Shell’s Shanghai center to lead way in developing advanced lubricants for trucks

SCIENTISTS at Shell (Shanghai) Technology Ltd. will focus mainly on next-generation automotive and industrial lubricants and greases.

The world’s economy depends on trucks—around 30 million of them are currently in operation—that move billions of tons of virtually every commodity we consume. Without trucks, commerce would grind to a halt.

This is why the market requires them to always perform at peak performance while at the same time to be compliant to every current environmental standards.

ON TOP of product research and development, the new center will also provide hands-on technical services to customers, run of field trials, hold performance demonstrations and bench-testing. Photos by Charles E. Buban

“For truck operators and drivers, the concern is more on minimizing fuel costs as well as attaining a much lower service and maintenance costs throughout its operation. To help realize these objectives, truck manufacturers look for the latest advances in engine technology to optimize diesels engine performance and use cleaner and better fuels as well as lubricants,” said Dr. Richard Tucker, Shell’s global technology manager for commercial lubricants and fuels.

Apart from employing proper driving skills, designing a more aerodynamic truck body, using properly inflated tires, optimizing engine design and filling up with high-quality fuel, using the right engine oil and low-viscosity lubricants in maintenance programs can reduce variable costs (fuels, repairs, maintenance, tires) and decrease down time due to repair work and maintenance.

Fuel economy

In fact, the combined effect of low-viscosity synthetic engine oils and drivetrain lubricants can improve fuel economy by 2 to 3 percent, saving around 2,000 liters of fuel per year for a typical truck.

“Oil’s viscosity—the thickness of the engine oil—holds the key to pushing fuel consumption down and helping engine manufacturers meet the challenges placed in front of them by regulations that mandate increased fuel economy for trucks and lowering carbon dioxide emissions,” explained Tucker during a presentation held in Shanghai, China.

THE NEW innovation hub in Shanghai will help Shell develop a wide range of fuels to support rising global energy demand, which is expected to double by 2050, with the population set to increase from 7 to 9 billion.

He explained that using lower viscosity oil makes it easier for engine parts to move around, which is what allows the boost in fuel economy.

To help Shell attain the best blend of engine and lubricant products, the company recently established the Shell (Shanghai) Technology Ltd., an 8,600-square-meter, nine-story building within the Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park.

The $290-million (P12.7-billion) facility in Shanghai becomes Shell’s third global center dedicated to lubricants and oils (the other two are located in Hamburg, Germany and Houston in Texas, United States). The new center will also work closely with the rest of the 10 other laboratories that made up the Shell’s R&D global network.

THE NEW center has installed several specialized equipment that will allow Shell scientists to work closely with OEMs.

Aimin Huang, Shell (Shanghai) Technology Ltd. general manager, explained that Shanghai was chosen because of the central role China and the Asean region will play in Shell’s long-term growth strategy. “China is the fastest-growing and second-largest lubricants market in the world. Research shows it will overtake the US as the world’s No. 1 market in the near future. By setting up a presence here, we will be able to bring Shell lubricants technology and innovation closer to customers and partners in the region.”

Half of world’s truck sales

Interestingly, it was also estimated that by 2020 with China will account for about half of the world’s truck sales. Joining China, are three emerging markets—Brazil, Russia and India—which have experienced tremendous growth over the years and still offer huge growth potential and are expected to account for two-thirds of global truck sales by 2020.

The new center will take care of formulating Shell’s next generation passenger car motor oils, motorcycle oils, heavy duty engine oils, transmission fluids, as well as industrial and speciality oils and greases. It will also cover oils for the shipping sector.

“We will also provide hands-on technical services to our customers,  liaise with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and academic institutions in the region. Our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities will enable the running of field trials, performance demonstrations and bench testing,” said Huang.

She added that Shell in its mission to be the most competitive and innovative energy company in the world, needed a key lubricants technology establishment in Shanghai to be able to explore competitively advantaged technology solutions for business growth and establish a forum for technical collaboration with OEMs original and research institutes in the region.