Effectively Lubricating the Manufacturing Industry Growth Engine

#ProMFG2026 #PMAMSummit #PlantMaintenance #AssetManagement #MobilIndustrial #MakeInIndia #SmartManufacturing #DigitalTransformation #ReliabilityEngineering

"In a rapidly evolving industrial landscape, the ultimate test of technology is its ability to reduce a customer’s downtime and keep the world moving forward friction-free." - Ravikularaman R, National Manager, Manufacturing - Mobil

June 2026 : The factory floors of today look drastically different from those of a century ago, yet the underlying pulse of manufacturing remains the same: the relentless pursuit of reliability, efficiency, and precision. To unpack the strategies and mindsets shaping this future, Pro MFG Media recently hosted the 7th Edition of the Pro MFG Plant Maintenance & Asset Management (PMAM) Summit 2026 in the industrial hub of Coimbatore. Supported by Presenting Partner Mobil and Gold Partner ImageGraphix, the full-day summit served as a deep dive into advanced maintenance strategies.

A major highlight of the morning session was an engaging, high-energy presentation by Mr. Ravikularaman R, National Manager, Manufacturing - Mobil. Ravi kicked off his session by grounding the audience in a powerful historical truth. He shared the story of Hiram Bond Everest, who in 1879 founded the Vacuum Oil Company - the ancestor of today's ExxonMobil - under a singular, uncompromising banner: "Quality will win, believe it”. This relentless focus on quality has continually enabled global breakthrough innovations.

Underlining ExxonMobil’s dedication to the Indian government’s "Make in India" initiative, Ravi highlighted a massive ₹1,100 crore investment in their blending plant in Mumbai, set to become fully functional this quarter.

"We touch each and every sector," Ravi explained, shifting focus to practical shop-floor solutions. Whether it is securing a 25% market share in the highly demanding Indian windmill sector - pushing oil life from a single year to a revolutionary "fill-for-life" guarantee - or supplying major steel and cement giants like Tata and JSW with Mobil Vacuoline, the brand's footprint is staggering. This reliability is backed by an unmatched global portfolio of over 35,000 equipment builder (OEM) approvals.

Modern asset management is no longer just about the oil inside the machine; it is about the data surrounding it. Today, ExxonMobil processes an incredible 1 million oil samples globally per year, converting raw data into actionable maintenance insights.

Ravi introduced the summit to Mobil’s advanced ecosystem of digital tools designed to support everything from large-scale OEMs to local MSMEs:

• • Mobil SolCare App: A digital platform allowing plant managers to monitor coolant conditions and concentration across multiple plants with a single click.
• • Mobile Connect: An all-in-one digital marketplace where customers can seamlessly order, track, and manage their lubrication needs.
• Mission XT (Mobil on Wheels): A customized, branded service vehicle that brings filtration, tramp oil removal, and coolant management directly to the customer’s doorstep.

As India marches toward its goal of having manufacturing contribute 25% of its GDP by 2030, precision becomes non-negotiable. Ravi shared compelling data from a standardized study conducted with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI). The study revealed that using Mobil Vactra Oil No. 2 improved the positional accuracy of advanced machine tools by up to 24.9% while slashing vibrations by up to 90.8%.

Ultimately, the PMAM Summit 2026 made one thing clear: the future of plant maintenance lies at the intersection of proven legacy and smart digital ecosystems. By pairing high-performance products with predictive, on-the-go maintenance tech, manufacturing leaders aren't just reacting to mechanical wear - they are actively fueling the nation's economic momentum.

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