LUBRICANT

Additive companies determine the formulas and provide the technical specifications to enhance the base oils.
Twelve members currently represent six independent lubricant blending companies at Ilba. These are Viscol Oil, Petromark, Q-Base, Lubritene, Blue Chip Lubricants and Pilot Lubricants.

As new equipment constantly evolves into lighter-weight machin-ery that is faster, the blending mixes require continual change in specifications.

Ilba members display the asso- ciations logo on the items packaging, which confirms their subscription to the code of ethics prescribed in the associations constitution.

In the past, testing was done yearly, although a recent resolution of the association has requested that samples be submitted every six months. Once testing has been completed, the sample is retained and compared to industry benchmarks. Ilba is also able to undertake spot-checks and audits on blend plants, which could be possible activities in the near future.

To ensure compliance with industry specifications, procedures are in place for self regulation. Members are regularly scrutinised on the blending quality of lubricants by established minimum standards. Oil samples across a wide spectrum of grades are laboratory-tested and checked against claimed specifications. The testing procedure takes about one week.

Ilbas activities include engagement with organisations to assess how industry issues affect inde- pendent companies and resolving issues through consultation. Engage-ment occurs when problems are encountered in the sourcing of base oil at a fair price, which is acquired from major oil companies and importers.

Members of Ilba include small and medium enterprises which compete with major oil companies. Meetings between the members take place three times a year and discussions revolve around issues such as compliance with quality standards, the sourcing of base oils and additives and the latest technical speci- fications.

The newly formed independent association has two fundamental aims, says Ilba vice-chairperson Alan Robertson. It hopes to differentiate members from other independent oil companies that do not comply with oil and lubricant blending industry specifications as well as to exert the groups influence when issues in the industry affect the independents.

This is because original-equipment manufacturers decide on the lubricants required for new machines on the market. These manufacturers then request oil companies to blend the oil speci- fications.

The challenges that independents in South Africa are faced with include the difficulties of operating on unequal footing with major oil suppliers, particularly at times of base oil shortages, as these are viewed as the biggest role-players in the oil and lubricant blending industry. Moreover, keeping abreast of the ever-growing specifications in the industry is a further challenge for independent companies.

Hime says that in the lubricants industry, some independent oper-ators supply substandard products, which are the result of blending less than the required additive, using poor-quality base oil and nonconformance to specifications. This can tarnish the reputation of other independent blenders and has led to a number of end-users seeking oil and lubricant solutions resorting to major oil suppliers for quality lubricants.

Ilba chairperson Alex Hime says, Ilba was established in February last year to promote the integrity of its members within the South African lubricants industry.

In its first year of existence, nonprofit organisation, the Independent Lubricant Blenders Association (Ilba) has made strides to test members lubricant products in an effort to ensure that these adhere to industry standards.

AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL OILS