Research and Product Development

The Research and Development (R&D) work for Gulf Oil International is an important part of the resurgent Gulf Brand proposition around the world.

The strategies for today's R&D are decided and recommended by the Global Technical Team after taking into account market and technical trends from Gulf marketers and customers, notably the machinery manufacturers at the forefront of product development, around the world. The Global Team prioritises the R&D projects, and the new product targets, in order to meet the imminent needs of the market.

Also, Gulf companies in many countries contribute to product development and assist the Global Team as they strive to cater for the specific local market requirements, especially in the field of industrial oils and specialties.

This approach strategy ensures that the global developments are translated to the local needs as quickly as possible in a cost effective manner, and takes every advantage of Gulf's presence in different markets across the globe.

The core of Gulf's technical team is currently based in Europe and India. Frequent contact is maintained with the world's most highly qualified and experienced lubricant /fuel technologists and tribologists who have at their disposal state of the art laboratories with exhaustive analytical instruments and testing facilities. The trends set by the major vehicle and engine manufacturers, the OEMs, are carefully monitored and in responce the Gulf Research team regularly contact these OEMs and strive to quickly develop new products to meet their ever-changing needs.

Most of the Gulf R&D personnel are qualified and experienced lubricant specialists and oil monitoring analysts, (e.g. with degrees conferred by the Society of Tribologists and Lubricating Engineers, USA). The bulk of the laboratory analysis and test work is carried out at Gulf's own state of the art analytical laboratory situated at Silvassa, India.

In addition, Gulf also utilizes the services of the basic testing and research facilities of the other Group companies; for example, the Engine Testing Facilities of Ashok Leyland. In some cases Gulf will use the services and testing facilities offered by many reputable testing institutes all over the world.
Gulf Oil International strives to perpetuate the long tradition of product innovation which has been built up over the last hundred years. For example, Gulf technologists introduced the first synthetic lubricant molecule (poly-alpha-olefin) and once led the world with high technology quenching oils and fire resistant hydraulic fluids. More recently, and with a focus on the environment, Gulf has developed products which control insect pests on crop leaves without use of toxic insecticides and with the minimum environmental impact.

Customers who turn to Gulf for their oil and lubrication solutions can be confident that there is a long pedigree of expertise which continues today, bringing to them new and improved products for their vehicle's or business needs.

The research and development work for Gulf Oil International is carried out in a tiered system. The strategies for the R&D are decided and recommended by the Global Technical Team from its three-business blocks viz. Americas/ Europe/Africa, Middle East and the Asia Pacific.

These are based on the market feedback received from the local operating companies. The R&D findings of the Global Team are then adopted to suit the local requirements. In the second tier the local companies also carry out their R&D with the help of the Global Team to cater to its specific local market requirements, especially in the field of Industrial Oils and specialties.

This tiered strategy ensures that the global developments are translated to the local needs as quickly as possible in a cost effective manner as Gulf operates in different markets across the globe.

 The R&D is driven from the UK/ USA, Middle East and India where world's most highly qualified and richly experienced lubricant/fuel technologists and tribologists have at their disposal state of the art laboratories with exhaustive analytical instruments and testing facilities.

In addition to these own laboratories Gulf also utilizes the services of the basic testing and research facilities of the group companies. For e.g. Engine Testing Facilities of Ashok Leyland and research laboratory of IDL Limited. Gulf also uses the testing facilities offered by many reputed testing institutes all over the world.

Most of the personnel are certified lubricant specialists and oil monitoring analysts, inline to the degrees conferred by the Society of Tribologists and Lubricating Engineers (USA). The bulk of the testing work is carried out at the state of the art analytical laboratory situated at Silvassa, India where the latest testing and analytical instruments are available at the disposal of very highly qualified chemists and engineers.

The basic core standards guiding the R&D philosophy are:

• Biodegradable Lubricants- Environment concerns
• Re-Cycling and Re-usability of petroleum products
• High Temperature and High Performance Automotive Lubricants
• Specialty products
• Lubricants for unconventional fuels and gases

Gulf Oil International has direct linkage to the formulation and analytical experience of Gulf over last hundred years and the present scientists and formulators to develop the specialty and Industrial products utilize this experience.

It is a well-known fact that in the earlier days that it was Gulf that developed the first synthetic molecule, Poly Alfa Olefin, high technology quenching oils and fire resistant hydraulic fluids.

Gulf Oil is known as a complete lubricant professional giving Industry the technological solutions for their lubrication needs. Gulf works closely with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), developing and offering products to their exacting needs. This is reflected in their approval list where Gulf appears as one or one of the few branded oils approved by them.