ALE 2026 Technical Training - Grease Technology: Fundamentals, Manufacturing & Application
ALE 2026 Technical Training - Grease Technology: Fundamentals, Manufacturing & Application
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ALE 2026 TECHNICAL TRAINING · IN COOPERATION WITH THE EUROPEAN LUBRICATING GREASE INSTITUTE (ELGI)
A two-day technical training course · 8–9 September 2026 · Hall 1, MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Course description
Grease is widely used in industry, yet expertise in grease formulation, manufacturing, and field diagnosis is genuinely scarce across the Asia-Pacific region. Delivered in cooperation with the European Lubricating Grease Institute (ELGI) and led by four grease experts from ELGI member-companies, this two-day course gives engineers, formulators, distributors, end-users, and maintenance professionals a structured grounding in grease technology — from base oils and thickener chemistry through manufacturing and test methods, into application selection and the regulatory landscape.
The programme follows the ELGI curriculum, adapted for an Asian audience, and progresses logically: Day 1 builds the chemistry foundation (base oils, thickeners, additives) and the analytical toolkit (test methods); Day 2 moves into how grease is actually made, how it is selected and applied in service, and the regulations, conformity standards, and market trends shaping the sector.
Participants who complete this two-day training course will be able to read a grease specification, understand what the thickener and base-oil system contribute, interpret standard test data, and select the appropriate grease for an application.
Who should attend
Lubricant formulators and technical staff; reliability, maintenance, and plant engineers; grease distributors and technical sales personnel; procurement specifiers; end-users; and, anyone moving into the grease category from a broader lubricants background. No prior grease-specific training is assumed.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the two days, participants will be able to:
Explain how base oil, thickener, and additive systems combine to define a grease's performance.
Identify the major thickener types and the applications each suits.
Interpret the standard grease test methods and what each result means in practice.
Describe how grease is manufactured and how process choices affect the finished product.
Select a grease based on application, operating conditions, and compatibility.
Navigate the principal regulations, conformity standards, and current market trends.
Programme outline
Day 1 — Chemistry & Analysis
Day 2 — Manufacturing, Application & Market
Approximately 11 hours of instruction across two days, plus a 1-hour lunch and two 30-minute coffee breaks each day. Coffee and tea, with morning and afternoon snacks, and a packed lunch will be provided daily.
Module detail
Module 1 — Base Oils. The role of the base oil as the majority component and primary lubricating medium. Mineral, synthetic (PAO, ester, etc.), and other base stocks; viscosity selection and its effect on grease performance; how base-oil choice drives temperature range, bleed, and compatibility.
Module 2 — Thickeners. The defining component of a grease. Soap thickeners (lithium, lithium complex, calcium, calcium sulfonate, aluminium complex) and non-soap/organic types (polyurea, clay, etc.); how thickener type determines dropping point, water resistance, mechanical stability, and application fit.
Module 3 — Additives. The additive toolbox for grease: anti-wear and extreme-pressure chemistry, antioxidants, corrosion and rust inhibitors, tackifiers, and solid lubricants (moly, graphite, etc.). What each contributes and how additive choices interact with the thickener and base-oil system.
Module 4 — Test Methods. The standard analytical toolkit: penetration and NLGI grade, dropping point, oil separation/bleed, water washout, oxidation stability, and EP/wear testing. How to read a grease data sheet and what each result predicts about field behaviour.
Module 5 — Manufacturing. How grease is actually made: saponification, the role of temperature and process control, batch vs. continuous production, milling and homogenisation, and quality control. How process decisions show up in the finished product.
Module 6 — Applications. Matching grease to service: bearings, gears, and specialised applications across operating temperature, load, speed, and environment. Compatibility and the risks of mixing incompatible greases; re-lubrication strategy.
Module 7 — Regulations, Conformity & Trends. Specifications and conformity standards; environmental and food-grade (NSF) considerations; and current market direction, including bio-based and high-performance greases for emerging applications.
Field Diagnosis Clinic (Day 2, interactive). A facilitated session on diagnosing real grease failures — bearing failures, incompatibility, bleed and consistency problems, and contamination. Symptom to likely cause to corrective action, built around field scenarios. Participants are encouraged to bring their own cases.
Fees & registration
ALIA members: USD 500 per person. Non-member: USD 1,000 per person.
Early-bird rate: USD 450 (ALIA member) / USD 900 (non-member) until 31 July 2026.
Fee includes course materials, lunch, and refreshments on both days, and a certificate of completion.
Delivered in cooperation with ELGI.
Course content and lecturers may be subject to change.
Location
Hall 1, MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, 50480