Against the global trend where the manufacturing industry is facing green transition and technological innovation, how to break the cycle of internal competition and achieve sustainable development has become an urgent question to address in the current lubricant sector.

On June 5th, at the 24th Shanghai International Lubricating Oil Products and Application Technology Exhibition 2025, Ms. Huang Yingmei, a reporter from Lubricant Guidebook, visited the booth of Francool Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. She conducted an interview with Mr. Fan Chengli, Chairman of Francool, discussing the company’s future development plans and strategies to address the current intense internal competition in the current industry.

Mr. Fan Chengli, Chairman of Francool Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., is being interviewed

01 Diversified Layout, Upgrading Intelligent Manufacturing

Francool Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Francool") was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Shenzhen. Focusing on the segmented field of metal and new material processing fluids, it has developed into a leading one-stop fluid tool solution provider in China. The company's products cover metal and new material processing fluids, heat treatment media, rolling fluids, release agents, high-end rail transit and aviation special oils, synthetic automotive oils, environmental protection technology, and automated industrial equipment.

After more than 20 years of in-depth cultivation and accumulation, Francool has established 8 wholly-owned subsidiaries at home and abroad. Its offices and service networks extend to 25 cities/regions across China, forming an extensive and efficient market layout.

In recent years, Francool has accelerated its industrial layout. It has established a global R&D center at its Taicang factory: the new Taicang-based factory has been put into operation, fully realizing intelligent and automated production; the construction of an additive factory and a Class A qualification platform is advancing simultaneously, providing solid support for upstream formula R&D. Meanwhile, Francool has launched capital market operations, taking a key step toward listing.

To address domestic market competition and expand its global market layout, Francool has actively explored overseas markets. Currently, it has four completed and under-construction factories abroad. General Manager Fan told our magazine reporter, "The company plans to build 18 new production bases worldwide, covering regions including Germany, France, and Hungary in Europe; Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia in Asia; and Mexico, the United States, and Brazil in the Americas. Meanwhile, we will expand Francool’s global business scope to more countries and regions by acquiring local factories."

02 Environmental Leadership, Innovation-Driven Development

Today, as the lubricating oil and metalworking fluid industry continues to move toward high-end and environmentally friendly development, Francool, a national high-tech enterprise and the chairman unit of the Guangdong Lubricating Oil Industry Association, has always focused on the R&D and practice of metal and new material processing fluid solutions. It is now using technology as an engine to continuously build a future-oriented green manufacturing system.

At this exhibition, Francool focused on showcasing an environmentally friendly fully synthetic coolant. This product is a fully transparent liquid that does not easily discolor after long-term use, has a mild pH value, and is non-irritating to human skin.

In an interview with our magazine reporter, General Manager Fan stated, "This coolant does not use traditional ammonia-based substances and is extremely friendly to equipment materials. It not only does not corrode mechanical components but also does not cause rust issues in enclosed environments, nor does it lead to spindle rusting."

It is reported that the monthly production scale of this product has reached 10,000 barrels. With its excellent stability and safety, it has won wide recognition in both domestic and international markets.

03 Technology as the Foundation, Taking the Path of High-End Differentiation

Facing the current fierce price competition and homogeneity dilemma in China’s domestic metalworking fluid industry, Francool has always adhered unswervingly to its high-end positioning. From the independent R&D of upstream additives to the technological innovation of end products, it has fully aligned with international standards and continuously promoted the technological upgrading of next-generation metalworking fluids.

"Currently, China’s domestic metalworking fluid industry has two segmented fields: 'machining with chips' and 'chipless machining'. However, product prices are generally inverted. The prices of such products in the European market are generally 5 times those in China, while prices in the U.S., Russian, and Southeast Asian markets are also 3 to 5 times higher than those in China," General Manager Fan pointed out in the interview. He added that in such a highly inward-looking competitive market environment, relying solely on price competition is no longer sustainable. Francool is well aware that only by relying on strong technological strength and solid product quality to achieve differentiated competition and brand specialization can it stand out in the fierce market.

As the chairman unit of the Guangdong Lubricating Oil Industry Association, Francool not only continues to make breakthroughs in its own development but also actively advocates for the establishment and improvement of industry standards. It promotes the standardized development of the industry, avoids disorderly competition, and contributes to the green, intelligent, and high-quality transformation of the metalworking fluid industry.

Postscript

As a high-end representative in the metalworking fluid sector, Francool has always adhered to technological innovation as its core and green sustainability as its goal, continuing to make efforts in product R&D and market expansion. Facing the complex and ever-changing market environment, Francool unswervingly takes the path of differentiated and high-quality development.

Lubricant Guidebook believes that in the future, Francool will continue to deepen its focus on technology, continuously launch new products and solutions that lead the industry, and inject stronger momentum into the green manufacturing of the sector.