F+L Webcast

In this episode of the F+L Webcast, host Vicky Villena-Denton talks with Ed Becker — 2007–2008 President and Fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) — about the past, present, and future of the automotive powertrain and what it means for lubricants. Drawing on 30 years at General Motors’ Powertrain division and his current work at Friction & Wear Solutions, LLC,...

The UK lubricant industry just won its first anti-dumping case — and the man who built the file spent three years gathering the evidence, often alone. In Episode 53 of F+L Webcast, host Vicky Villena-Denton speaks with Mark Lord, founder and Managing Director of Aztec Oils Ltd, about the three-year battle against unfair lubricant trade in the UK that ended in December 2025 with a landmark UK Trade...

What if the world’s next breakthrough in sustainable aviation fuel started with 14,000 cows on a Uruguayan dairy farm? In this episode of F+L Webcast, host Vicky Villena-Denton speaks with Trevor Best, CEO and co-founder of Syzygy Plasmonics — the company behind the world’s first light-driven chemical reactor and the first commercial production of SAF from biogas. Built on more than two decades of...

In Episode 51 of F+L Webcast, host Vicky Villena-Denton spoke with Darryl Purificati, senior technical advisor for OEM and automotive for Petro-Canada Lubricants, an HF Sinclair brand. With more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Purificati recently concluded a three-and-a-half-year term as chair of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Lubricants Group. Based in Washington, D.C.,...

Featuring Alessandro Orsini, PETRONAS Lubricants International In episode 50 of the F+L Webcast, Alessandro Orsini, the marketing guru of PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI), shares his insights on building value and differentiation in today’s lubricants market. Understanding customer strategy is the starting point in understanding your role as a fluid partner, says PLI’s Group Marketing and C...

In Episode 49 of F+L Webcast, Vicky Villena-Denton sat down with Henry Liu, vice president for Asia Pacific at Lubrizol Corporation, to discuss the company’s latest white paper entitled "Envisioning Sustainable Growth for China’s Automotive Lubricants Industry." The paper explores how electrification, intelligence and connectivity are reshaping the automotive sector, and the implications...

In Episode 48 of F+L Webcast, Vicky Denton sits down with Robert Kennedy, co-founder of Aeternal Upcycling, to discuss a breakthrough approach to tackling plastic waste — and turning it into a valuable resource for the lubricants industry. Kennedy’s journey began at Argonne National Laboratory, where he focused on chemical conversions that transform plastic waste into high-demand petrochemical rep...

In Episode 47 of the F+L Webcast, Ravi Tallamraju, Group Chief Technology Officer of PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI), shared his insights on the evolving landscape of the lubricants industry, highlighting the need for innovation, collaboration, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. With more than 30 years of global experience in the lubricant and additive industry, Tallamraju bring...

As the global fuels and lubricants industry accelerates its transition toward sustainability, ASTM International’s Committee D02 is at the centre of ensuring quality and performance standards keep pace. At the helm of this influential committee is Dr. James J. Simnick, chair of ASTM D02 and a veteran of the refining and fuels sector, who recently joined the F+L Webcast to discuss his four-decade j...

The European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System (EELQMS) plays a crucial role in maintaining high-quality engine oils for European vehicles across global markets, including Asia and the Middle East. In a recent F+L Asia podcast, industry experts Mike Boyer, director of SAIL-Europe, and David Wright, chair of ATIEL’s Quality Management System Committee, discussed the importance of quality...

With more than 30 years of industry experience, Matthew (Matt) Joyce, Corporate Senior Vice President and President of HF Sinclair’s Lubricants & Specialities, has focused on driving innovation, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship across HF Sinclair’s operations. HF Sinclair, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., produces a wide range of high-value products, including renew...

In the male-dominated world of lubricants, Daiane Spadari has emerged as a trailblazer. Currently, the research and development executive manager at Iconic Lubrificantes, a joint venture between Chevron and Ipiranga, Spadari oversees the innovation pipeline for Texaco and Ipiranga lubricants in Brazil. With more than 17 years of industry experience, she is driving advancements that position Iconic...

