Keynote Speakers announced for LUBMAT 2006 Conference and Exhibition The European Conference on Lubrication Management and Technology (LUBMAT) will take place on 14th - 16th June 2006 at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Engineers from across Europe will meet to discuss how to increase profits through higher reliability, increased efficiency of machinery and the use of best practice in the storage and use of lubricants. LUBMAT 2006 has attracted top quality, international speakers to present keynote addresses. They are: * Richard Atkinson, head of Application Engineering, Kluber Lubrication GB , UK will focus on Mechanical Dynamic Test Equipment for Evaluation and Development of Lubricating Greases. * Bob Cutler, general manager, Alcontrol Robertson Oil Testing Laboratory (formerly part of Robertson Research International ), UK will discuss The Case for Oil Condition Monitoring. * Dr Ramon Gallifa, commercial manager, Fuchs Lubricantes, S.A., Spain will talk on Industrial lubricants and Market Trends. * Prof. Martin Priest, Jost professor of Engineering Tribology, University of Leeds, UK will consider The Lifecycle of a lubricant in an Automotive Engine. * Prof Joze Vizintin, Centre for Tribology and Technical Diagnostics (CTD), University of Ljubljana, Slovenia will examine Additive Reaction Mechanisms on Coating Surfaces. The meeting is organised by the University's Jost Institute for Tribotechnology, in association with Fundacion Tekniker of Spain. Poor lubrication practices cost UK companies hundreds of millions of pounds every year in failed machinery, factory downtime, and lost production. This conference will bring together practising engineers and researchers to examine the latest technologies that can increase plant availability and increase profits. Topics to be covered include: * Improvement of production reliability. * Lubrication maintenance practices. * Plant lubrication-related failures. * Quality assessment of fuels and lubricants. * Condition monitoring. * Technologies for the production of synthetic oils, greases and solid coatings. * Lubrication technology (bearings, transmissions, seals, etc). * Fluid lubricants, Greases and Solid lubricants. * Use of lubricant additives. * Lubrication in special environments. * Environmentally friendly lubricants. * Lubricant testing. The conference will run for three days, and will attract engineers from across Europe, particularly from the UK and Spain. The director of the Jost Institute, professor Ian Sherrington said: 'A staggering economic loss results from the inappropriate use of lubricants. This is a major opportunity for engineers to develop their understanding and improve the reliability of their factories and plants. We are very fortunate to have such a prestigious collaborator in Fundacion Tekniker, and look forward to welcoming engineers from across Europe, in particular from Spain, to discuss how the suppliers of lubricants and lubrication experts can help users to catch up with the latest developments and save money.' The managing director of Tekniker, Alejandro Bengoa said: 'Lubrication represents an enormous economical impact: It has been estimated that approximately half of all the energy produced is used to overcome friction problems and that almost half of all the products manufactured in industrialised countries are produced to replace worn out products. The calculated direct costs for friction and wear in an industrialised nation has been estimated to be 7% of the GNP and good practise in lubrication plays a key role in decreasing these expenses. UK has been a pioneer country working in lubrication and tribology, and our collaboration with the Jost Institute represents an excellent opportunity to share our industrial experiences in lubrication management and technology.'