Posted to News on 16th Feb 2016, 15:40
Millers Oils developing nanotechnology oils for industry
Millers Oils is developing a range of low-friction nanotechnology oils specifically designed for industrial applications. Originally developed for motorsport, Millers Oils' nanotechnology product, called Nanodrive, has more recently been used widely in passenger cars, classic cars and in the commercial vehicle sector, reducing the friction between engine components and, in turn, improving component life, reducing wear and tear and boosting performance.
Millers Oils intends to take its nanotechnology expertise and apply it to industrial applications, specifically industrial gearboxes, compressors and hydraulics.
Martyn Mann, Technical Director at Millers Oils comments: "There is a longstanding product development path that leads straight from motorsport into industry and we believe that nanotechnology can make a similar leap. I can confirm that it is our intention to launch a Nanodrive-type product into industry in the near future once suitable real-world testing has taken place."
Nanotechnology works by using nanoparticles, which act like millions of ball bearings, smoothing out the surface roughness of metal parts used in machine components, in turn reducing friction which has a detrimental effect on machine life and productivity.
The move is driven by Millers Oils belief that increased pressure to demonstrate reduced energy consumption, particularly on machines with industrial gearboxes, could drive industrial equipment users to consider using nanotechnology-based oils as a way of reducing costs. Martyn says: "We intend to start with industrial gears and compressors, but there is no reason why nanotechnology-based oils cannot be used in much wider industrial applications."
Martyn confirmed that Millers Oils' own laboratory testing demonstrates that there is a market for nanotechnology oils in industry. He says:"In the laboratory we are getting circa 30-50 per cent improvement in component wear on the test rigs and we believe that a circa 10 per cent improvement in energy efficiency might be achievable, but I would caution that these are only tests and they are ongoing."
Millers Oils's Nanodrive product has a long history of success in motorsport and in 2009, won the World Motorsport Symposium Most Innovative Product Award, beating opposition McLaren and Williams.
Martyn notes: "Oil is all-too-often taken for granted by industry, but our experience of other sectors suggests that it can have a major contribution towards increased energy efficiency and reduced wear and tear. The obvious place to take Nanodrive next is into industry."
For further details about low-friction nanotechnology oils please visit the website at www.millersoils.co.uk.
