Face to face: Jeff Holmstead
Jeff Holmstead has been the US Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation since the beginning of the Bush administration. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate he is now responsible for the US EPA office that deals with all issues relating to air pollution control, global warming and radiation protection. He recently took time out of his busy schedule to talk to Randall Evans, Market Development Manager and Martin Meyers, Marketing Communications Specialist of Infineum USA LP, about his views on emissions trading and other Government initiatives, which aim to improve the quality of the air we breathe.

Industry issues: Uncharted waters - New marine component achieves significant lubricant feed rate reduction whilst maintaining wear protection
Over 700 delegates from all walks of the shipping industry gathered at the 24th CIMAC world congress on combustion engine technology in Kyoto to hear papers on a wide range of subjects. Infineum's Large Engine Technology Team presented papers on 'The Development of Marine Diesel Cylinder Lubricants (MDCLs)', 'The Lubrication of Medium-Speed Engines - Problems and Solutions', and 'Systemic Lubrication - Delivery of Performance Through Fuels and Lubricants'. Posters on 'Undercrown Deposit Mechanisms in Medium-Speed Engines' and 'Improving the Reliability of Gas Engine Operation' were presented in Infineum's hospitality suite. Insight examines the findings of the paper presented by Terry Garner, Marine and Large Engine Lubricant Additive Technologist of Infineum UK Ltd, on the field trials performance of a new marine oil designed to address the desire to reduce oil feed rates and the need to deliver adequate protection to the cylinder liners.

Industry issues: Advanced technology compromises reliability - TMC works to improve the reliability of North American heavy-duty diesel engines
In the 48 years since its formation, members of the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) have seen significant improvements to the heavy-duty engines that they rely on to make a living. However, the introduction in 2002 of new hardware, designed to help meet more stringent environmental legislation, has been seen by many as a backward step as far as reliability is concerned. Rick Finn, Global Product Manager Infineum USA LP, asked TMC Technical Director Robert Braswell to give Insight readers an understanding of the issues faced by his members.

Industry issues: Going, going, going…. - Increased diesel complexity impacts refinery economics
We are about to see some of the most significant changes to the composition of European diesel fuel for over twenty years. In January 2005 legislation will be introduced to reduce the level of sulphur right across Europe to 50 ppm while existing European legislation allowing up to 5% biodiesel in diesel fuel will further increase fuel complexity. Insight highlights the upcoming changes and assesses the impact that process changes refiners will have to make to handle these more complex fuels will have on the fuels they produce.

Industry issues: Specifications update - PC-10 and ACEA 2004
Insight looks at the progress that has been made since its last report on PC-10 in March and the issues that still remain to be resolved before the PC-10 category can be implemented. And, as the pace of development of the new Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles (ACEA) specifications increases as the target release date of October 2004 approaches Insight outlines the progress on both heavy duty diesel specifications and the passenger car sequences.