When Q8Oils launched its Field Service Technician (FST) service at the MACH exhibition in 1992 it was an instant hit with visitors and was so well received in the wider industry that, at METCUT 1994, it received the Metalworking Production ‘Technical Innovation’ award. Now, more than twenty years on, Q8Oils marks the success of FST’s unrivalled service to the UK manufacturing industry with the launch of QCare – a major upgrade of the system that monitors the condition of Q8Oils metalworking fluids and lubricants in a wide range of applications such as turning, cutting and grinding.
The new QCare service uses a network-enabled, tablet-based system with a bespoke ‘app’ that enables Q8Oils field service technicians to monitor fluids, complete their audits and deliver results while still on site. In addition, because FSTs are highly trained metalworking experts, when working with machine operators they may also be able to identify problems as their checks are completed, and help to rectify them.
A visual inspection and a variety of tests are conducted to ensure Q8Oils products are performing correctly. These include standard fluid parameters such as concentration, pH and microbiological content. They also offer advice that can help customers increase coolant life and optimise performance resulting in improved machining processes and reduced machine down time.
Customers can also logon to the QCare system using their own tablet or desktop computer, and view a full historical report at any time, and share it with colleagues.
In the past twenty years the FST system has moved from a ‘paper’ system requiring everything to be written down and multiple copies made, to an advanced and automated ‘traffic-light’ system that identifies conditions as Green (normal), Amber (caution e.g. adjust fluid concentration) or Red (immediate action required). As direct sales manager Jeremy Dineen explains: “The new QCare system is very much easier to operate, fully-automated and therefore much quicker, and will create a graphic chart to show a full history of any individual machine.” He adds that the new system is very compact, much more user-friendly on site, and allows data to be distributed instantly.
The combination of Q8Oils’ highly-trained field service technicians and modern tablet technology enables customers to streamline their metalworking operation by maintaining machine performance and saving significant costs. Regular monitoring can limit unscheduled costs by reducing man and machine down time to routine service stops, and saving unscheduled maintenance.
Leading oil and lubricant manufacturer Q8Oils is to sponsor Tom Wood, the highly successful 12 year old junior Kart racer from Castle Donington, who races for the Aim Motorsport Cadet team. The sponsorship will include funding for the season’s race entry fees and other team expenses.
His Karting successes in 2013 included 3rd in the National Cadet kart championship, which was a very close points finish - coming down to the last race. He was 3rd place overall and highest placed Young Driver in the British Cadet Kart Championship 2013 with only a couple of points between the first three drivers, Vice GP Plate Champion in the British Kart Grand Prix, Vice O Plate Champion in the IAME Cadet O Plate. He was also Top Rookie in both Championships. Another highlight of Tom’s career to date is winning the 2012 Trent Valley Kart Club Championship, which put his name on the same Trophy as his hero World Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton. Not surprising, Tom’s own ambition is to become a Formula One world champion and he will be competing around the United Kingdom in the British Cadet kart Championship, which is acknowledged as the road to Formula One.
Tom first drove a kart in 2005 and loved it immediately. At Kartmania in 2007 the new Bambino school was being launched in 2008 and he could compete in petrol karts in the next year. A second-hand Bambino kart as a Christmas present opened another chapter in Tom’s karting life, and the Wood family made the first of many trips to Buckmore Park in Kent for the newly organised Bambino race meetings.
Tom contested the Bambino rounds through 2008 and 2009 – becoming the most successful Bambino racer at Buckmore, winning 12 out of 18 rounds in 2009 and being on the podium 17 times.
He then moved into MSA cadet racing, competing in five races as a novice before being allowed to have a full race licence. In these early meetings he won three first place novice trophies!
2010 saw him finish all three championships well up the order: with a 5th place at – Rissington, 6th at Shenington, 7th at Whilton Mill, and the highlight of the year – winning the most promising cadet trophy at the Shenington awards evening.
In 2011 it was time to move up to National Competition. Tom entered the Formula Kart Stars British championship racing for SAS motorsport. This was a big jump from the club meetings and he was now competing with much more experienced drivers up to five years older than him. The result? As always Tom pushed hard and finished as the highest placed young driver in the final championship standings. He also competed in the Shenington Club championship finishing in 3rd place overall, with many podium finishes. At the end of 2011 he signed for the top cadet team in the country – Fusion Motorsport and in 2012 competed in the Formula Kart Stars (FKS) championship. Still signed with Aim Motorsport Cadet Team, Tom is top seed for 2014, and the rest as they say is history.
As well as karting, Tom also enjoys a wide range of interests including cycling, swimming, football, hockey, running and music, but admits that his favouring next to Karting is watching Motorsport: especially F1, V8 Supercars and Motor GP.
Commenting on his Q8Oils sponsorship he says: "I am delighted to have backing from such a prestigious global company as Q8Oils. It is a fantastic opportunity and I would like to thank the company for its support. I am looking forward to what will be a very exciting season ahead together." He also repeats the promise he makes every season “I only race to win”.
