Tailored Lubricant Blending
When an Off-the-Shelf Lubricant Isn't the Answer
It may not be today or tomorrow, but anyone involved with machinery will eventually encounter a lubrication problem that a standard product simply doesn't solve.
Extreme temperatures, heavy loads, water contamination, dust, chemicals, unusual materials or demanding operating conditions can turn an otherwise reliable piece of equipment into a persistent engineering problem.
At Thames Lubricants, we specialise in helping customers overcome these challenges through tailored lubricant formulation and custom blending.
Whether the solution requires a small modification to an existing lubricant or the development of a completely bespoke product, we'll work with you to understand the application and find a practical, commercially viable solution.
Lubrication is a Science
The science of friction, wear and lubrication is known as tribology.
Even the most precisely engineered machinery can suffer premature wear, excessive friction or component failure when the lubricant is unsuitable for its operating environment.
A hostile environment doesn't necessarily mean an extreme application. It could be a furnace operating at elevated temperatures, machinery exposed to water or salt, a dusty manufacturing process, exceptionally heavy loading, or simply an application where conventional lubricants aren't delivering the required performance.
This is where a purpose-designed lubricant can make a significant difference.
Custom Formulation to Meet Your Requirements
Our approach starts with understanding the problem.
We consider factors such as the equipment, operating temperatures, loads, speeds, materials, environment and existing lubricant before determining the most appropriate approach.
Sometimes the answer may be as straightforward as altering the viscosity or additive treatment of an existing formulation. In other situations, a more specialised formulation may be required.
Our capabilities include:
Custom lubricant formulation – developing products around specific performance requirements.
Modification of existing formulations – adapting established products where a conventional lubricant almost meets the requirement but needs additional performance.
Specialist additive technology – selecting appropriate additive systems to provide characteristics such as anti-wear, extreme-pressure, corrosion protection, oxidation resistance or other required properties.
Base oil selection – working with mineral and synthetic base technologies according to the requirements of the application.
Prototype and small-batch blending – allowing specialist products to be produced without necessarily requiring the volumes associated with large-scale lubricant manufacturers.
Scale-up and commercial production – taking a successful formulation from development through to repeat manufacturing and supply.
From Formulation to Finished Product
1. Understand & Formulate
Tell us about the application and the problem you're trying to solve.
Our team can consider the lubrication requirements and determine whether an existing Thames product can provide the answer, whether an established formulation can be modified, or whether a more bespoke solution should be investigated.
2. Blend & Pack
Once the appropriate product has been established, we can blend, manufacture and pack it to your requirements.
Our flexible production capabilities allow us to accommodate different production volumes and a wide variety of packaging formats.
3. Manufacture & Supply
A successful specialist lubricant needs to be commercially practical as well as technically effective.
Once established, Thames Lubricants can provide repeat manufacturing and ongoing supply, giving you a dependable source for your tailored product.
Practical Solutions, Not Just Formulations
Developing the technically perfect lubricant is of little value if it is prohibitively expensive to manufacture.
That's why we never lose sight of the commercial side of the problem.
Our objective is to find a solution where improved performance, longer component life, reduced maintenance or lower downtime can justify the cost of the lubricant.
For many industrial applications, preventing even a relatively short period of unplanned downtime can make a specialist lubricant extremely cost-effective.
Your Application. Your Challenge. Our Solution.
If you have a lubrication problem that conventional products haven't solved, talk to Thames Lubricants.
From a slight adjustment to an existing formulation to the development and manufacture of a completely bespoke lubricant, we'll work with you to explore a practical solution.
Call: 01782 745678
Email: sales@thameslubricants.co.uk
DISCUSS YOUR APPLICATION WITH US