Mastering Machinery Lubrication
Attend these exclusive, free workshops for Lubrication, Reliability and Maintenance professionals at Lubricant Expo Europe 2026!
Build the knowledge needed to improve machine reliability, reduce lubrication-related failures and prepare for ICML MLT, MLA and MLE certification.
Taking place over three days, these expert-led workshops give attendees a practical foundation in lubrication fundamentals, contamination control, oil analysis, wear mechanisms and lubrication engineering. It is designed for professionals who want to improve their technical understanding, strengthen their plant lubrication programmes and prepare more effectively for ICML certification.
Led by Michael D. Holloway, 5th Order Industry, the workshops combine technical instruction, practical case studies, certification guidance and exam-style questions to help attendees apply what they learn immediately in the workplace.
❗️Limited availability – only 30 spaces per session. Don’t miss out – register now 👇
📍Workshop Location: Hall 10 – Room 10.1
About Michael D. Holloway
Michael D. Holloway is an author, engineer, and chemist known for his work in lubrication, reliability engineering, and professional training. He is the president of 5th Order Industry and has also been an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Michael established 5th Order Industry as a global leader in competency development for certification training, specialising in customised learning modalities.
Tuesday 15 September | 09:00 – 10:00
Lubrication Fundamentals
Understand the essential principles of machinery lubrication and why machines fail. This opening session covers the major failure modes, the role of lubricants in reducing friction and wear, and the fundamentals of lubricant types, base oils and additives.
Topics include:
- Friction, wear, heat, contamination and corrosion
- What lubricants actually do
- Mineral oils, synthetic oils, greases and specialty lubricants
- Base oil groups I–V
- Key additives including anti-wear, extreme pressure, antioxidants, rust inhibitors, demulsifiers, detergents and dispersants
- Certification-style practice questions
Tuesday 15 September | 10:15 – 11:15
Lubrication Application and Reliability
Learn how to select and apply lubricants correctly across common industrial systems. This session focuses on the practical decisions that influence machine reliability, including viscosity selection, lubrication methods and application-specific requirements.
Key Topics:
- Selecting the correct lubricant
- Viscosity, speed, load and temperature
- Splash lubrication, circulating systems, oil mist and automatic lubricators
- Bearings, gears, hydraulic systems, compressors and turbines
- Certification-style practice questions
Tuesday 15 September | 11:30 – 12:30
Contamination Control
Contamination is one of the leading causes of premature equipment failure. This session explains how to control particles, water, air and process contamination through better storage, handling, filtration and cleanliness management.
Key Topics:
- Particle contamination
- Water contamination
- Air and process contamination
- Lubricant storage and handling
- Transfer containers and filtration
- Breathers and cleanliness targets
- ISO 4406 cleanliness codes
- Reliability impact and practical case studies
- Certification-style practice questions
Wednesday 16 September | 12:30 – 13:30
Oil Analysis Fundamentals
Oil analysis is one of the most powerful tools for identifying equipment problems before failure occurs. This session gives attendees a practical foundation in sampling, testing, data interpretation and trend analysis.
Key Topics:
- Why oil analysis works
- Sampling locations and sampling frequency
- Interpreting oil analysis data
- Viscosity, TAN, TBN, water and particle count
- ICP, PQ, ferrous density, FTIR, RPVOT, MPC and RULER
- Alarm limits and trend analysis
- Practical case studies
- Certification-style practice questions
Wednesday 16 September | 13:45 – 14:45
Wear Mechanisms and Failure Analysis
Develop the ability to recognise common wear mechanisms and understand how lubrication issues contribute to machine failure. This session connects wear debris, bearing failure, gear failure and oil analysis data to real-world reliability outcomes.
Key Topics:
- Adhesive, abrasive, corrosive and fatigue wear
- Cavitation and electrical damage
- False brinelling and fretting
- Bearing failure modes
- Gear failure modes
- Wear debris analysis
- Industrial case studies
- Certification-style practice questions
Wednesday 16 September | 15:00 – 16:00
Lubrication Engineering
Explore the engineering principles behind advanced lubrication decisions. This session introduces key concepts used in machine lubricant engineering, including film thickness, elastohydrodynamic lubrication, heat transfer and lubrication system design.
Key Topics:
- Viscosity selection
- Elastohydrodynamic lubrication
- Film thickness and bearing life
- Heat transfer and fluid dynamics
- Lubrication system design
- Reservoir and filtration design
- Lubricant consolidation
- Engineering case studies
- Certification-style practice questions
Wednesday 16 September | 16:15 – 17:15
Building a World-Class Lubrication Programme
Learn how to turn lubrication knowledge into a structured reliability programme. This session focuses on practical implementation, including routes, procedures, KPIs, workforce development and the return on investment from better lubrication practices.
Key Topics:
- Lubrication excellence
- Lubrication routes
- Preventive maintenance development
- Lubrication procedures
- Oil analysis integration
- KPIs and performance tracking
- Workforce development
- Certification pathways
- ROI of lubrication
- Industrial case studies
Thursday 17 September | 10:30 – 12:00
Certification Preparation Boot Camp
The final session focuses on preparation for ICML MLT, MLA and MLE certification. Attendees will review the differences between the certifications, common exam themes, typical mistakes and practical test-taking strategies.
Key Topics:
- MLA: what to expect
- MLT: what to expect
- MLE: what to expect
- Common exam mistakes
- Test-taking strategy
- 50-question mock examination
- Answer review and open discussion
What’s Included?
Attendees will receive:
- 200+ page workshop workbook
- Lubrication body of knowledge map
- MLT preparation guide
- MLA preparation guide
- MLE preparation guide
- Practice examination
- Lubrication reference charts
- Viscosity selection charts
- ISO cleanliness guide
- Certificate of completion