Zoomol, the retail automotive arm of Raj Petro Specialities Pvt. Ltd., introduced three new products for four-stroke bikes and passenger cars at the recently-concluded Auto Expo 2016.
Speaking exclusively to MOTORINDIA, Mr. Bijoy Paul, Country Head, Sales & Marketing, Zoomol, observed: “In the European countries the concept of long drain interval has been in vogue since long, though in India it has come in the diesel vehicles. However, we have gone a step ahead and have launched an engine oil called Zoomol New Improved ROXX Premium 4T Oil which has a drain interval of about 12,000 km for four-stroke bikes in India.”
Dr. Daya S. Shukla, V.P. – Technology and Quality Assurance, commented: “Global Lube technology changes are happening to address larger cause of controlling emissions worldwide and give respite to environment damage. India is also at the forefront of this change and taking challenge to improve emissions, thus willing to skip Euro V and switching over to Bharat Stage VI (Euro VI) by 2020.”
Zoomol has been able to develop new products with a relentless thrust on innovation and technology. Dr. Shukla added: “When it comes to technology, we are the one who have introduced SAE 15W-40, API CJ 4 / VOLVO VDS4 oil which is well qualified to comply with Euro V and VI engines (emission norms).”
The quest for being ahead of its time has seen the company also introduce SAE 10W-40 long-drain interval oils for commercial vehicles meeting CI – 4 / E4. “10W-40 the new long drain interval oil can go up to 80,000-110,000 kms and also meets the MB 228.5 approval. In fact this oil is far ahead in performance including meeting CES 20078 and this CJ-4 product is also capable of meeting 20081. Zoomol also took the lead and got Scania approvals meeting Scania LDF-2 and LDF-3 oils for their vehicles.”
The company has also launched two more products in the PCMO segment – Zoomol MGX Advance SAE 5W-30, API SN / GF-5 and Zoomol MGX Super 5W-40 in API SN/CF. Both are claimed to be synthetic oils. Lower-viscosity engine oils can improve the fuel economy by reducing internal friction and the resulting frictional losses. Oil makers often turn to synthetics or semi-synthetics to help design – lower viscosity oils that still offer the protection needed in today’s diesel engines and give fuel economy as well.
“Low-viscosity oils such as 10W-40, 5W-30 and 5W-40 can offer several benefits, including improved fuel economy,” claimed Mr. Bijoy Paul.
Volume vs. long drain intervals
The oil and lube industry has been discussing the issue of long drain intervals. There is always a debate on the initial volume sold vs. the long drain intervals the product offers. Most companies thus grow over a period of time after the product is re-sold. “We are growing slowly but steadily as we want to make people aware of the quality of our products. If we wanted to make volumes, we would have made it by selling a lot of products on low cost but that would have compromised the quality,” explained Mr. Bijoy Paul.
Zoomol certainly has raised the quality quotient as it offers the best-in-class HDPE containers and barrels packaging it within the family colour combination of Golden and Red, establishing Zoomol as a premium product.
“We are doing a lot in establishing and increasing the brand awareness of Zoomol future-ready engine oils & greases though in-film branding, brand endorsement by celebrities, ground visibility, special rural campaigns, educating the masters (mechanics) and increasing our retail penetration”, he added.
Raj Petro has three manufacturing facilities, at Silvasa, Chennai and Ankleshwar. It operates in six SBUs which are classified as transformer oils, white oil and petroleum jelly, rubber process oil, industrial lubricants and automotive oil and exports.