Leeds, UK – Industrial lubricant specialistQ8Oils has strengthened its UK-based sales team with the appointment of Scott Shields as area sales manager for the metal manufacturing sector in Scotland. A sales, marketing and recruitment professional in the manufacturing and high-technology sectors for over 19 years, Scott joins the company with a proven track record in the oil and gas sector, including high-level divisional and managerial roles.
Commenting on his new position, Scott believes that his experience has prepared him for this position and that capitalising on skills such as new account development through industry contacts and networking, will help him make a positive contribution to the Q8Oils sales team. “I have built strong working relationships that have lasted for a number of years thanks to working closely with clients to help satisfy their requirements by identifying the appropriate product or service at a mutually-beneficial cost.” says Scott.
Scott will be responsible for developing and retaining new and existing accounts and ensuring that agreed financial volume targets are achieved.
Commenting for Q8Oils, direct sales manager Jeremy Dineen says: “Scott has a real understanding of the territory both geographically and financially, which is imperative to maximise profitability within the dedicated area. With the plans we have in place for the short- to medium-term future, Scott’s broad experience in the oil and gas sector levels will provide him and us with real opportunities.”
Scott’s appointment follows a recent restructuring of Q8Oils’ UK operations, which has allowed the company to further expand its business and provide a long term commitment to the manufacturing, automotive and energy sectors.
Leading automotive, industrial and energy solutions manufacturer Q8Oils – a subsidiary of oil giant Kuwait Petroleum Corporation – has signed a distribution and manufacturing licence agreement with South Africa-based Blue Chip Lubricants Pty Limited. Based in Randburg, Blue Chip’s role as sole importer and distributor of Q8 lubricants in South Africa will also see the company manufacture locally to ensure they can deliver a high level of service and flexibility to their customers.
Commenting for Blue Chip, director Gary Marais says: “All products manufactured locally will be blended under strict Q8Oils quality controls, using its own high quality base oils and additives. In addition, the formulations we use are the same as those used by Q8Oils customers in Europe and North America.”
Established in 1983, Blue Chip Lubricants is a leading independent manufacturer,marketer and distributor of a wide variety of high quality lubricants and greases in South Africa; and has gained a reputation for the production of reliable products and services.
Championing the partnership, Q8Oils regional sales manager Abdulmohsen Homoud says: “When choosing a partner for this region it was essential that we found a high quality blender and a ‘can do’ partner, both technically and commercially. The Q8Oils and Blue Chip partnership is a perfect fit for the South African market, with customers being the ultimate winners.”
He goes on to say that, with Q8Oils’ marketing, manufacturing and research headquarters remaining in Europe, Blue Chip has significant corporate resources to call on whenever they are required.
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For further information contact:
Neil Grieve, brand & communication manager, Q8Oils
Petroleumkaai 7, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
Tel: +44 (0)7824 537816
E-mail: grieve@Q8.comWeb: www.Q8Oils.com
For press information contact:
Simon Cantillion, Cantillion King Advertising
16 The Cornhill, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2JT, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1453 755551 Fax: +44 (0)1453 751525
E-mail: simon@cka.co.uk Web: www.cka.co.uk
Curtiss-Wright Corporation’s (NYSE: CW) Industrial division today announced that it has been presented with the “Supplier of the Year Award 2014 Europe” from Southco Manufacturing, a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of engineered access hardware solutions.
Curtiss-Wright Industrial division’s Senior Vice President & General Manager, Kevin Rayment, said: “We are delighted with the award, which was presented in recognition of an outstanding 100% track record of on time deliveries and zero PPM for the period.”
The award was presented at Curtiss-Wright’s facility in Cwmfelinfach, UK, and related to the Penny & Giles brand of solenoid actuator assemblies.
Commenting for Southco Inc., Director of Global Supply Chain & Logistics, Tony Wood, said: “As a key supplier, Curtiss-Wright has fully earned this award for multiple years of service and quality that has, in turn, enabled us to grow our business. Curtiss-Wright has a proven reputation for responsiveness, pro-activeness and in driving value-added engineering into the supply of Southco’s products.”
Curtiss-Wright Industrial division’s wide range of solenoid actuators and solenoid valves include standard and configurable designs in a selection of solenoid styles. They can also supply modified standard designs to suit specific applications, or unique, custom designs for large scale OEMs. Products are suitable for on- and off-highway applications, including automotive, construction and agricultural vehicles, materials handling and other specialty vehicles; as well as industrial equipment.