In a recent interview on F+L Webcast, Michael Holloway, president of Fifth Order Industry, highlighted the importance of global collaboration in developing and applying industry standards on fuels and lubricants. Holloway is recognised as a subject-matter expert in failure analysis, reliability engineering, and designed experiments, holding 16 professional certifications and a patent. He has a Mas...

In Episode 41 of F+L Webcast, Ping Zhu, vice president of Technology at Lubrizol Additives, shared insights into the company’s forward-thinking approach to sustainability and innovation in the lubricant industry. Zhu, who has dedicated 30 years to the company, highlighted the critical role of chemistry in creating solutions that balance performance and sustainability. Zhu emphasised the importance...

In Episode 40 of F+L Webcast, Uday Kumar, the industrial managing director of PETRONAS Lubricants International, shared his extensive journey and insights into the evolving world of industrial lubricants. The conversation with F&L Asia Editor-in-Chief Vicky Villena-Denton unfolded like a narrative of passion, expertise, and vision, shedding light on the intricate role of lubrication in industr...

In an exclusive interview with F+L Webcast, Adnaan Emeran, marketing and business development manager for Commercial Fuels and Lubricants at Engen Petroleum, shared insights into the company's strategy to strengthen its brand positioning in South Africa. Engen Petroleum is a major South African oil company that focuses on the downstream refined petroleum products market and related businesses....

Vincent Minard is a seasoned veteran with two decades of experience within TotalEnergies’ Marketing & Services. His journey with TotalEnergies has taken him across continents, from the bustling cities of Europe to the dynamic markets of Asia, shaping his expertise in lubricants, OEM partnerships, and retail management. He is currently vice president of Lubricants, Specialties & BtoB, respo...

Flavio Kliger, who was appointed president of Lubrizol Additives in January 2023, reflects on his first year at the helm of one of the leading global additive suppliers to the fuels and lubricants industry. Born and raised in Brazil, Kliger's fascination with economics and an unexpected love for the lubricants industry led him to a pivotal role at Lubrizol, a company he admires for its industr...

Joseph Star, business development manager for Product Solutions at ExxonMobil, based in London, UK, discusses the emerging field of liquid cooling, particularly in data centres, and the role of fluids in this space. He explains that the need for processing power and the rise of AI are driving the growth of data centers. Immersion fluids, including full immersion and other liquid cooling technologi...

In a revealing interview, Jason Wells, now at the helm of Novvi LLC, sheds light on the company’s on-going restructuring and its new strategic direction. Wells’ transparent discussion about Novvi’s strategic direction and challenges paints a vivid picture of resilience and innovation in the base oil industry. 2023 marked a transformative year for Novvi. Beginning in August, the company underwent a...

Shell is not just an energy giant; it's a pioneer steering the helm of the sustainability journey. Mansi Madan Tripathy, Shell Lubricants’ VP for Asia-Pacific, underscores this ethos. In a candid conversation with F+L Webcast, Tripathy unveils the intricate dance of intent, effort, and investment that defines Shell’s green trajectory. Tripathy’s narrative is rich, woven from her diverse experi...

Good morning, and welcome to another episode of the F+L podcast. I'm your host, Vicky Denton, and today we're joined by Jeff Harmening, a senior program manager for the American Petroleum Institute (API). This is Jeff's second time on our show, and we're thrilled to have him back. Jeff is part of API's global industry services group and has been instrumental in the creation of...

Researchers are looking to create new lubricants and fluids for electric vehicles (EVs) that consider issues such as materials compatibility, electrical conductivity, and thermal management. Lithium batteries are currently the most efficient, and companies are working to create more effective additives and coatings to increase wear resistance and reduce weight. There is a focus on recycling and re...

Mario Majic, head of Strategic Business Development, Marketing & Corporate Governance at Avista Oil AG, says that with today’s re-refining technology, base oils produced from spent lubricants can compete head on with “virgin” base oils. Speaking with F&L Asia  in Episode 31 of the F+L Webcast, Majic said re-refined base oils from Avista can achieve up to 90% CO2 emissions savings from crad...

In 2019, Sofia Öberg established 2Probity Registration, an independent third-party organization that provides product registrations of non-food compounds according to the regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With ​​her background in management systems, legal requirements and audits, Öberg was not daunted in competing with established organizations such as U.S.-based NSF Inte...