Lubricant Expo North America 2026 is wrapped. Three days in Detroit, a full conference programme, a busy exhibition floor, and a constant flow of conversations throughout.

PCS Instruments exhibited Lubricant Expo North America 2026, joining over 2,000 industry professionals across the event. From the outset, it was clear that this is a space continuing to grow in both scale and technical depth, bringing together OEMs, formulators, researchers and testing specialists navigating the next phase of lubricant and powertrain development.

Across both the exhibition and conference, one thing stood out clearly: expectations around testing are changing. As electrification continues to reshape system architectures, lubricant and e-fluid requirements are becoming more complex. Conversations consistently returned to how operating conditions, material compatibility, electrical effects and thermal behaviour are evolving, and what this means for how fluids are developed and validated.

The PCS stand remained consistently busy across all three days. Discussions ranged from early-stage research challenges through to applied development work, with many visitors focused on how tribology testing can better support increasingly demanding and application-specific conditions.

PCS Contribution

PCS Instruments were represented throughout the event by Dr Alexander MacLaren and Dr Simon Quinn, engaging with attendees across a wide range of applications, from electrified drivelines to advanced lubricant formulation.

As part of the conference programme, Dr Alexander MacLaren contributed to the session:

“Developing Fluids for Powertrain Technologies”
🗓 Day 2 | 12:15pm – 1:45pm | 📍 Track 2

The session brought together perspectives on how formulation strategies and testing approaches must evolve alongside hybrid and fully electric powertrain systems.

Dr MacLaren’s contribution focused on the role of advanced tribology testing in supporting reliability, efficiency and durability under increasingly complex operating conditions. As systems move towards higher speeds and new contact environments, ensuring that laboratory testing reflects real-world behaviour is becoming ever more critical.

The discussion highlighted the growing need to bridge the gap between controlled test environments and application-relevant performance, particularly as OEM requirements continue to evolve.

What We Heard on the Floor

Across the exhibition and conference, conversations were grounded in real, practical challenges.

A recurring theme was the need for testing approaches that not only generate accurate data but do so in a way that reflects how systems actually operate. Discussions around existing test methods, reliability, and support opened up more detailed exchanges on how instrumentation can better align with real development needs.

Interest in high-speed testing was particularly prominent. As electrified systems continue to push operating conditions, many conversations explored how to test at increasingly high surface speeds, and what that means for both methodology and interpretation. Alongside this, there was a clear recognition that pushing test limits must be balanced with maintaining relevance to real-world conditions.

Across the event, conversations consistently focused on:

• The increasing complexity of e-fluid formulation for electrified systems
• The need for testing methods that better replicate real operating conditions
• Greater emphasis on thermal management, friction control and electrical effects
• The challenge of ensuring reliability and durability in next-generation powertrains

These discussions were not confined to any single sector. Conversations spanned automotive, electrification, and high-performance applications, highlighting how tribology challenges are becoming increasingly shared across industries.

The level of engagement at the PCS stand reflected this shift. Many discussions extended beyond initial introductions into more detailed technical conversations, with a strong set of follow-up exchanges continuing beyond the event itself.

Outside the core discussions, there were a few moments that stuck with the team. A few travel mishaps kept things interesting on the way in, but the PCS stand came together well and quickly became a hub for conversations with strong engagement across all three days.

Looking ahead

From the conference sessions to the conversations on the exhibition floor, Lubricant Expo North America 2026 provided a clear view of where the industry is heading.

As electrification continues to accelerate, the demands placed on lubricants, materials and testing methods will only become more complex. Ensuring that testing remains both accurate and application-relevant will be central to meeting these challenges.

Events like Lubricant Expo North America play an important role in shaping that direction, bringing together the perspectives needed to move the industry forward.

A big thank you to everyone who visited our booth, and to the organisers for delivering a well-attended and engaging event!

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