Editorial

Citation

Taylor, J. (2008), "Editorial", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 60 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2008.01860caa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Volume 60, Issue 3.

For those of us in the northern hemisphere this issue should reach you with Spring with us. Of course, if the changes in climate being widely forecast are to take place then perhaps the seasons will be less defined in the future. However, in all the discussion about climate change, and whether man's role is as the instigator of the change or a victim of it, the fundamental point raised in the Jost Report about the cost of ignoring tribology is still valid.

These days perhaps the way of looking at this milestone in our field of interest is to think in terms of wasted energy rather than purely money terms.

Most of our energy requirements are today met by non-renewable sources. So from an energy consumption point of view any improvements we can make to mechanical devices, both to prolong their life and reduce operating cost, must reduce our impact on the environment however significant or not it really is.

Perhaps, universities should be encouraging research work that can be clearly linked to reducing energy usage? Of course much of our work will indirectly reduce energy usage but do we always start with this objective or is it just a by-product? What would happen if energy usage was the fundamental basis of all tribological research and other knowledge gains were treated as by products?

What do you think?

Papers in this issue come from Malaysia, India, China and Turkey. The editorial team hopes you find these pieces of work of interest and will always appreciate any feedback you may have.

John Taylor