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Unique solutions through Tribology

Testing, analysis & development
to solve your challenges with wear, lubrication & friction challenges

Our expertise lies in a deep understanding of the interactions between surfaces.

Using cutting edge technologies & research, our specialist equipment and custom-designed tests allow us to study how materials perform together, and find solutions to the issues that our customers face – whether improving reliability, increasing efficiency or developing new products.

How Tribology is Increasing Lifespan & Efficiency

Wind turbines contain several challenges for the engineer and lubricant formulator.  

The main bearing, rotates slowly and is prone to wear.  The gearbox between the rotor and the generator will experience varied conditions, due to wind gusts, torque reversals, stray currents and other environmental factors.    

We use Tribology to mimic these situations and develop new technologies to prolong the lifetime of the wind turbine components and reduce downtime. 

Reducing Friction & Driving Efficiency

There is a continuous drive to increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines, and the right lubricants can make a big difference.  

Tribology evaluates the performance of different engine lubricants, allowing us to find solutions to reduce friction and wear on parts like the piston rings, cams and journal bearings.

The reduction in energy required to move the components of the engine because of more effective lubricants, can have a direct impact on the efficiency and improve the miles per gallon of a vehicle.  

Delivering New Levels of Race Performance

In motorsport, an engine will be operating at higher speeds and temperatures than conventional passenger car engines. 

Tribology is used to understand the film thicknesses of all the components in the engine throughout a race. This information is used in the Tribology Lab to formulate the most appropriate fluids, with an optimised viscosity profile and suitable chemical additives to give outstanding performance.  

Innovating Lubricants and Additives

New lubricant & additives are continuously being developed to meet the needs of modern machines.  

We design the world’s most advanced test methods to help push the boundaries of lubricant performance.  

By subjecting lubricants to rigorous and precise assessments, we’re able to identify formulations that excel in reducing friction, minimising wear, and maximising the longevity of critical components. 

Food Production

Using Tribology to Improve Mouth Feel

Tribology can improve the mouthfeel of food by studying the complex interactions between it and the mouth.

By using tribological measures such as friction and adhesion, tribologists can determine the optimum composition and processing conditions that will result in more enjoyment.

For example, adjusting the fat content or particle size distribution can influence the way food breaks down in the mouth – resulting in a smoother, creamier texture or a longer-lasting flavour.

Develop your Tribology knowledge

Get the skills you need to use Tribology successfully in your organisation with our industry-leading courses

Tribology for Industry

1 day course

Gain a full understanding of tribology – starting from the basics.

Lubrication for Engineers

1 day course

See how different lubrication affects breakdowns and longevity of equipment

Tribology Instruments

2 day course

Understand the function and how to get the most from key Tribology Instruments

Bespoke Tribology Training

As required

Highly effective training courses can be tailored to meet the needs of your organisation.

Tribological Thinking

Find out about our latest thinking, research, news and more.

  • Come and join us…

    We are recruiting for a lab technician to come and join our team. As a lab technician at Ingram Tribology you will be working at the cutting edge of lubrication and interfacial engineering sciences, helping to solve problems for companies from all over the world. The deadline for applications is 21st May 2024. To apply,…

  • Gear Micropitting Screening Test

    Gear Micropitting Screening Test

    Micropitting is a type of fatigue wear commonly found on gear teeth. The gradual loss of material in the form of small surface pits leads to a change in the geometry of the component; if this is not controlled, it can result in failure of the part. The standardised method of evaluating a lubricants ability…

  • Merry Christmas from all of us at Ingram Tribology

    Merry Christmas from all of us at Ingram Tribology

    Our Christmas card this year depicts the scene of Santa enjoying the drinks left out for him near the fireplace.  Santa is trying both port and hot chocolate and notices a distinct difference in the mouthfeel between the two.  The port has a drier, thinner feel.  Whilst the hot chocolate impacts a smoother, creamier feeling. …

  • Check out our first Tribo Gatherings Podcast

    Check out our first Tribo Gatherings Podcast

    We have started a Podcast! Our first guest is Dr. Connor Myant from Imperial College. We discuss biotribology, as related to the testing of food and hip joint failures. We discuss the advances in 3D printing and how Connor moved from Tribology into 3D printing. We discuss all Connors current projects and thoughts for the…

  • Preparing for the summer conferences 2023

    Preparing for the summer conferences 2023

    We have been busy preparing for the conferences this summer.   By drafting some of our micropitting work for publication.  This will be presented at STLE, Lubmat and TriboUK. We have been busy working on a rapid micropitting test that correlates to the FZG micropitting test.  Our new test takes less than 40 hours and correlates…

  • Maintaining safe and quiet railways
    ,

    Maintaining safe and quiet railways

    We are currently working on an exciting project with the Railway Standards Safety Board (RSSB) and the European Lubricating Grease Institute (ELGI), to develop a new performance test for Top of rail (TOR) materials.  These TOR materials are used to ensure traction and reduce noise at the wheel/rail interface.  This allows trains to start without…

  • It’s Xmas Penguin Time

    It’s Xmas Penguin Time

    This year the animals at the South Pole have been having fun demonstrating the different shapes of contacting bodies.

  • Stribeck Curves

    Stribeck Curves

    A Stribeck Curve (sometimes also called a Stribeck Friction Curve) is a common name used to described friction vs entrainment speed results, measured on a tribometer.  These are very useful as they give a good overview of the frictional performance of a lubricant. The Stribeck Curve is named after the German engineer Richard Stribeck, who…

  • Covid Response 2020

    Covid Response 2020

    At the beginning of the first COVID lockdown in the UK – March 2020, we like many other people didn’t know what effect the lockdown would have on our business.  But we did know and feel like we needed to help our local community.  This included the manufacture of protective face visors, using our 3D…