Interview with Jean-Pascal Borde, Managing Director of IKV Tribologie

Everything runs smoothly

Lubricants are among those products that enhance the quality of finished products, reduce maintenance costs and protect the function of any material as best as possible. They are used in a vast number of industries, with the automotive industry and its suppliers showing a huge interest in high-performance lubricants which can be adapted to diverse industrial ap-plications. For 20 years now, IKV Tribologie has been designing and manufacturing lubricants in line with its experience in tribology. The company’s products are exported to an interna-tional customer base.

IKV Tribologie specializes in cus-

tomized solutions designed to

meet individual customer speci-

fications. “Our high-performance

lubricants even work in harsh con-

ditions. Just take the fabrication of

a car tyre, for instance, that has to

withstand extreme temperatures.

We operate in a niche market, but

we clearly have the knowledge of

industrial technologies, material

specifications and quality criteria.

These, as well as price, define our

outstanding position in lubricant

manufacturing,” says Managing

Director Jean-Pascal Borde.

IKV Tribologie focuses on industrial

manufacturing processes and

maintenance applications as well

as applications in the automotive

sector aimed at improving comfort.

An example are noise-damping

greases which control motion and

noise in addition to their wear-

reducing function. The company’s

range of automotive interior trim

coatings are also designed to re-

duce squeaks and rattles in the

vehicle interior. Automotive solu-

tions generate 40% of the com-

pany’s turnover. In 2014, turnover

reached nine million EUR. With the

opening of a second production

hall, IKV Tribologie expects capac-

ity and sales to rise.

The company, with 28 staff mem-

bers at its French sites plus an-

other 15 people at its international

distribution branches, has earned

the respect of industrial custom-

ers and the automotive equipment

sector in particular. “We serve the

likes of Faurecia, Valeo, Magna,

Johnson Control and others. This

customer group really appreci-

ates our approach and our ability

to recommend the best-suited

lubricant for each application,”

says Mr. Borde. “Customers are

constantly asking for a more so-

phisticated production, which has

indeed become our driving force.

This is why we are pushing new

developments that match the exact

requirements of our customers.”

The company was founded in

1995 by Mr. Borde, who holds a

50% share in his company. “We

are highly export oriented, boast-

ing an export rate of 50%,” points

out Mr. Borde. Since 2005, IKV

Tribologie has operated sales of-

fices in the United Kingdom and

Turkey. Only in 2013, it strength-

ened its presence in Europe when

it opened new offices in Germany

businessEURO

PEAN

IKV Tribologie is a leading manufacturer of high-performance lubricants

For bearings, the company offers customized prod-ucts to ensure life-long lubrication

IKV TribologieZ.I. de la gare 26260 Saint-Donat-sur-l’Herbasse France

+33 4 75450645 +33 4 75452809

mailbox@ikv.fr www.ikvtribologie.com

in 2013 and in Italy in 2015. “Our

products are 100% manufactured

in France. Our international sales

offices enable us to be near our

customers, most of them local

OEMs,” adds Mr. Borde.

IKV Tribologie’s lubricants, includ-

ing oil, paste, grease and dry film,

resolve even the most difficult

situations in various environments

and are used for bearings, gears,

chains and other industrial com-

ponents. The company operates a

technical division for customized

product development and quality

control as well as a fully-equipped

R&D laboratory with a special fo-

cus on tribology and materials re-

search. “If required we can custom

design a product within a month.

In addition, we even manufacture

in small series, whereas many

large manufacturers only handle

large quantities.”

In December 2015, IKV Tribologie

opened a second production site

near its headquarters. “The new

site allows us to repatriate product

manufacturing that has been lo-

cated elsewhere. For instance, the

process of saponification and the

production of greases, amongst

others, will move back to our

premises. We are going to have

100% of the production in our

hands,” says Mr. Borde. “This will

improve quality and our ability to

deliver.” ❙

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PEAN

IKV Tribologie’s lubricants improve tightness, absorption, protection and noise reduction