Interview with Thomas Ruehle, Senior Technical Manager at BASF

Friday, 6 May 2022

You have worked at BASF for over 11 years and are currently the Technical Service Manager for Lubricants and Basestocks, please explain your role within BASF and the wider lubricant industry?

I am responsible for major development projects for international customers. Besides many lab tests, these projects require an intensive relationship with the OEM´s in order to tailor formulations and obtain the most current approvals with regard to industry standards. Since 2017 I also lecture every winter semester at the University of Applied Science in Mannheim.  The lecture is titled “Physical and Chemical Aspects of Lubricants”. Besides that, I am also a supervising bachelor, master and PhD theses of the students. At the University’s center for tribology, I support as a member of the technical advisory board and am involved with several other technical committees, like the ATC or DIN. Over the past 11 years, I have held more than 50 tribology related presentations at different seminars and conferences and, together with other colleagues, I have contributed a chapter about biolubricants to the third edition of Rudnicks textbook “Lubricant Additives: Chemistry and Applications”.

What are your career highlights from the many years you have worked within the lubricant/tribology industry?

On the business side: The successful completion of complex long-term development projects with major oil companies in the areas of sustainable marine and hydraulic oils. For BASF this has resulted in a very robust financial contribution. On the educational side: Starting the new lecture “Physical and Chemical Aspects of Lubricants” for mechanical engineers at the University of Applied Science Mannheim in 2017. Covering chemical, physical and engineering aspects make this quite a unique format in Germany.

Can you tell us about any projects that BASF are involved with that are potentially exciting for the lubricant industry?

Currently we are intensively working on the development and qualification of lubricant components for electric vehicles. We also are looking into biolubricants based on components which are partially or completely renewable and biodegradable. This includes base stocks, lubricant additives and polymeric thickeners. In terms of finding new solutions for the challenges of the marine sector, we are looking into innovations which will be addressing the latest regulatory requirements, as for example, the sulfur cap.

BASF’s corporate purpose is to “create chemistry for a sustainable future”, please can you explain how BASF are achieving this goal?

At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future.

What attracted you to becoming an advisory board member for Lubricant Expo and what are you looking forward to seeing at the show?

It is a great honour to be part of a group that comprises established experts and veterans of the lubricant industry.  I am very much looking forward to contributing to the program with regard to the latest developments which have an enormous impact on the future of our industry, for example, electromobility and sustainability.

What do you think are the benefits of attending Lubricant Expo for both exhibitors and attendees?

Besides excellent technical presentations, the Lubricant Expo offers great networking opportunities with the long-standing experts and companies in the industry while at the same time allowing participants to foster their business.