Proactively moving away from PFAS: a Tier 1 automotive example

Increasing regulatory scrutiny around PFAS is prompting manufacturers to review the substances used in their lubrication practices. This practical example outlines a controlled transition to PFAS-free lubricants with MicPol® technology at a Tier 1 automotive supplier.

Challenge: eliminating PFAS without compromising reliability

As PFAS chemicals came under increasing regulatory and environmental scrutiny, the company decided to review the composition of the lubricants used in its production facilities. Rather than waiting for regulation to force a change, they wanted to:

• eliminate PFAS from critical lubrication points
• maintain or improve component life and process reliability
• demonstrate to customers and auditors that PFAS risks were actively reduced

During this review, the maintenance and engineering teams identified that some of the lubricants in use were still supported by legacy documentation referencing PFAS substances.

Tier 1 automotive production environment.

Solution: PFAS-free lubricants with MicPol® technology

By switching to the new PFAS-free generation of Interflon lubricants incorporating MicPol® technology, the company was able to remove PFAS from critical lubrication points without compromising friction, wear protection or reliability. The transition was implemented through a clearly defined lubrication concept, including:

• heavy-duty PFAS-free greases with MicPol® technology for open gears and heavily loaded components

• PFAS-free multipurpose greases with MicPol® technology for general bearings and mechanisms

• suitable Interflon cleaners to prepare surfaces and reduce reliance on aggressive solvents

Interflon’s technical team actively supported the implementation by explaining how the renewed MicPol® technology works and by validating that the performance of the PFAS-free greases and oils was comparable to or better than the previously used PFAS-containing products.

As part of this controlled transition, Interflon proactively provided the customer with up-to-date product data sheets and certification documentation, available 24/7 via the Interflon website. This ensured full transparency for internal reviews, customer audits and future regulatory assessments.

PFAS-free lubrication applied to pallet conveyor systems in a Tier 1 automotive environment.

Results: PFAS-free and operationally robust

With Interflon’s PFAS-free lubricants in place, the automotive supplier achieved:

• PFAS-free lubrication on critical points with equal or better performance
• longer lubrication intervals – in some applications from 2–3 times per week to approximately once every 15 days
• around 5× lower grease consumption, reducing both cost and waste
• cleaner components with fewer rejections due to grease contamination
• safer working conditions by reducing the need for aggressive cleaning solvents

For this manufacturer, the main value was not solving a lubrication problem, but demonstrating to customers and auditors that they had taken a proactive, technically sound step away from PFAS.

Why this matters for other manufacturers

This case shows that large, high-end manufacturers do not wait for PFAS bans to be final. They are already asking for PFAS-free lubricants with strong technical performance and clear evidence behind the chemistry.

Interflon’s renewed MicPol® technology allows them to:

• replace PTFE-based products (polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon) with PFAS-free alternatives
• keep or improve lubrication performance and interval length
• reduce environmental and regulatory risk in a measurable way

This makes the case a useful reference for companies looking to move to PFAS-free lubrication in a controlled, technically justified way – without compromising production reliability or total cost of ownership.