ILMA Compoundings January 2018 - 28

"Any time there are moving
parts is an opportunity for
lubrication. "

Hybrid Technology

Currently, AM accounts for one-tenth of one percent of the
total global production, according to Patrick McGibbon,
vice president of Strategic Analytics for AMT. "It will take a
while to build momentum," he said. Despite this, there will
be more opportunities for traditional markets and AM to
integrate processes.
Tim Shinbara is also with AMT as the head of the Technology Department. He stresses that MWF manufacturers
can see changes brought on by 3D printing as an opportunity. He said "the cautious view of additive manufacturing
suggests that 10 years from now it will start to impact
MWF manufacturers." However, there is an opportunity for
those with expertise in the lubrication business, Shinbara
said. "Think of where the additive manufacturing market
struggles today: dry processes and heat processes, metal and
heat transfer," areas, he suggested, where lubricant manufacturers can provide solutions. Additionally, Shinbara
reminds that parts must be moved from an additive machine
and put somewhere. Any time there are moving parts is an
opportunity for lubrication. Shinbara stressed that AM and
traditional MWF manufacturing need to be a "hybrid technology" where there will be opportunities for manufacturers
who think about functionality needs rather than a specific
process or solution.

JANUARY 2018

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

Shinbara and McGibbon also mentioned that another
question on the minds of MWF manufacturers is whether
AM will offset the losses from MWF. Shinbara feels that
the margins will be better in leading-edge technologies like
AM compared to the traditional MWF industry. However,
the scale will be limited. Shinbara sees that AM will be 10
percent of the market in the next 20 years.
A key aspect of AM to watch for growth is research and
development, according to Shinbara. When materials and
processes start to get qualification certified, this will be an
indication that things are picking up and AM is starting to
take hold in the manufacturing industry, he said. Once AM
starts to integrate with traditional processes, Shinbara stresses
looking at the industry for opportunities where traditional
manufacturers can integrate their knowledge base with AM.
"Lubricant manufacturers are the experts at what they do,
while additive manufacturing is more cutting edge. This is
where there is opportunity for lubricant manufacturers to
apply their experience and expertise to the changes coming
from additive manufacturing," said Shinbara.
Both Shinbara and McGibbon agree that electric cars are
the bigger impact to the lubricant industry in the coming
years. With multiple countries and companies declaring
timelines for phasing out the internal combustion engine,
there will be major changes coming to both the traditional
car market and the electric car market. Again, Shinbara and
McGibbon stress using expertise to find functional solutions
for changing manufacturing processes and markets.

Making the Best of It

With electric cars threating to upend the market, the future
they will bring to manufacturing is often on the minds of
ILMA members more than 3D printing. For now, additive
manufacturing remains in specific markets and is explored
during research and development in places such as GE's
Brilliant Factory. Regardless, the consensus remains that
additive manufacturing will continue to edge into traditional MWF markets, and those markets have the potential to
integrate and influence the changes.
Markel is a technical and freelance writer with experience authoring original equipment (OEM) and Department of Defense (DOD) user manuals
as well as training users on OEM and DD products. He can be reached at
josh.markel@jpatrickwriting.com.

http://www.ILMA.ORG

ILMA Compoundings January 2018

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