Q8Oils has announced a reorganisation of its European lubricants manufacturing following the recent completion of a £100 million investment to upgrade its European blending plant in Antwerp. Having doubled capacity at its Antwerp plant, which is now capable of producing 250 million litres of blended product a year, Q8Oils has moved its UK blending operations to Antwerp and is investing in a new purpose-built UK headquarters in Leeds.
Explaining the changes, UK managing director Andy Dixon stresses that this is a positive step for the UK and that Q8Oils is now focusing on expanding its business in the UK market. “This move is part of our plans for a long term commitment to the manufacturing, automotive and energy sectors and the restructuring includes new headquarters in Leeds that opened on 3rd July.”
Andy also confirms that Q8Oils has announced the appointment of new business partners, IBL Bulk Liquids, Reynolds Logistics, Potters Logistics and Clarke Transport, to manage the company’s bulk storage and pack operations in the UK.
All new UK distribution partners are established experts in packaging and distribution; and the Q8 products delivered will be the same as those already sold in the UK, with products being processed in Antwerp and delivered to Q8Oils’ UK partners.
From its operations on the River Hull and in the Port of Hull, IBL Bulk Liquids will provide Q8Oils with services and facilities for the handling and storage of bulk liquids. They are perfectly located to handle product imports from Q8Oils in Europe and its sites offer excellent connections to the UK road and rail networks. IBL Bulk Liquids offer 120 storage tanks, with a total capacity of around 34,500 cubic metres and handling facilities for road tankers and tank containers.
Operating throughout the UK, Reynolds Logistics provides metered deliveries of lubricants and, using the markets’ largest operational fleet of metered tankers and IBC vehicles based in more than six strategic locations, they are well placed to provide Q8Oils with a fast and efficient delivery service.
Potters Logistics maintains a centrally-managed fleet of articulated and rigid vehicles and will provide Q8Oils with a flexible, cost-effective road freight and transport logistics distribution service from its six distribution centres and rail freight terminals.
Finally, family owned and operated Clarke Transport uses state-of-the-art technology, machinery and vehicles to ensure that the Q8Oils service remains ahead of the field. Based on old-fashioned values of safety, excellent customer service, integrity and reliability, Clarke Transport specialises in transporting sensitive goods for some of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemicals.
Andy Dixon states: “The important message to Q8Oils’ loyal UK customers is longevity and optimisation and, through better utilisation of European assets, the UK business is already creating long-term commitments, including new area sales manager appointments and recently signed major contracts, all of which demonstrate an on-going commitment to the UK.”
Some of the rationalising of the UK business has been influenced through experience gained during a similarly successful merger recently completed by Q8Oils in Scandinavia. Two years ago the expanded Antwerp plant began supplying product to the region and the service proved so successful that Q8Oils was able to merge operations in Denmark and Sweden and supply the entire Scandinavian customer base from there. The move means that Q8Oils is now the largest oil company in Scandinavia and the experienced gained has provided a successful model that has been a useful guide to the UK team.
Q8Oils has appointed Andy Walker, who joins the automotive team as area sales manager for the South of England. Andy has a proven 30-year successful track record in the industry with experience in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, automotive refinishing systems, vehicle components and on board telemetry systems.
Andy has operated throughout the UK & Ireland, opening up new automotive sector opportunities for premium brands such as BMW, Volvo, Renault and ROSPA.
With a diverse lubricant portfolio featuring over 1,000 product/pack options available in the UK, Andy’s role is to focus primarily on the sale of passenger car and heavy-duty diesel engine oils and other related lubricant grades through franchised dealers and specialists in the South of England. He will be prospecting for new business whilst retaining existing customers to ensure that agreed financial and volume targets are achieved. Working closely with technical and sales colleagues in the UK, Andy will also be responsible for making relevant and optimal product recommendations to optimise our profitability in the automotive sector.
“My experience has prepared me for this position and I’m confident that capitalising on skills such as understanding customer needs and developing existing business through industry contacts and reputation, will help to make a positive contribution to Q8Oils.” says Andy.
Q8Oils direct sales manager Jeremy Dineen says: “With the plans we have in place for the immediate future, Andy’s broad and senior level experience in the automotive industry will provide him with real opportunities to use his skills.”
Q8Oils UK technical sales manager Mike Phillips explains the recent developments in specialised lubricants for commercial vehicles and the important role they play in reducing engine emissions and improving fuel economy.
Think of a lubricant like a structure made of concrete and building blocks, where the foundations are so important for maximum strength and durability. With automotive lubricants this is where we start and the major consideration is the base oil as the carrier for additives, which collectively provide the levels of performance necessary for today’s modern vehicles.
