What to Expect from the Lubrication Industry in 2026: Top 3 Trends
As we head into 2026, the lubrication industry finds itself evolving faster than at any point in the last decade. Pressures from sustainability targets, advances in electrification, and a shift toward data-driven reliability are reshaping how lubricants are designed, delivered and managed.
Below, we explore three big changes to expect in 2026 – and what these shifts mean for manufacturers, maintenance teams and lubrication providers.
1) Lubrication-as-a-Service Becomes the New Normal
The biggest transformation in 2026 will be the continued shift away from selling lubricants purely as a consumable and toward service-based, subscription-style models where uptime, performance and monitoring are bundled into a single offering.
For example, instead of selling just the lubricant, companies like Pure Lubrication are offering an ongoing package that includes a continuous supply of lubricants and services to monitor performance, condition, replacements, analytics and reporting.
Why this is happening
- Unplanned downtime remains one of industry’s largest hidden costs – interruptions on major assets can exceed £50,000–£150,000 per hour depending on the sector.
- More companies are embracing proactive maintenance strategies, and lubrication is a natural place to integrate remote diagnostics and predictive analytics.
- IoT sensors for temperature, viscosity, particle counts, and water ingress have become more accessible and accurate, making continuous monitoring practical for a wide variety of machinery.
What this will look like in 2026
- Contracts built around performance guarantees, not litres purchased.
- Standard packages that include lubricant supply, condition monitoring, sample analysis, automated alerts and engineering support.
- AI-driven analytics predicting lubrication-related failures weeks in advance.
- KPIs shifting to uptime, energy efficiency gains, and extended lubricant life — not cost per litre.
The numbers behind the trend
- By late 2026, an estimated 30% of industrial lubrication contracts in the UK are expected to include some form of monitoring or performance-linked element.
- Companies adopting condition-based lubrication strategies typically report 20–35% reductions in unplanned downtime.
What businesses should do
- Evaluate whether your lubrication programme could benefit from ongoing monitoring.
- Benchmark current downtime and lubrication-related failures to quantify the upside of a service-based model.
- Look for suppliers offering integrated dashboards, automated alerts and regular reporting.
2. Sustainability and Circular Lubricants Move to Centre Stage
2026 marks a turning point: eco-performance is no longer a niche requirement — it’s becoming standard in procurement specifications and OEM approval lists.
Key sustainability forces driving the shift
- Stricter waste-oil handling rules and rising disposal costs.
- Corporate ESG targets requiring reductions in carbon intensity and waste generation.
- Growing preference for lubricants that last longer, degrade more cleanly, or use recycled base-stocks.
- Increased reliance on renewable energy assets, where environmentally safe lubricants are often mandatory.
What’s emerging in 2026
- Re-refined base-stock blends gaining mainstream acceptance and appearing in more OEM-approved lists.
- Biodegradable and bio-synthetic lubricants expanding into construction, marine, forestry and renewable sectors.
- Lubricants marketed with verified carbon-footprint figures per litre.
- Extended-life lubricants reducing the number of oil changes by 25–50%, cutting waste oil and labour.
Statistics to watch
- The UK market is expected to see 20% of new industrial lubricant tenders requiring recycled or circular content options by the end of 2026.
- Companies switching to extended-drain synthetic industrial oils have documented 40%+ reductions in annual waste oil volumes.
What businesses should do
- Audit your current lubricant usage to identify waste-reduction opportunities.
- Ask suppliers for lifecycle impact data — from production through disposal.
- Consider switching high-turnover lubricants (hydraulic oils, gear oils, compressor fluids) to long-life or circular alternatives.
3. Electrification Brings New Lubrication & Thermal-Fluid Challenges
The rise of electric vehicles and electrified industrial systems is reshaping lubricant demand — not by eliminating lubricants, but by changing where and how they are used.
Why electrification matters for lubricants
- EVs reduce demand for traditional engine oils, but increase demand for e-drive fluids, thermal-management liquids, and high-speed gear lubricants.
- Electrified machinery (AGVs, robotics, automated warehouses) uses lubricants differently — with higher RPMs, tighter tolerances, and unique thermal loads.
- Battery systems require specialised coolants with specific dielectric properties to prevent electrical shorting while dissipating heat.
What’s happening in 2026
- Growth in e-drive lubricants designed to handle high rotational speeds and electrical insulation requirements.
- Expansion of thermal-management fluids for batteries, power electronics, and EV charging infrastructure.
- New OEM specifications emerging for lubricants that must meet both tribological and electrical requirements.
- Increased demand for lubricants in the renewable sector — especially wind turbine gear oils and speciality greases that support long drain intervals.
