The Discovery Theatre is your destination for the latest lubrication technology, product breakthroughs, and fresh perspectives, all in an accessible, engaging format.
Located within the exhibition, the Discovery Theatre is a dedicated space for live innovation showcases, running throughout the event. Unlike the formal conference sessions, this area offers a more informal, dynamic environment where attendees can experience the future of lubricants and functional fluids up close.
Each session includes:
- 15-minute sponsored presentations from emerging and established innovators
- 5-minute audience Q&A, encouraging direct interaction and insights
- A live stage setting, ideal for product reveals, demonstrations, and rapid-fire pitches
- Seating for approximately 40 attendees — perfect for meaningful engagement in an intimate setting
Whether you’re scouting new technologies, seeking solutions, or simply curious about where the industry is headed, the Discovery Theatre is your gateway to what’s next. Sessions are open to all attendees and offer a fast-paced format that fits into any schedule.
Presenting Companies Include:
Day 1
10:30 – 10:50 | Kuraray
High-Performance and Cost-Effective Additives for Lubricants and Grease
Junya Takai, Assistant Manager
Kuraray has commercialized various polymer-based additives for lubricants and grease. SEPTON™, Kuraray’s hydrogenated styrene block copolymer, and KURARAY LIQUID RUBBER, liquid type polymer without diluent oil, are lubricant additives with high thickening efficiency, low-temperature performance, and improved shear stability for high-performance and cost-effectiveness. Applications include engine oils, specific gear oils, hydraulic fluids, and various types of grease. This presentation covers the advantages of using Kuraray’s products in model formulations.
11:00 – 11:20 | Texaco
Delo 600 ADF – Rethinking Ash: Driving Efficiency Beyond the Engine
Chris Van Geeteruyen, OEM Tech Services Specialist Europe & Gianfranco Adamo, Lead Sales Representative
Ash build-up in diesel particulate filters is a hidden contributor to fuel consumption, maintenance and downtime. Learn how advances in lubricant technology are helping operators reduce DPF-related challenges, improve efficiency and maximise equipment availability.
11:30 – 11:50 | Cargill
Balancing performance, efficiency and bio-based content: the innovation behind Priolube™ 3982
Andrea Giannini, Senior Account Manager Lubricants
As industrial gear oil manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve efficiency, extend equipment life and increase renewable content, innovative formulation approaches are becoming increasingly important. This presentation will introduce Priolube™ 3982, an 83% bio-based high-viscosity ester developed for industrial gear oil applications. Attendees will learn how Priolube™ 3982 can help reduce thickener requirements, improve efficiency through lower traction and friction, and maintain durability through shear stability, enabling the development of high-performance gear oils with increased renewable content.
12:00 – 12:20 | Uncountable
AI Data Strategy: Future-Ready Foundation & Pitfalls to Avoid in Lubricant Innovation
Dr.-Ing. Sebastien Röcken, Machine Learning Solution Consultant
Learn from both wins and challenges to understand what it really takes to integrate AI effectively into lubricant formulation and development. Gain practical strategies for building the structured, high-quality data foundation that powers predictive modeling and automation across additive selection, base oil chemistry, and performance testing. Discover how data-driven R&D accelerates formulation discovery, boosts innovation, and creates a lasting competitive advantage in the lubricants industry.
13:30 – 13:50 | Sonneborn (An HF Sinclair Brand)
SonneCircular™ – Breakthrough Circular Innovation by Sonneborn (An HF Sinclair brand)
Dr. Sander Engelsma, Manager Technology
White mineral oils and natural petroleum sulfonates are valuable components in lubricants, specialty fluids and other high value applications. These components are traditionally produced from virgin petroleum-derived base oils. We explored the use of re-refined base oils (RRBOs) as circular feedstocks for the production of white mineral oils and natural sulfonates. Despite the distinct impurity profile of RRBOs, including elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels, high-purity white oils and natural sodium sulfonates were successfully produced. The results demonstrate the potential to extend circularity in new and practical ways while reducing product carbon footprint.
