The greenhouse challenge

General News "The Greenhouse Challenge' With sponsorship from BP Oil UK Limited, the IMechE's Tribology Group organized the Eighth BP Tribology Lecture on 18 November 1993 to coincide with the Autotech '93 Exhibition and Congress at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Now firmly established as an annual tradition, this year's event featured a lecture and state-of-theart review paper 'The Greenhouse Challenge' by Stefan Shillington, Chief Engineer, Rover Group Advanced Power Train Technology. Mr Shillington took as his theme the effect of passenger car design on carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere - and the likely manner in which the European Union will impose taxation on them. With the UK Government committed to raise fuel tax annually by at least 3% above the level of inflation and the European Commission discussing methods of taxing fuel according to the carbon content, it was time to rethink our approach to the effect of new materials on the weight of structural and working components of vehicles, of surface treatments on pistons, rings and valve-train components and of the roles of allviscosity and friction-reducing additives. The potential value of 'renewable biofuels' for limiting taxation was also reviewed. Dr David Yardley, Chairman of IMechE's Tribology Group, chaired a stimulating half-hour question and discussion period in which the elaboration of Mr Shillington's ideas for achieving reduced friction by a combination of mechanical improvements and improved lubricants vied with the wideranging suggestions of an audience of well-informed engineers fresh from the Autotech show. For BP Oil UK Limited, Mr Paul Stananought, Automotive Sector Manager, paid tribute to the value of the presentation and the review paper to engineers and tribologists, TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

Stefan Shillington receiving his commemorative plaque from Paul Stananought of BP

and looked forward to its wide dissemination through publication in the proceedings of the Institution. The clarity and entertaining style of the presentation were highlighted as he thanked Mr Shillington for his work on behalf of BP Oil UK Limited and the Institution, and presented him with a commemorative plaque.

At the proposal of Professor M. J. Pavlovic of Yugoslavia and seconded by Professor B. J. Jakobsson of Sweden, the ITC was formed. Its founding members were tribology societies and groups from France, West Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, USSR and Yugoslavia.

Published with permission of I Mech E.

The Foundation Document is now kept in the archives of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, reference number C861/ T/ll-TRIB/GRPS/JCC/WJ-l-W-110-73.

International Tribology Council is 20 years old On 24 September 1993 the ITC celebrated its 20th birthday. The ITC was formed on the eve of the first European Tribology Congress on 24 September 1973 at a meeting held in the council chambers of the Institution of Civil Engineers in London. The preparation of that Congress had revealed that all participating tribology societies and groups seemed to have the same national problems. A combination was therefore considered to be beneficial to all.

Twenty years after its foundation, the ITC has a membership of 27 national groups or societies and is growing. Its four yearly International Congresses, organized by the host society, have proved to be outstanding successes and a means of meeting colleagues and workers in similar spheres of the subject from all over the world. The International Tribology Council now looks forward to celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 1998.

0301-679X/94/020129--4 © 1994 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd

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