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Lubricants are indispensable

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James (Jim) Holden, PE, Technical Director, Energy and Engineered Solutions, and Lisa Marston, Regional Technical Service Engineer, Cortec Corporation, discuss how lubricants play a crucial role in maintaining efficiency, preventing breakdowns and supporting sustainable practices in industrial operations.

What role do lubricants play in the lifespan of any machinery?
Holden: Any manufacturer of rotating equipment will specify the type of bearing and the type of lubricant to be used in their machinery. The main functions of the lubricant are to minimise friction between stationary and moving components and to extend the life of these components by preventing excessive wear and premature failures.

Which are the key areas in any machinery that should be protected by the grease or lubricants?
Holden: Anytime there is relative motion between two pieces of metal, such as bearings and shafts, a lubricant should be used. There are generally three categories of lubricants – lubricating oils, lubricating greases, and general-purpose penetrating lubricants. Each of these has different applications.

Tell us about your products that offer corrosion prevention in machinery. What makes them unique?
Marston: Cortec has products that serve various needs in lubricating systems. One major category of products is oil additives with contact and vapor phase corrosion inhibitors that are designed to provide enhanced corrosion protection in addition to the lubricating oil itself during long term storage and intermittent operating conditions for gearboxes, steam turbines, pumps, etc. Cortec also offers greases that are formulated with vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, some of which are derived from renewable resources. Additionally, Cortec manufactures general purpose lubricants with corrosion inhibitors that can be used on valve bushings, fasteners, and packing glands, as a few examples. The addition of contact and vapor phase corrosion inhibitors in these products ensures consistent corrosion protection throughout the equipment, even when components may not be in direct contact with the lubricant.

How often should lubricants of any kind be changed for effective functionality?
Holden: OEMs and/or lubricant suppliers will recommend operating cycles, how often to inspect the oil, and what tests to run to ensure the oil is healthy for continued operation of their equipment. As part of day-to-day operations, it is also typical to try to minimise the water content in the oils
through purification.

How can sustainability be incorporated in lubrication systems?
Marston: The two major ways that come to mind include:
1. Extending the life cycle of your oil and your equipment to avoid wasted capacity of the assets. This can be done by keeping the oils and systems clean, monitoring the health of the oils over time, and inspecting the equipment on a routine maintenance schedule.
2. Using environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors and lubricants where possible. Cortec offers several biobased products including EcoLine CLP, a multi-functional penetrant/lubricant made with 89 per cent USDA certified biobased content, and EcoLine Biobased Grease powered by Nano-VpCI which contains 86 per cent biobased content and is formulated from vegetable oils.

What are the advancements made in the field of lubricants that can positively impact productivity of heavy machinery?
Lubricants are indispensable for maintaining smooth machinery operation and preventing costly breakdowns. By reducing friction between moving parts, they minimise wear and tear, extending the lifespan of equipment. Additionally, lubricants absorb shocks, dampen noise, and mitigate corrosion, ensuring optimal performance even in challenging environments. With less friction comes reduced heat generation, further safeguarding against damage and enhancing overall efficiency. In essence, the strategic use of lubricants not only facilitates seamless operation
but also safeguards against unplanned downtime and unexpected expenses. We are looking forward to continued development of biobased and biodegradable alternatives to traditionally petroleum-based products, which are safer for handling and the environment.

Concrete

Molecor Renews OCS Europe Certification Across Spanish Plants

Certification reinforces commitment to preventing microplastic pollution

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Molecor has renewed its OCS Europe certification for another year across all its production facilities in Spain under the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) voluntary initiative, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The renewal underlines the company’s continued focus on preventing the unintentional release of plastic particles during manufacturing, with particular attention to safeguarding marine ecosystems from microplastic pollution.

All Molecor plants in Spain have been compliant with OCS Europe standards for several years, implementing best practices designed to avoid pellet loss and the release of plastic particles during the production of PVC pipes and fittings. The OCS-based management system enables the company to maintain strict operational controls while aligning with evolving regulatory expectations on microplastic prevention.

