Challenges in the Production of High-Quality Organic Industrial Lubricants

Lubricants play a key role in many industries; they are responsible for the protection of mechanical parts. Major industries, such as the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries, rely on them. Currently, the market for these lubricants is estimated to be worth 63.9 billion dollars, which is projected to increase to 74.3 billion by 2029. Due to their importance and high demand, manufacturers have been trying to come up with different ways to make them better.

One major way has been the introduction and production of organic lubricants. These are the lubricants that come from organic sources instead of oils and minerals. In this blog, we will underline the importance of organic industrial lubricants and the challenges in their production.

Why is There a Need for Organic Lubricants?

The world is shifting towards greener and cleaner energy sources. Reducing carbon footprint is a massive task, and businesses are trying their best to adapt to it. Generally, the lubricants used in industry do not come from environmentally friendly sources. Their uses often result in the production of industrial waste that can cause extensive damage to the environment. The idea of organic lubricants was introduced to counter the harmful effects of inorganic lubricants. In theory, organic lubricants are the ones that come from plants; they are much more reliable in terms of conserving the environment.

For this reason, more industries are now looking for green products that do not harm the air, land, or water. As a result, many companies are working hard to make organic lubricants that can match or beat the performance of regular oil-based ones. However, the production of these lubricants is not as easy as it may seem. Below, we will highlight some of the key challenges to the production of organic industrial lubricants.

Sourcing Natural Raw Materials

One of the most prominent challenges the producers face while manufacturing these lubricants is the lack of raw materials. To get the best results, they have to trial and test the different plant-based oils such as soya bean, canola, sunflower or palm oil. Even though these oils have shown promising results in terms of performance, it isn't easy to get them.

The production of the plant can be hindered by weather issues. Apart from that, these crops are a major source of food in some regions, so using them can result in a shortage of food, resulting in high prices. Thus, the problem of food shortage and the production of organic lubricants is really a big one.

Cost Problems

The production of organic oils is way more costly than the refining of crude oil. To produce oil from organic sources, manufacturers have to deal with the process of growing and harvesting. Even after such a long process, they still have to clean the oil, which further adds complications. Thus, the process of obtaining oils from natural sources is often much more time taking and arduous. It adds a burden of extra cost, and machines run longer than expected, and the processes are much more complex.

On the other hand, crude oil just needs refining, which is technically a simple process. Generally, the process of fractional distillation is used to separate the constituents of the crude oil. This process is not as time-consuming as waiting for the crops to grow and then harvesting them. Thus, making the production of lubricants from crude oils much more affordable in terms of costs.

The cost factor also makes the end product more expensive than petrochemical industry lubricants. Companies worry that buyers will not pay more, even if the lubricants are organic. They need to find ways to lower the cost or show the buyer why it's worth it.

Achieving High Performance

Another major challenge in the production of organic lubricants is the issue of performance. No matter what you read on the internet, one thing must be clear: conventional lubricants offer far superior performance. These lubricants have gone through decades of trial and error to the point that they are almost perfect.

On the other hand, organic lubricants are still in their initial stages of production. Thus, even though the idea of high-performance organic lubricants may seem like it's true, the reality is far from it. In the upcoming years, the manufacturer will overcome this challenge of high performance.

Shorter Shelf Life

Lubricants made from organic sources often do not have the longevity of their counterparts. The natural fats in plant oils tend to lose their structural integrity over time and go bad. This reduces their performance and their shelf life considerably. To protect them from going bad over time, the manufacturer has to come up with safe storage solutions and air seals.

All these factors add further complexity to an already complex process. It is also a bad prospect in terms of cost, as conventional industrial lubricants do not need extra care and can last much longer in storage.

Consistency in Production

Another key issue is keeping the product the same in each batch. With petrochemical industry lubricants, raw oil is refined using a steady method. The end result is often very stable and pure. This makes it easy to get the same result every time.

In contrast, organic oils come from crops. Crop quality can change based on the soil, weather, or pests. This means one batch of oil may differ from the next. To solve this, more tests must be done on raw oils. But again, this raises costs and slows down the work.

Limited Research and Tools

Research into organic industrial lubricants is still relatively new. There are not many tools or labs that focus just on this. Most of the research data is actually available on conventional lubricants. More tests are needed to check how organic oils work with different types of machines and metals.

Also, not many people have the necessary skills to research these lubricants. Companies must train their staff or hire experts from outside. Both these steps are time-consuming and costly, and may take years to produce fruitful results. Without enough know-how, many companies find it hard to produce organic industrial lubricants.

Meeting Industry Standards

Industries follow strict laws and rules, and industrial lubricants are bound to meet these standards. Most of these standards include tests for safety, heat, wear, and rust. Getting these checks done is hard and costly. Each new blend must go through hours of lab and field tests before it can go to market.

Because the rules are based on old petrochemical industry lubricants, many organic oils fail in the early stages. Standards are slowly changing, but not fast enough. This delays the launch of the new products and can tarnish the manufacturer's reputation. Not to mention, there is always an issue of failure to meet the standards, which can further add to the costs.

Environmental Limits in Application and Production

It may seem strange, but even the organic lubricants have environmental repercussions. For example, when these oils are exposed to high levels of water and high heat, they might produce waste. The process of application of these lubricants is much more complex than the general processes industries are used to. The industries have to switch their ways, which might even need staff training, which can be costly and time-consuming.

The manufacturing process of these lubricants can also produce a lot of waste. The manufacturers have to ensure that waste is produced during farming, transport, storage, or production. This further adds a burden in terms of cost and complexity. If they fail to counter these challenges, then the entire point of organic lubricants becomes pointless.

A Prospect for a Bright Future

Even though the challenge mentioned above makes the organic lubricants sound like a problem rather than a solution, that is not the case. Manufacturers are actively working to tackle the issues. They are researching better ways to harvest crops and invest in better crops to produce high-quality oils with ease. The easy ways of testing and storing these lubricants are being invented.

With more research and a rise in awareness, there is a high chance we will see some improvement in the sector. Manufacturers are also blending organic and synthetic lubricants to overcome the problems of performance. This also seems promising as it can help us shift away from the harmful effects.

Atlantic Grease and Lubricants: Leading the Shift Towards Environment Safety

Atlantic Grease and Lubricants is one of the few brands leading this change. We offer high-performance industrial lubricants that meet modern needs without hurting the planet. Our team works on smart green blends that are safe, strong, and long-lasting.

Unlike others, our professionals know the art of balance. They blend organic oils with advanced bio-based tech to match the power of the petrochemical industry lubricants. Each product is made with care, tested in the lab, and built for real use.

Our clean plants, strong research team, and global support make us a top name in the field. If your business wants to switch to clean, smart, and green lubricants without losing strength or trust, Atlantic Grease and Lubricants is the name you can count on.