LAUGFS Lubricants opens Sri Lanka’s first Tribology Park

Aug 26, 2016 (LBO) - LAUGFS Lubricants has opened Sri Lanka’s first Tribology Park at the BOI Export Processing Park in Nittambuwa, for research and innovation dedicated to the areas of friction and lubrication. The facility offers a cutting-edge research and development centre, providing solutions especially customized for Sri Lankan driving conditions, a statement said. “With the R&D work carried out by our teams of scientists and technologists at this modern facility, we’ll be able to introduce many innovative products and solutions to specifically cater to the local driving conditions,” said LAUGFS Lubricants Director/CEO, Dr. Gamini Amarasekera, a veteran scientist in Tribology. “This localization will be critical for enhanced efficiency and performance of vehicles, as factors such as fuel quality, ambient temperature, air quality, road and traffic conditions etc. vary significantly based on geographic conditions,” he said. Most modern vehicles, machinery and equipment currently in the market are designed considering operating environments in larger and developed markets such as North America, China, Japan and Europe. However, operating environments in these countries are significantly different to tropical countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. As a result, the designed output and efficiency of these vehicles and machinery cannot be effectively achieved when operated in different environments, the company said. The research and development work carried out at the new Tribology Park will allow LAUGFS Lubricants to provide localized lubricant solutions to better cater to Sri Lanka’s driving conditions. “The innovative Tribology solutions offer a combination of local expertise coupled with global technology; the best of both worlds. Unique lubricant formulations are created using cutting-edge research and innovation combined with the unmatched experience and insights LAUGFS has gained in the local lubricant industry,” Amarasekera said. The new products developed at the facility will not only benefit the local customers, but will also bring in multiple benefits to the country’s economy. By helping to extend the life span of automobiles and machinery, this will serve to save foreign exchange outflow, which would otherwise have been spent on spare parts. The facility also provides employment opportunities for young local professionals, who are provided with resources and international exposure to carry out R&D work using cutting-edge technology, the company said. Equipped with modern instruments, a young professional team including formulation scientists, chemists, engineers and technical staff leads this facility. The Tribology Park provides young graduates from local and foreign educational institutions, with the opportunity to train not only in lubrication science, but also in many disciplines such as health & safety, environment protection, manufacturing, process improvements and planning. Established in 2008, LAUGFS Lubricants offers a range of automobile and industrial lubricant products. It has Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) approvals for Volvo, Renault and Porsche vehicles and is the only Sri Lankan lubricant company to hold licenses from the American Petroleum Institute, which defines global industry standards for motor oils. LAUGFS Lubricants is a subsidiary of LAUGFS Holdings Limited, one of the largest diversified business conglomerates in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, LAUGFS has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka and overseas in the power and energy, retail, industrial, services, leisure, logistics and real estate sectors. The group has over 4,000 employees and an annual turnover exceeding Rs.28 billion.