At the Quaker Houghton stall put up at IMTEX 2025, Rohit Bhale, Business Segment Director for the Metalworking Business, shared insights into the company's leadership in industrial process fluids and their innovative offerings at the event. "Quaker Houghton is a world leader in industrial process fluids with over 5,000 products catering to various processes, whether it's rolled, cut, formed, or punched. We support all kinds of metalworking operations," he said.
When asked about unique products displayed this year, Bhale highlighted their focus on fluid intelligence. "We are showcasing our traditional products alongside some interesting fluid intelligence solutions. As the world moves towards digitalisation, we've developed equipment that can measure fluid concentration online, provide feedback signals, and map these to dosing systems for fluid optimisation. It's an innovative step forward in combining traditional metalworking fluids with modern digital solutions," he explained.
He also emphasised their e-mobility solutions tailored to the precision and sophistication required in electric vehicle components. Additionally, Quaker Houghton introduced solutions to address porosity issues in die-cast components through impregnation, a significant advancement for quality improvement.
On sustainability initiatives, Bhale passionately elaborated on the company's commitment. "Sustainability is not just a marketing buzzword for us; it's a core value. We've recently been recognised as one of America's Climate Leaders for 2024, and our third-party sustainability index ratings have improved significantly. In India, we've introduced sustainable cleaning solutions that have saved 52 tons of carbon dioxide annually for a leading OEM. Furthermore, 99.8 per cent of our products are CMR-free, and we aim to achieve 100 per cent by 2028. This means our products are free from carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances, making them safer and more environmentally friendly," he said.
Discussing market expansion and future plans, Bhale highlighted the importance of adapting to customer demands for more EHS-friendly and energy-efficient products. "We are expanding our product range in areas like die-casting and quenchants. India is a key market for us, and we have been growing in double digits since 2020. Looking ahead, we plan to invest further in our manufacturing footprint here. With the rise of sunrise industries like semiconductors and EVs, we are introducing advanced solutions from our global portfolio to cater to these sectors in India," he added.
Bhale also touched upon the company's growth in specialised greases, such as fill-for-life greases used in automotive seat mechanisms. "These greases are designed to last the lifetime of the component without requiring refills. It's an area where Quaker Houghton excels, and we're bringing this expertise to the Indian market," he noted.
Summing up, Bhale expressed optimism about the Indian market's growth potential and Quaker Houghton's role in driving innovation and sustainability. "India remains one of our most prominent markets outside China in the Asia-Pacific region, and we see immense opportunities here," he concluded.
