduced environmental impact. This innovation drew immediate attention, culminating in Shell Lubricants’ acquisition of the MIDEL and MIVOLT businesses in 2024, signalling Shell’s commitment to expanding into next-generation cooling technologies.

In the realm of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI), Dow is actively collaborating with Carbice Technologies to develop advanced Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) utilizing carbon nanotube (CNT) technology. These materials are critical for maintaining optimal thermal performance and reliability over time—a key demand for AI processor manufacturers and operators.

3M and Eastman are also at the forefront here. 3M’s investments in R&D digitization are transforming customer service and product development pipelines. Its Novec engineered fluids, are setting new benchmarks in immersion cooling for high-performance processors, critical for data centers and AI-driven systems. In addition, 3M’s Cold Plate Cooling Systems and their fully integrated digital hub enhance operational agility and customer engagement through automation across sales, marketing and supply chain functions.

As manufacturing of advanced next-generation biological products such as probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics and other microbiome-targeted therapies grow, food-grade lubricants, including NSF 3H and H1 certified variants, are gaining prominence. Nanoparticles are being added to lubricants to enhance thermal conductivity and wear resistance. This is critical for biotics manufacturing, where precise temperature monitoring is important for the purity of the products.

With supply chain resilience becoming a competitive differentiator, lubricant suppliers are integrating smart technologies like RFID, GPS tracking and drone-based warehouse audits to improve inventory management and reduce operational losses. Automation is not limited to logistics; it extends into production with microdosing systems for lubricant delivery, ensuring precision and reducing waste.

Suppliers are moving closer to the Lubricant-as-a-Service model, where product offerings are bundled with services such as automated monitoring, predictive maintenance, fluid management, and even environmental compliance tracking.

Conclusion: Toward a “Lubricant Package” Future

As the industrial lubricants market shifts toward an integrated, technology-driven future, suppliers are redefining their role from traditional product sellers to strategic partners. Innovation is clustering around sustainability, digitization and system integration, pushing suppliers to offer complete life cycle solutions rather than standalone products.

With Lubricant-as-a-Service models gaining traction, suppliers who can deliver bundled solutions—combining advanced formulations, smart analytics, predictive maintenance and automated delivery—will be best positioned to lead the next chapter of industry evolution. The future of lubricants will not be just about what’s in the barrel, but about delivering performance, sustainability and intelligence as a complete package.  

Anwesha Banerjee is principal consultant for Frost & Sullivan, Europe.