Discover the benefits of STLE membership

Join now and engage with those employed by the world's leading corporations, academic institutions, and governmental agencies. STLE supports our members with a variety of technical, educational, and professional development resources and programs.

STLE Membership is a Low-Cost Investment with High Professional Rewards
The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) is a professional technical society providing a selection of robust resources in technical research, education and professional development delivered through programming, courses, events and periodicals on topics most important to you: safety, energy usage, maintenance, natural resources, wear and productivity. 

Membership is available to those interested in staying current in the latest technologies, advancing their careers and making new professional connections from around the world.

What is tribology?

Tribology is the study of science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear. Tribology is a branch of mechanical engineering and materials science.

Tribology’s economic and commercial impact is vast. The science reduces energy use, lowers the cost of maintenance and replacement, develops new technology, and solves resource problems, such as the lack of clean water. Proper tribological procedures save an estimated 1.3% to 1.6% of a nation’s gross domestic product—a savings of hundreds of billions of dollars (U.S. currency) in larger countries. Virtually every nation has realized it cannot afford to overlook the economic, industrial, and commercial advantages of tribology. Consequently, tribology is a science that is constantly being advanced by thousands of researchers around the world. Lubrication engineering is the practical application of that science, generally in the development of lubricants and their proper usage and maintenance. Click here to learn more about tribology.


Online webinars, education courses and professional certification programs offer opportunities for continuing education to enhance your career and create value for your company.
STLE organizes, supports, co-sponsors and hosts meetings to provide the tribology and lubrication communities an opportunity to network, exchange ideas and information.


Educating technical professionals to compete in the global business environment is STLE's core mission of serving as a trusted provider of education and a workforce development partner.


STLE grants three academic awards through its Presidential Awards Program. These awards are meant to encourage students to pursue an advanced degree or a career in tribology or lubrication engineering by subsidizing a research project related to the field.

Check out what's inside the January TLT - Digital Edition | TLT Archives

11th Annual Corporate Profiles
Your guide to the lubricants industry's key people, products and services. Read more >

18th Annual CMF Plus
Some of the industry's most innovative companies release key presentations from 2020 Commercial Marketing Forum Webinars. Read more >

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

FEATURE ARTICLE
Grease for slow and steady wind turbine bearings (posted on December 15, 2020)
Wind turbines use the same types of mechanical components as other mechanical systems—bearings, gears and drive shafts—but their size, operating conditions and environments pose numerous challenges not observed in, say, the automotive industry. Wind farms are usually in remote locations, for example, far from manufacturing plants and maintenance personnel. Read more >
MARKET TRENDS
Chinese PCMO and HDMO markets: Recovery and emerging sales channel opportunities (posted on December 15, 2020)
Globally, China’s passenger car motor oil (PCMO) market ranks second in terms of volume, accounting for approximately 17% of demand. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed growth, with new vehicle sales declining by nearly 20% in the first half of 2020. This drop, along with reduced annual mileage due to lockdowns, has brought PCMO demand to under 1,000 kilotonnes in 2020, a slip of more than 15% from 2019. Contributing to this slowdown is the growing penetration of battery electric vehicles, which are expected to expand to nearly 20% of annual sales by 2025. Read more >
BEST PRACTICES
Ultrasound monitoring (posted on December 15, 2020)
The popularity of ultrasound in machinery maintenance programs is due to ease of use, flexibility and low cost for implementation. While it has been traditionally considered a companion to routine predictive technologies, such as infrared imaging and vibration analysis, standalone ultrasound programs are becoming more mainstream. Read more >
MINING
Predictive maintenance polishes up mining (posted on December 15, 2020)
Mining is no longer boxy ore cars, pickaxes and canaries.1 Mining uses massive equipment and huge trucks in expensive operations that can become less profitable if too many machines break down at the same time. Read more >
PRESIDENT'S REPORT 
Due diligence again! (posted on December 15, 2020)
In the September 2020 TLT, I talked about my strong fundamental belief in the proper process of due diligence and how that belief (or maybe a little fear at times) guided my approach to making everyday lubrication recommendations and decisions. Read more >
STLE EDUCATION
Personalize Your Education. Advance Your Career
STLE Learning Pathways is a new online resource library for lubrication industry professionals to help identify, align and target their education and career development needs with access to technical articles, courses, webinars and books that will help them better serve their customers and employers. Learn more >
WHITE PAPERS & SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS 
2020 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering
STLE’s 2020 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering builds on a multiphase research effort to evaluate current trends and predict future developments impacting the field of tribology andlubrication engineering that was published in the first two Emerging Trends reports in 2014 and 2017. Based on input from technical experts around the world, the triennial Emerging Trends Report includes a look into more recent advances and topics that have surfaced in the latest publication. Order your copy >


Tribology Opportunities for Enhancing America's Energy Efficiency 
The Tribology Opportunities for Enhancing America's Energy Efficiency Report, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), summarizes the results from a workshop STLE hosted at the 2016 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. The purpose of the workshop was to explore opportunities in advanced tribological science and engineering of energy technologies across a wide range of practical application sectors. You'll find the results of these efforts in the report. Order your copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

 









News

STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition goes virtual for 2021
(December 8, 2020)

The STLE Board of Directors decided on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 that the 75th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition will be a virtual meeting held the week of May 17-20, 2021. Click here to learn more.

STLE's New Strategic Plan: Creating a Bold Future
(December 7, 2020)

The 2020 - 2023 STLE Strategic Plan is laid out with the following key areas: Purpose, Mission, Vision, Domains (four) and Key Goals, Objectives, Strategies and finally Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track our progress.  You can read the details and download a PDF plan summary.

NLGI Launches High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) Grease Certification
(December 4, 2020)

The High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) Grease Program is a licensing and product certification program for greases used in various lubricating applications. Click here to learn more.

STLE Cautions Exhibitors About Unauthorized Attendee Lists
(November 18, 2020)

STLE has been made aware of a third-party offering 2020 Annual Meeting Pre-Registered Attendee Lists to companies that have exhibited with STLE. Please be advised this firm is not associated with STLE nor has STLE authorized them or any other company to contact exhibition participants. It is a scam. If you are contacted by this firm or any other offering attendee lists, please proceed with extreme caution. STLE does not sell or distribute lists to outside organizations. 

STLE 2021 Annual Meeting Abstract Site will Remain Open for the waitlist
(November 2, 2020)

The abstract submission deadline for the 2021 STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition has passed. The site will remain open to collect abstracts for the waitlist. We invite you to present your latest research at STLE's 75th Anniversary Meeting May 16 - 20, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit www.stle.org/annualmeeting for more details and to submit an abstract.

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