For automotive lubricants we start with the base oil or base stock and there are three common descriptions found in the terminology used when products are formulated and later described in technical data or marketing brochures.
The first is Mineral Oil Base Stocks, which are refined from crude oil and feature a wide distribution of chemical structures. Secondly there are Synthetic Base Stocks, which are built from chemical reactions and control over composition and distribution. The third is Semi-Synthetic or Part-Synthetic, which is a combination of mineral and synthetic base stocks in various proportions, blended to achieve the desired level of performance required in the finished lubricant, without incurring any unnecessary cost increase.
Mineral base stocks are still widely used for automotive and industrial lubricants, but performance in certain areas such as low- and high-temperature stability, means they have limited use. This is where synthetic base stocks have become an essential part of today’s modern automotive lubricants. Synthetics possess excellent low- and high-temperature stability and resistance to oxidation, which helps to determine the life of the finished lubricant.
Engine and emission requirements
For many years the automotive industry has been developing new engines to comply with exhaust emission legislations, which become more stringent as the years go by. Road haulage vehicles play a major role in this process and the European industry is now at the Euro VI exhaust emission level. These modern engines are highly-technical and use sophisticated exhaust after-treatment systems to clean exhaust gases.
Automotive engine lubricants play an extremely important role in ensuring the most efficient operation of heavy duty engines both in component durability and extended oil drain intervals, which now exceed 100,000km for long haul vehicles. Synthetic engine lubricants are now in high demand, achieving the levels of performance commonly specified by the OEM’s. Significantly, low SAPS additive technology (Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus and Sulphur) must now be used to ensure compatibility with expensive exhaust after-treatment systems and prevent the poisoning of catalysts. The wrong engine lubricant choice can be a very expensive mistake for the haulier, so the message is: check vehicle maintenance recommendations extremely carefully to ensure you are specifying the correct engine lubricant.
The common engine lubricant specifications recommended by OEMs will include references to ACEA (Europe) and API (USA). Do not ignore these OEM specifications as they are sometimes a requirement in addition to the industry standards for performance quality. Engine lubricant viscosity recommendations to the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standards are now a key requirement, and will be specified according to climatic conditions wherever the vehicle will be used.
Biofuels are becoming more common and, while modern engine lubricants accommodate these fuels, there should be some consideration given to recommendations for users. The general opinion within the European automotive industry recommends halving the oil drain interval if you are not using EN590 fuel.
Fuel economy
Fuel economy is a major influence in the development of vehicles which, for several years, has included engine and transmission systems. A fuel efficient vehicle will not only use less fuel and reduce costs for the operator, but will also help to reduce exhaust emissions and meet legislation limits. Synthetic low-viscosity lubricants play an important role in reducing the internal friction in engine and transmission systems, and therefore have a positive effect on the overall vehicle fuel economy. It is now common for heavy duty vehicles to be using 10W-XX and 5W-XX engine lubricants and 75W-XX transmission lubricants.
Other lubricants and greases
For the hydraulic systems of certain heavy-duty vehicles, improved operating efficiency is now possible by using high VI (viscosity index) synthetic hydraulic fluids, which improve the hydraulic system’s efficiency and in turn, as hydraulic pumps are engine driven, the vehicle’s fuel economy.
Lubricating grease has also developed through the use of synthetic base oil technology, but what is grease?
The definition of grease is a “thickened fluid”, so it is the base oil carrier and additives that perform the lubrication function. The type of thickener specified for the application is there to keep the grease in position.
Modern grease formulations using synthetic base oil technology now deliver greater performance due to improved low- and high-temperature stability and resistance to oxidation. This means a longer operating life is possible depending on the application.
Further information is available from the Q8Oils Technical Help Line, which can assist with product recommendations, OEM approvals, product information, health and safety data, problem solving advice, troubleshooting and highly-specialised after sales packages. These include used oil test analysis, which can give instant diagnostic advice and support if required. Where necessary, laboratory analysis can also be provided to support problem solving, and is backed up with technical reports detailing corrective action.
For further information call the Q8Oils Technical Help Lines on +44 (0)113 236 5223 or email TechDesk@Q8Oils.com.
A telesales service available to Q8Oils automotive customers has provided Brindley Groups 12 Franchised Automotive Dealerships with 3151 confirmed service bookings and 166 MOT bookings in its first year, and resulted in 13,235 litres of additional Q8Oils being sold.
Equally impressive is the increase in profit of more than £370,000!
