We enjoyed catching up with Mikael Kruse ahead of Lubricant Expo Middle East to discuss the markets he sees offering the greatest growth potential, and the career journey that led him to his role as Group Product Manager at Axel Christiernsson International.
Read on to learn more about Mikael and where he believes the lubricants industry is heading.
Mikael, could you share your professional journey and what led you to your current role as Group Product Manager at Axel Christiernsson International?
I joined Axel Christiernsson in 1995, starting out as a chemical analyst where I focused on quality control and extended product testing. After learning the details of testing I moved into investigative work, trying to find out failure modes of greases and help customers understand how to adjust towards better lubricating solutions. Building on these experiences, I moved into the role of grease development engineer in 1997, dedicating 16 years to developing new products and improving existing formulations. This part of my career was very exciting and rewarding since I started to understand the potential of the different product types and that innovative greases was achievable.
In 2013, I became the product manager for industrial greases, utilizing my technical skills to assist both internal and external customers while building on my understanding on technical and commercial requirements.
What are your primary responsibilities as Group Product Manager, and how do you balance global product strategy with regional market needs?
As the product manager for industrial greases, I am responsible for maintaining and expanding our range of industrial greases at Axel Christiernsson. My work also include providing technical support to clients and colleagues, as well as delivering education about anything related to greases to internal and external customers. I now have 30+ years of experience but I still find lots of opportunities to learn and get better. This is an important and fun aspect as I need to understand how to ensure product quality, drive innovation, and get customers successful regardless of the area that is targeted.
The fundamentals for successful grease lubrication are relevant everywhere and this means that many parts of the global product strategy are relevant in all regions. However, since details may differ aspects like chemical legislations, equipment for grease application, grease knowledge and know how, traditionally used products, to name a few, differ greatly. This means that we must adapt our offering of products, services and education to meet the demands in the specific regions. Here we find challenges common to all regions as well as specific ones per region. In addition to this having a private label business model means that we need to have an offering that suits a wide array of customers.
What steps can lubricant, and grease manufacturers take to support circular economy principles in the Middle East and Africa?
Achieving full circularity with lubrication greases is very difficult. The main reason being the severe degradation of the products at the end of its useful life since no commercially viable recycling method have been established. There are, however, opportunities to improve sustainability, such as by increasing the use of re-refined base oils (RRBO) and incorporating additives dissolved in RRBO within grease formulations. This means reduced reliance on virgin raw materials which in turn lowers the carbon footprint of the product.
The primary function of grease is to reduce friction and maintain equipment performance over time. However, how the grease is used and disposed of do also have an effect on sustainability of the grease. This means that the contribution of grease to sustainability depends on its application and usage context. In application types where most of the grease is released into the environment, the ability to biodegrade easily along with low toxicity is essential for a sustainable solution. For high-consumption applications where grease can be collected after use, a low carbon footprint is important. In applications with little to no re-lubrication the grease needs to be able to provide sufficient lubrication for a long time. Here it is essential that friction is minimized to achieve a sustainable solution. In reality, these categories often overlap, requiring a thorough understanding of the specific lubrication context to optimize sustainability.
Lubricant Expo moves the lubrication industry forward on several fronts. They provide a dynamic meeting place for people who work with, are enthusiasts or depend on lubrication to connect.
Looking ahead, which specific markets or industries in the Middle East and Africa do you see offering the greatest growth potential?
The Middle East and Africa are entering a phase of accelerated transformation. Among the growth sectors we find some that are expected to have direct implications for the lubricant industry: renewable energy, smart cities, agriculture technology, and logistics.
Renewable energy such as solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects all require specialized lubricants for turbines, compressors, and high-efficiency gear systems. Additionally, they may be operating under very variating conditions. As these sectors expand the demand for more advanced and environmentally friendly lubricants are expected to rise.
Smart cities integrate automated transport systems, high-speed rail, and IoT-enabled infrastructure. Regardless of smartness everything that moves needs lubrication to be efficient and components like electric motors, robotics, and precision machinery, all depend on reliable lubrication.
In advanced agriculture modern farming equipment such as drones, smart irrigation pumps, and autonomous tractors presents additional requirements for lubricants to handle. Lubricant longevity, variable climates and heavy-duty cycles are some examples of additional challenges for greases and oils to sort out. We expect that the growth in mechanized agriculture across Africa will significantly increase lubricant consumption in this segment.
Finally, logistics and trade facilitation will drive demand for lubricants in heavy machinery, cranes, and fleet vehicles. Increased investments in ports, transport corridors, and automated handling systems are expected for both regions. This will also influence the lubricant industry as we need to target new as well as established areas.
Why are events like Lubricant Expo Middle East important for your industry?
Lubricant Expo moves the lubrication industry forward on several fronts. They provide a dynamic meeting place for people who work with, are enthusiasts or depend on lubrication to connect. These events allow people to talk to specialists, vendors, customers and end-users to build relations and tackle challenges together. The opportunity to form new connections, share ideas, discuss common challenges, and collaborate on solutions is important to progress in the industry.
Equally important are the educations offered by these expos. The depth of lubrication knowledge varies both within the industry and among the wide array of users. As greases are only a small part of the lubrication industry this is knowledge about these types of lubricants, where understanding of grease properties, how select products for the tasks, and how to handle products is crucial but often misunderstood. By providing platforms for technical seminars, product demonstrations, and workshops, these events help to increase knowledge and understanding on many important aspects in the grease industry.
Another area of interest is the opportunity for companies to showcase their latest products, technologies, and services. In regions targeted for business expansion, presenting what your company offers can raise brand awareness, attract new customers, and initiate strategic partnerships
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Mikael Kruse on stage at the Lubricant Expo Middle East, where he will speak in the session: Carbon Footprint Reduction and LCAs of Lubricants and Greases on Thursday 22nd January, 10:30am – 11:30am
View the full agenda here
