ILMA Compoundings - September 2020 - 13

In the Know
COVID-19 HAS IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL LUBRICANTS MARKET
Analysts at Kline and Co. estimate, based on the global real gross domestic
product, that global lubricants demand in 2020 could be expected to decline by
between 8% and 15% from 2019 levels. However, because of the COVID-19
pandemic, the decline could drop by as much as 15%-30% from 2019 levels.
If the pandemic stretches into 2021, lubricant demand will continue to see an
adverse impact, but to a lesser extent. Kline suggests that leaders of lubricant
businesses should be preparing for "adverse outcomes of the significance implied
by our preliminary prognostications."
DOES TECHNOLOGY HAVE THE ANSWERS TO MANUFACTURING'S
NEW NORMAL?
COVID-19 might be speeding up the transition to Industry 4.0 for many manufacturers. Plants with plenty of capital may find robots more appealing because they do
not get sick, but even organizations not rich in cash can see benefits in industrial technology. Companies forced to allow employees to work from home can turn to cloud
computing to eliminate disruptions in productivity. Industrial Internet of Things,
or IIoT, devices that remind workers to comply with Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention guidelines may become commonplace on the plant floor. Kinexon, a
German tech company, is currently testing a wearable device at a major automotive
manufacturer and a food manufacturer that will alert workers when they get too close.
NAM URGES CONGRESS TO ADVANCE COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) parts ways with President Donald
Trump when it comes to his executive order suspending new nonimmigrant visas.
NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, "Leaders should be working to
strengthen manufacturing in the U.S., but these actions will make our industry
unquestionably weaker. The reality is the visa programs targeted by this executive order boost manufacturing in America and support job creation. We will
lose talented individuals to other countries, giving them an added advantage in
competing against us. This action will not help manufacturers lead our economic
recovery and renewal."
MUC-OFF HOPES TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO BICYCLE LUBRICATION
With government funding and research assistance from the U.K.'s National Physical
Laboratory and the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Muc-Off is hoping
to discover the combination and quantities of chemical components that make the
quickest and most durable bicycle lubrications. Martin Mathias, Ph.D., research
and development manager at Muc-Off, said, "The development of bicycle chain
lubricant is a time-consuming and iterative process, with much of the chemical and
additive technology being handed down from other industries and based on the
expertise of the individual blending more than fact-based science." That's a practice
that Muc-Off hopes to change. Results and findings from this research project and
recent Muc-Off in-house testing will be published later this year.

ILMA Compoundings - September 2020

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