After careful consideration and customer engagement, innovative lubricant solutions supplier Fuchs Lubricants South Africa launched the TITAN FT1 Flex C23, the TITAN CARGO MAXX II and the TITAN Adblue at this year’s Automechanika Johannesburg event, held in September.

“Our decision stemmed from conversations with customers, a process we are deeply passionate about. Our extensive national sales team, constantly interacting with customers, received numerous requests for these products. We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for customers, and to honour this commitment, we decided to explore this new avenue,” explains Fuchs sales director Andrew Cowling.

He tells Engineering News that the company “values quality above all else and refused to compromise”, which led to Fuchs’ conducting thorough research, spanning about a year, to identify the ideal product and determine the right price points.

The TITAN GT1 Flex C23 is an upgrade of the company’s TITAN GT1 Flex 23 that offers “substantial fuel economy characteristics”, particularly for hybrid vehicles.

However, apart from this specific application, it is applicable to 75% of the car parts used in South Africa.

“It is an exceptional product and a big seller, so this upgrade is just enhancing its approvals and giving it a wider scope than it had before,” says Cowling.

The original TITAN GT1 Flex 23 includes American Petroleum Institute SP certification, which “is a great selling point that will make it attractive to an even wider range of vehicle types and users”, he adds.

The TITAN CARGO MAXX II is upgraded with added benefits such as increased fuel economy and extended drain intervals.

A staple of the Fuchs range for over a decade, it now also has an upgraded approval matrix and enhanced performance.

“We really want to highlight it as our premium heavy-duty engine oil,” Cowling avers.

TITAN Adblue is a new exhaust after-treatment product offered by Fuchs as part of its total solutions approach. It fills a market void, aligning with the company’s commitment to provide customers with a comprehensive range of products.

“We offer everything from engine to transmission oils, cleaners and coolants. Whatever the customer needs from a lubricants and grease perspective, we have it,” he enthuses.

Fuchs’ stand at the Automechanika event featured a fully functioning half-cut engine and a half gearbox cut-out so that visitors could see the company’s range of products in action.

“It was a great practical demonstration of all our products and it is what we use for customer and staff training,” Cowling comments.

Co-located with Futuroad Expo, Automechanika Johannesburg is a professional event for the truck, bus and commercial vehicle industry.

For passenger vehicles, the company’s offering spans across workshops and retail outlets.

“Our product range is extensive, and a major draw for customers is our ability to cater to every application. This feature is what sets us apart. Regarding the new products, these primarily involve general improvements and the reintroduction of items from our existing portfolio,” Cowling emphasises.

Fuchs Fortitude

Cowling laments the lubricants industry’s having to grapple with “formidable obstacles” caused by post-Covid disruptions in supply chains in 2022, which, in turn, resulted in severe shortages and significant cost fluctuations, owing to scarce raw materials that were difficult to source.

However, in 2023, this challenging environment began to ease, with raw materials becoming more accessible and costs stabilising.

“Although the market appears relatively subdued, compared with that of the previous year, opportunities still exist, and despite these difficulties, Fuchs exhibited remarkable resilience and innovation, launching new products and continuing to forge partnerships with customers, showcasing its ability to thrive in the face of adversity,” Cowling concludes.