Matthew Joyce Corporate Senior Vice President and President, Lubricants & Specialties HF SINCLAIR
Can you tell us about the trends in demand you are seeing from your mining clients?
We are seeing a growing demand for environmentally friendly products, such as renewable diesel, as our clients increasingly seek solutions that improve uptime, reduce operational costs, and support their sustainability goals. At Petro-Canada Lubricants, we focus on developing solutions that offer high performance, longer drain intervals, and reduced waste. Our Technology team in Mississauga, Ontario, plays a critical role in formulating these solutions. For example, the industry-leading technology utilized in our PRODURO TO4+ UHP transmission drivetrain oil was designed to perform well across a wide range of temperature extremes, eliminating the need for seasonal oil changeouts. This innovation enhances equipment life, reduces waste and improves performance. A two-year trial demonstrated its ability to meet industry specifications while delivering cost savings and extending equipment life by up to 6%. This success highlighted how we can deliver sustainable solutions using hydrocarbon-based technologies, reducing waste in the long term. Although lubricants represent a small portion of their overall spend, they have a significant impact on the success of mining operations, particularly in terms of uptime and reliability.
What can Ontario's mining sector expect from Petro-Canada Lubricants in 2025?
One of the main things for 2025 is our continued commitment to service and supply. Reliable service and supply is incredibly important to the mining industry. In addition, we continue to focus on the development of next-generation technology. This includes working directly with mine operators, OEMs and other industry stakeholders to incorporate new chemistries into our product line, in order to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Our goal is to provide solutions that offer higher performance, longer drain intervals, and more sustainable operations, all while maintaining a total cost of operations that is equivalent to or less than it is today.
John Davidson VP, Head of Capital Sales North America FLS
Can you provide an update on FLS' activities in Canada?
We recently simplified our brand from FLSmidth to FLS, aligning with what our clients have been calling us for years. In 2023, FLSmidth acquired Morse Rubber, an Iowa-based company specializing in heavy-duty rubber products, particularly for mineral processing. Morse Rubber added advanced molding capabilities for rubber and composite mill liners, as well as screen media and various rubber and rubber ceramic wear components, to the existing FLSmidth service offerings.
FLS has expanded our service capabilities by opening a new Service Centre in Wabush, Newfoundland. This is in addition to the existing Canadian Service Centres in Timmins, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta.
What are FLS’ clients seeking from its solutions?
For major players in the industry, the key focus is on improving productivity efficiency and maintaining low costs, even amid high commodity prices. The environment is also of concern, and our ongoing MissionZero sustainability program provides the technologies needed to significantly lower emissions, aligning with key political agendas and supporting vital industries. This program has a particular focus on water conservation, tailings management and waste reduction. Demand for our advanced tailings filters has surged in regions like Canada, the US and Mexico.
In addition, we are enhancing slurry pump efficiency with our pumps, cyclones and valves team, aiming for more precise classification cuts within grinding circuits to reduce both power and water consumption. Our flotation technology, including the new Reflux flotation, is also gaining market traction, optimizing mineral recovery and aligning with sustainability goals. With our acquisition of TK Mining, we have become the global leader in high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), further strengthening our expertise.