Teamwork

25 October, 2016

In terms of product development, Draper pointed out that it’s never a case of finalising the formulation, blending the oil, launching it to market and moving onto the next project. “A large part of my job and that of our global support teams is to follow the progress of the products in the field to ensure it is performing well in operation,” he said.

 Close liaison

Draper added that it is also about keeping close to the OEMs in order to understand their needs and those of their customers before new equipment or specifications are finally released commercially. “In this way we can be ready to provide the very best fluid fit for the application. In the case of the new Bosch Rexroth RDE 90245 fluid rating list, the requirements are made available to the industry prior to publication, so we can be in a position to respond. Shell Tellus S2 MX is the first product to be listed that is available today in all the major global markets. So, I believe it is important to have this type of ongoing discussion taking place at all stages of development and deployment in order to be able to work most effectively together.”

The precise nature of the relationship between Shell and an OEM customer will always depend on individual circumstances and the individual companies involved, explained Draper. “For example, they may share a draft specification under a confidentiality agreement and ask us how realistic and achievable we believe the project to be. Basically, it’s all about constructive dialogue between technical personnel on both sides in order to ensure as best as possible that the fluids provided will offer maximum performance from the outset. In summary, it’s really about teamwork between the OEM and hydraulic fluid provider.”