Lubricant sales and marketing maven Maura Schreier-Fleming will give the keynote address at the first-ever Petroleum Quality Institute of America Summit, coming Sept. 14 to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. A longtime lubricants expert with Mobil and Chevron and now head of the training and consulting firm Best@Selling, she will share the Secrets of Selling Value Over Price, as part of a targeted program that will cover quality assurance, lubricant sales trends and technical specifications, product labeling claims, and regulators growing scrutiny of sub-standard lubricants in the marketplace.
Other industry experts will zero in on the trends for the largest segments in the automotive lubricants marketplace, while PQIA itself will review the test results of aftermarket engine oil and transmission fluid samples it has examined over the years. There also will be a panel discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to air their concerns about product quality and explore solutions.
This will be the first in a series of regional Lubricant Quality Summits aimed at bringing together lubricant manufacturers, distributors and marketers, installers and regulators around the United States, said PQIA President Thomas F. Glenn. Although we have made significant progress in cleaning up the lubricants market, there is still work to be done to protect consumers from off-spec products and help to ensure a level playing field, he noted.
The conference agenda will highlight the importance of having the right lubricant technologies available and the increased need to maintain product quality and integrity through the supply chain. Topics include:
Passenger car motor oils. Lubrizols Martin Birze will focus on changes in the North American vehicle population, their diverse performance requirements, and a view on how industry is responding (including OEM-specific requirements such as General Motors Dexos 1).
Heavy-duty motor oils. Shawn D. Whitacre of Chevron Lubricants, who chaired the ASTM panel that developed the API CK-4 and FA-4 engine oil upgrades, will explain how these freshly minted categories serve the needs of the latest diesel engines and existing fleets – and their critical differences.
Automatic transmission fluids. Afton Chemicals Ian Macpherson will deliver an overview of an ATF aftermarket where its imperative to get the right fluid into the right transmission every time. Hell pinpoint the pitfalls in labeling and logistics, while also revealing some overlooked opportunities.
The daylong conference will be held Sept. 14 at Lubrizol Corp.s headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, preceded by a networking reception on the evening of Sept. 13 in Cleveland. Delegates also have an opportunity to tour the additive companys lubricant testing and learning facilities on Sept. 13 (pre-registration required). Registration for the entire event is $275 ($325 after Aug. 31), with further discounts for PQIA supporters and groups. Website: www.pqiasummit.org.