14:00 – 14:20 | Lyfx.ai
AutoGraph: AI-native concept engineering
Dr Andre Moreira, Co-Founder and Managing Director
Early-stage engineering is still highly manual: process concepts are developed slowly, assumptions are difficult to trace, and valuable knowledge remains buried in past projects. AutoGraph applies AI agents to support this phase of engineering work. Its tools can turn Process Flow Diagrams into structured process descriptions, generate and compare concept alternatives, and produce early capital-cost estimates with transparent assumptions and calculations. Developed together with industrial practitioners and already used in real engineering projects, AutoGraph is designed not to replace engineers, but to help them explore more options, reduce repetitive work and make better decisions earlier.
15:00 – 15:30 | Plan.Grow.Do
Beyond the Blend LIVE… AI and how customers and businesses are responding
Steve Knapp, Plan Grow Do
Rob Taylor, Plan Grow Do
Egor Parienko, Global Sales Manager – Heavy Duty, Wolf Oil
Ian Lloyd, Export Sales Director, Delta Fluid Technology
Rafe Britton, Technical Director, Lubrication Expert
Day 2
10:30 – 10:50 | Shell
Reinvention in Rhineland
Daniel Bernicke, Project Manager, Lubricants
In this session, explore how Shell is bringing together advanced engineering, supply chain strength and lower-impact driven production to meet the evolving needs of the lubricants industry. Learn about the transformation of the Wesseling site at Shell’s Energy and Chemicals Park in Rhineland. The site is transforming to produce Group III base oils, used to make high-quality lubricants such as engine and transmission oils, as well as electric vehicle fluids and cooling fluids.
11:00 – 11:30 | Lubrizol
From Process to Storage: End-to-End Rust Prevention Solutions
Callum Dorward, Industrial Product Manager – Metalworking
Metal components face corrosion risks at every stage of their journey, from manufacturing and inter-process handling to shipment and long-term storage. This session will explore how integrated metalworking and rust preventive technologies, including Lubrizol’s proven solution portfolio, can work together to deliver continuous protection, improve operational efficiency, reduce rework, and help manufacturers safeguard part quality throughout the value chain.
11:30 – 11:50 | ChainCraft
Turning agri-food residues into lubricant additives
Kristan Rus, Sr. Business Development Manager
What if agri-food residues could become high-performance lubricant building blocks? Discover how ChainCraft produces high-purity medium-chain fatty acids for synthetic ester lubricants through a unique mixed-culture fermentation process that upcycles agri-food residues. And learn how these renewable building blocks combine technical performance, a lower carbon footprint and a stable European supply, while exploring their potential across a range of lubricant applications.
12:00 – 12:20 | Eralytics
New Ways to Gain Insights into Lubricants and Base Oils using FTIR Analysis
Thomas Feischl, Director of Business Development
Discover the future of on-site lubricant monitoring in this presentation on the “eraspec oil – The professional FTIR for lube oil analysis.” from eralytics. We’re introducing three groundbreaking innovations: a revolutionary triple-cell geometry featuring a 500 µm cell to drastically lower detection limits; a next-generation chemometric MLR model that enables, among other things, interference-free water quantification; and an automated spectral fingerprinting system for immediate oil analysis. Learn how these innovations bring unmatched, lab-level precision right to your loading dock.
13:30 – 13:50 | Eastman Chemical Company
Multi-functional amine additives in metalworking fluids (MWF)
Sérgio Santinha, Account Manager Water Treatment & Specialty Additives EMEA
Discover how advanced amine combinations can enhance the performance of modern metalworking fluids. This presentation highlights the role of Synergex™ additives and MDEA in delivering improved pH stability, corrosion protection, and longer fluid life.
Explore practical formulation concepts across low, medium, and high oil systems, designed to meet evolving regulatory requirements while maintaining excellent emulsion stability and multi-metal protection. Join us to see how tailored amine strategies can drive next-generation MWF performance.
14:00 – 14:20 | Neol Copper Technologies
More Than Oil: What Lubricants Should Deliver to the People Who Use Them
Fireside chat with Stuart Oliver, Martin Oliver Transport and Team Oliver Racing and Rafe Britton, Lubricant Expert
Want to Present?
We have limited sponsored speaking slots still available. If your company has something exciting to share with a targeted, engaged audience of decision-makers, the Discovery Theatre is the place to be. Get in touch with the form below to reserve your slot.