The renewed certification also positions Molecor ahead of newly published European regulations. The company’s practices are aligned with Regulation (EU) 2025/2365, recently adopted by the European Parliament, which sets out requirements to prevent pellet loss and reduce microplastic pollution across industrial operations.

Extending its sustainability commitment beyond its own operations, Molecor is actively engaging its wider value chain by informing suppliers and customers of its participation in the OCS programme and encouraging responsible microplastic management practices. Through these efforts, the company contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 ‘Life below water’, reinforcing its role as a responsible industrial manufacturer committed to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.

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Coforge Launches AI-Led Data Cosmos Analytics Platform

New cloud-native platform targets enterprise data modernisation and GenAI adoption

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Coforge Limited has recently announced the launch of Coforge Data Cosmos, an AI-enabled, cloud-native data engineering and advanced analytics platform aimed at helping enterprises convert fragmented data environments into intelligent, high-performance data ecosystems. The platform strengthens Coforge’s technology stack by introducing a foundational innovation layer that supports cloud-native, domain-specific solutions built on reusable blueprints, proprietary IP, accelerators, agentic components and industry-aligned capabilities.

Data Cosmos is designed to address persistent enterprise challenges such as data fragmentation, legacy modernisation, high operational costs, limited self-service analytics, lack of unified governance and the complexity of GenAI adoption. The platform is structured around five technology portfolios—Supernova, Nebula, Hypernova, Pulsar and Quasar—covering the full data transformation lifecycle, from legacy-to-cloud migration and governance to cloud-native data platforms, autonomous DataOps and scaled GenAI orchestration.

To accelerate speed-to-value, Coforge has introduced the Data Cosmos Toolkit, comprising over 55 IPs and accelerators and 38 AI agents powered by the Data Cosmos Engine. The platform also enables Galaxy solutions, which combine industry-specific data models with the core technology stack to deliver tailored solutions across sectors including BFS, insurance, travel, transportation and hospitality, healthcare, public sector and retail.

“With Data Cosmos, we are setting a new benchmark for how enterprises convert data complexity into competitive advantage,” said Deepak Manjarekar, Global Head – Data HBU, Coforge. “Our objective is to provide clients with a fast, adaptive and AI-ready data foundation from day one.”

Supported by a strong ecosystem of cloud and technology partners, Data Cosmos operates across multi-cloud and hybrid environments and is already being deployed in large-scale transformation programmes for global clients.

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India, Sweden Launch Seven Low-Carbon Steel, Cement Projects

Joint studies to cut industrial emissions under LeadIT

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India and Sweden have announced seven joint projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the steel and cement sectors, with funding support from India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Swedish Energy Agency.

The initiatives, launched under the LeadIT Industry Transition Partnership, bring together major Indian companies including Tata Steel, JK Cement, Ambuja Cements, Jindal Steel and Power, and Prism Johnson, alongside Swedish technology firms such as Cemvision, Kanthal and Swerim. Leading Indian academic institutions, including IIT Bombay, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT Hyderabad, are also participating.

The projects will undertake pre-pilot feasibility studies on a range of low-carbon technologies. These include the use of hydrogen in steel rotary kilns, recycling steel slag for green cement production, and applying artificial intelligence to optimise concrete mix designs. Other studies will explore converting blast furnace carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide for reuse and assessing electric heating solutions for steelmaking.

India’s steel sector currently accounts for about 10–12 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions, while cement contributes nearly 6 per cent. Globally, heavy industry is responsible for roughly one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and consumes around one-third of total energy.

The collaboration aims to develop scalable, low-carbon industrial technologies that can support India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070. As part of the programme, Tata Steel and Cemvision will examine methods to convert steel slag into construction materials, creating a circular value chain for industrial byproducts.

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