Empowering our customers to perform more sustainably

"We empower our customers to perform more sustainably" is the guiding principle to which we are committed in the area of sustainability. We are convinced that the key to greater sustainability lies in making our company and, above all, our customers more efficient. And we are constantly amazed ourselves at the levers we can identify at our customers to realize a more sustainable performance and the potential that lies in the topic.

Sweatpants, cars, dummies, coffee, packaging in any case and much more – products have to be environmentally friendly. Lubricants too. Mostly, the focus is on the CO₂  balance during production, a low consumption of energy and raw materials. However, a study by FUCHS and BASF has shown that the decisive factor is a holistic analysis of the entire life cycle of a product. Three FUCHS hydraulic oils that were used for 8,000 hours in a crawler excavator were examined. The result: the simple hydraulic oil has the best CO₂ footprint during production. But the more energy-intensive premium fluid scores so highly in application that it is ultimately the significantly “greener” and overall lowest-emission alternative.

Good lubrication means friction reduction, which increases component life and reduces energy consumption. When our lubricant know-how meets the engineering expertise of our customers, real added value is created. One example is a joint project between FUCHS and a mechanical engineering company focusing on bearings. Thanks to the expertise of all those involved and their trusting exchange, it was possible to develop a taper roller bearing grease for regional trains that achieves several effects at once: Due to friction-reducing properties, the operating temperature and bearing wear are reduced, and the running performance in the application as well as the service life of the component are increased. Good for the user and good for the environment.

Less weight, less fuel consumption, fewer emissions –why lightweight construction is considered one of the key technologies for a sustainable future is obvious. Carbon fibre-reinforced (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) are gaining in importance, especially in automotive and aircraft construction. The new A350 of our customer AIRBUS, for example, already consists of 52 % of these fibre composites. We have developed a water-miscible high-performance cooling lubricant for their wet machining. Integrating new materials into established production processes in an uncomplicated way? That’s our easiest exercise.

Throwaway economy? That was yesterday. Nowadays, it is important to use materials and products for as long as possible, to repair and refurbish them. An intelligent circular economy uses less raw materials and energy and thus causes fewer CO₂ emissions and less waste. This applies not only to smartphones, water bottles or T-shirts, but also to lubricants. With special services, FUCHS is increasingly supporting its customers in using them efficiently and sparingly. Through the targeted selection of renewable raw material sources, the extension of product service life and the return of used materials to the value chain, we are working on entering a sustainable circular economy. This not only protects the environment immediately but also keeps FUCHS competitive in the long term.