Molydal: the winning choice for bio-based lubricants

When and how did the MOLYDAL story begin?

“We sell industrial lubricants for maintenance as well as for the manufacture of a certain number of products,” Thierry Vidal, key account manager at Molydal, explains. ” Our range of products is divided into 3 categories: greases and assembly pastes; oils for cold metal processing (stamping, cutting, machining…) and all products used for the maintenance of industrial equipment, such as degreasers, aerosols, lubricants… We also offer equipment for the removal of our lubricants. ”

A few years ago, whereas the price of the barrel of oil does not cease climbing, the CEO, Jean-Louis Pauphillat, decides to look for vegetable alternatives to the petroleum products, “to ensure the perenniality of the company and our supply in raw material” Thierry Vidal remembers. “We then joined B4C and turned, via our R&D department, to plant innovation.”

5 projects submitted, 3 selected

With the support of Bioeconomy For Change, Molydal will set up 5 innovative projects “of which 3 have been selected and subsidized at 50% by the State!” The first project concerned a lubricant for metalworking. The second on a lubricant for the gate chains of hydroelectric dams. The third, on a grease for the presses used in the manufacture of wood pellets. For the three developed projects, the benefits are notable “as well in term of image as in term of performances” Thierry Vidal continues. “For our customers, using ecologically acceptable products is a real plus, especially at a time when ecological and health awareness is becoming more and more pronounced. They were therefore very quickly interested in our innovative products.”

Especially since, and Thierry Vidal recognizes that it was an unexpected surprise: “some of the products developed from plant resources have proven to be more efficient than petroleum-based products. So, even if the prices of our products remain higher at the time of purchase, our customers benefit because they will consume less, and indirect costs such as waste treatment or wear and tear on industrial tools will also decrease. ”

“This path to biobased has helped us a lot in boosting our R&D and business approaches. We are convinced that there will be more and more biosourced products. We made the good choice” Thierry Vidal concludes.