Founded more than 80 years ago in Wolverhampton, the Brindley Group is the largest family-owned car dealership group in the West Midlands with 12 franchised sites representing Honda cars and motorbikes, Vauxhall, Kia, Nissan, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Volvo and Hyundai.
All Brindley dealerships generate service and MOT bookings through an actively managed customer database using a combination of letters, emails and phone calls, all of which is relatively costly. So when Andy Harris of Q8Oils mentioned the Q8 Telesales service during one of his regular meetings with Brindley Group aftersales manager Darren Nicklin, Darren realised that it could help close a gap between where Brindley’s current customer service sales results were, and where he wanted them to be.
Says Darren: “The service focuses on calling current customers ahead of a scheduled service or MOT, taking time to discuss their ownership experience, and following the conversation by offering our service and MOT facilities and making a booking. And importantly for us, it does not include contacting lapsed customers.”
Darren was impressed enough to agree to a 60-day trial at one of Brindley’s sites and was extremely happy with the results achieved, so much so that he decided to stop the postal campaign, with its high cost and relatively low returns, and rolled out the Q8Oils campaign throughout the group’s 12 dealerships. Reporting on the roll-out Darren says the Group results were also excellent, adding that bookings were much higher, but even more impressive was the quality of the customer feedback, which was very encouraging.
Commenting on specific aspects of the response information, Darren says it highlighted how easy it can be to misunderstand the reasons why customers’ who had bought cars from Brindley didn’t continue as aftersales customers. “With 12 dealerships we were amazed how many new and used car customers had sold their vehicles after the first year and no longer needed our service facilities. We were also surprised how far new car buyers were prepared to travel to get the best deal, and were then choosing to service the cars closer to home rather than make the longer journey to reach us. And we found that many people who had bought used cars were servicing them at independent garages to save costs.”
Data and customer feedback from the programme was entered onto Brindley’s database, and as the telesales service continued the quality of data improved. In addition, Darren believes that, due to skills and training of the people who make the calls, they were actually having conversations with customers and were able to remind them of additional benefits such as Brindley’s collection and delivery service or suggest a more convenient Brindley Group dealership where appropriate.
Also important from a cost viewpoint, they were able to qualify customers who hadn’t responded to the group’s passive emails, texts and letters and who, for whatever reason, no longer qualified to be on the database, which meant that it was continually being cleaned.
Commenting on other benefits to the business, Darren says the Q8 Telesales programme proved that using annual new and used car sales figures to forecast future service and MOT business was flawed as it was based on unreliable information, so while the increase in bookings provided by the telesales calls is impressive, we believe the quality of customer feedback and the information available in ownership profiles has a far greater long-term benefit for the business.
“We now know that the people we are in touch with are genuine customers who have the potential to benefit from the offers we make. It also means that we no longer need to offer service or MOT discounts to customers that we know won’t use us, and it also questions the need to offer similar discounts to committed customers who are already happy with the service we provide.” He adds that in his role as Brindley’s aftersales manager he is now able to monitor the performance of the whole group based on unbiased results from an independent source, which he says gives him a much better understanding of the business.
Following the initial trial, the Q8 Telesales programme is still providing data more than 12 months later, having contacted approximately 50,000 Brindley’s customers and provided quality information and customer response data at no cost. So, if during a service call the customer mentions that a suspension problem needs attention the information is included without charge. Costs are only incurred when the programme provides actual service or MOT bookings, so Darren only pays for results that translate directly into profitable business for Brindley Group, with a typical MOT and service booking costing approximately £12.
The Brindley Group uses its own customer service team to offer activities such as vehicle health checks and brake system safety tests, and Darren says the close working relationship with Q8Oils ensures that customers are not ‘pestered’ by calls from both services and adds that the increases in service and MOT bookings has also generated additional sales of non-oil products through the dealerships.
Summing up, Darren says: “We have been a Q8Oils customer for 10 years and buy all our workshop lubricants from them. And while I accept that they will sell more oil as a result of this excellent customer relationship programme, I still think it is impressive that the service is free to car dealership customers. By helping us to create better relationships with our customers, Q8Oils has also reinforced an already strong relationship with the Brindley Group.”
Commenting for Q8Oils, AndyHarris says the first year result is impressive and proves that the Q8Oils’ customer relationship programme is extremely successful because customer data is current and accurate, and includes qualitative as well as quantitative information.
For further information on the Q8 Telesales Service, visit www.Q8Oils.co.uk, email Marketing@Q8Oils.com or call +44 (0)113 235 0555.