2026 by the numbers
- Lubricant demand for electrified applications is expected to grow 15–20% year-on-year across Europe.
- Traditional engine-oil demand is forecast to decline steadily as EV adoption climbs, but industrial and specialty fluids will grow correspondingly.
What businesses should do
- Review whether your equipment mix is shifting toward electrified systems.
- Ensure your lubricant choices meet the dielectric and thermal needs of newer technologies.
- Work closely with OEMs and suppliers to stay ahead of evolving fluid specifications.
The Outlook for 2026
The lubrication industry in 2026 is more data-driven, more sustainability-focused, and more intertwined with electrification than ever before.
The key takeaway?
It’s no longer just about selling or selecting a lubricant – it’s about managing performance, reliability and environmental impact over the entire life of a machine.
Organisations that embrace this shift will reduce costs, improve uptime, and stay compliant with evolving environmental standards. Those that don’t may find themselves chasing the market instead of leading it.
How can Pure Lubrication Help?
- Lubrication-as-a-Service: A Perfect Fit for Our Managed Solutions
The move toward service-based lubrication aligns exactly with the way we support customers.
Industry trend
Companies are shifting away from buying lubricants as a commodity and toward integrated, performance-based solutions with continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance.
How we support it:
✔ Full lubrication management services
✔ Scheduled oil sampling & lab analysis
✔ Condition monitoring (wear metals, water, particle count, viscosity)
✔ Remote dashboards & reporting
✔ Optimised drain intervals & reliability engineering
The Brands for You
We supply Quaker Houghton’s industrial fluids – advanced formulations backed by global process-expertise.
We also offer a full range of Lubrication Engineers (LE) products, including:
- High-performance industrial oils and greases designed for extended equipment life
- Oil filtration and contamination-control solutions such as the Xtract™ line of sampling hardware and portable filtration units
- Reliability tools – including colour-coded storage systems, breathers, and transfer containers to maintain lubricant integrity
We install and support SKF lubrication systems and equipment – from automatic greasing systems to data-enabled bearings and precision lubricant delivery units.
By combining high-performance lubricants with real-time data and expert support, we help customers reduce downtime, cut lubricant waste, and improve equipment lifespan.
- Sustainability & Circular Lubricants: Built Into Our Product Strategy
Industry trend
Organisations are demanding lower-carbon lubricants, biodegradable options and longer-life oils that reduce waste and total cost of ownership.
How we support it:
✔ Supply of circular & re-refined-base-stock lubricants
✔ Biodegradable & food-safe lubricants for sensitive sectors
✔ Long-life synthetic lubricants to reduce change-outs by 25–50%
✔ Waste-oil reduction planning & documentation
✔ Energy-efficient lubricant recommendations
We help customers meet ESG targets without compromising performance or reliability.
The Brands for You
Lubrication Engineers (LE) plays a major role in meeting sustainability requirements, offering lubricants and reliability products designed to reduce total consumption, extend equipment life, and minimise environmental impact
- Monolec® and Duolec® oils designed for extended drain intervals in gearboxes, compressors, and hydraulics
- Almasol® and Quinplex® greases offering exceptional film strength for longer bearing life and reduced re-greasing frequency
- LE engine and turbine oils engineered for oxidation resistance and long-running reliability
- LE oil filtration, breathers and contamination-control equipment that keeps lubricants cleaner for longer, further extending service life
SKF lubrication systems complement these lubricants with precise, automated delivery systems that reduce over-lubrication and maintain consistent performance.
- Electrification & New-Generation Lubricants: We’ve Expanded Our Portfolio
Industry trend
Electrification is reshaping lubricant demand: EVs, robotics, renewables and automation require specialised fluids such as e-drive oils, dielectric coolants and advanced greases.
How we support it
✔ Thermal-management fluids for electrified systems
✔ High-speed gear oils for robotics, AGVs and electric machinery
✔ Wind turbine gearbox oils & extreme-performance greases
✔ OEM-approved e-drive lubricants
✔ Specialist engineering support for new equipment specifications
The Brands for You
With SKF we supply advanced lubrication equipment tailored for rotating electrical machines and e-mobility applications – including high‐precision bearings, sensors and automated lubrication systems.
Our technical team ensures every customer gets the right lubricant for emerging technologies as well as more dated machinery.
Why Customers Choose Us in 2026
✔ Independent, expert lubrication partner
✔ Full-service support from selection to sampling to optimisation
✔ Tailored recommendations based on real equipment data
✔ Access to premium lubricants across leading brands
✔ Exceptional customer service
Whether you’re navigating sustainability targets, adopting new electrified equipment, or aiming to reduce downtime, we’re here to support your lubrication strategy for 2026 and beyond.
