Current reporting on PFAS, otherwise known as “forever chemicals,” clearly illustrates how urgently new approaches and solutions are needed in the industry. The risks posed by this group of substances are gaining more and more public attention through the media and politics—and rightly so. The proven accumulation of PFAS in soils, waters, the atmosphere, and organisms is an environmental and regulatory warning signal. Debates about potential banning them across the EU are heating up, and demands for environmental responsibility are coming increasingly into view—not only among authorities, but also among customers, partners, and investors.
I firmly believe the industry is at a tipping point. And if you wait until tomorrow, it might already be too late. As CEO of a company that has always relied on technological progress through responsible action, I consider it our duty to not just wait for regulatory changes but to proactively address them with solutions. This belief is what led us to develop BECHEM Nexus Technology.
We had an ambitious vision: We wanted to develop PFAS-free lubricant technology that doesn’t just keep up technologically but that sets new groundbreaking standards. After all, despite all the concerns for the environment, the following still applies in our industry: Performance counts. Availability counts. Reliability counts. I am proud to be able to say: We’ve struck the right balance with BECHEM Nexus Technology. What’s more, we’ve turned it into a strength.
As a solid lubricant additive with a completely new formula developed in-house, BECHEM Nexus Technology is replacing PTFEs. We abstain from using per- and polyfluorinated compounds wherever technically possible and whenever it makes sense for specific applications. And that happens a lot more than you would think.
For us, sustainability is not a trend. It is the benchmark for true innovation.
This is what makes BECHEM Nexus Technology so unique
- Pioneering innovation from the world of industrial lubricants that replaces PTFE as a solid lubricant additive
- Load profile of equal or greater intensity over a wide operating temperature range
- Complete avoidance of PTFEs
- Lower carbon footprint of only around 3 kg CO2eq/kg
Our PFAS-free lubricants don’t only feature a much lower carbon footprint compared to conventional lubricants, with approximately 3 kg CO2 equivalent per kilogram compared to 7 to 10 kg for products that contain PTFEs. They also stand out in terms of their performance: They offer a load profile of equal or greater intensity over a wide operating temperature range. Products with BECHEM Nexus Technology have withstood and excelled in extreme conditions, such as in mechatronic drives, locking and seating systems, or interior components—basically, wherever durability, friction stability, and safety really matter. This is more than just a step forward, it is also a key milestone.
With this technology, we are simultaneously setting a good example for new industrial value creation that is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and fit for the future. By reducing PFAS, we are actively supporting the protection of sensitive ecosystems and preventing harmful substances from entering the soil and water, thereby helping to make the industry more environmentally sustainable.
For our clients but especially those in the automotive industry, this means that: They don’t need to decide between sustainability and performance. They get both. Furthermore, they benefit from long-term regulatory certainty, compliance to ESG criteria, and a stronger market position through credible environmental responsibility.
We encountered major challenges during the deployment of BECHEM Nexus Technology, but it was a vital step in charting the path forward. Aside from reflecting the result of many years of development work, it shows a clear understanding of values: Responsibility does not mean the opposite of innovation. It is its foundation.
I firmly believe that companies which are willing to embrace new paths will own the future. With their courage, vision, and a clear goal in mind. At BECHEM, we are doing just that. We’re reimagining lubricant technology to be efficient, sustainable, and uncompromising.