For most people in the Gulf region the Q8 brand is relatively unknown. But to many people in Europe and beyond, it is a recognised icon for quality and service.
Q8Oils is the face of Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants (KPIL), a brand that was created over 25 years ago.
KPILs parent company is the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), one of the world’s largest oil companies. Q8Oils success is a blend of Kuwait’s financial and corporate muscle and European lubricant technology.
In Europe, the corporation has two refineries, a major Research & Development centre and a network of over 4,000 retail stations. Q8Oils manufactures lubricants with its own base oil in four European countries: Belgium, Italy, Sweden and the UK.
With a philosophy of ‘getting closer to the customer,’ the company and its brand are becoming a significant player in the global market. In 2007/08, Q8Oils produced its best results since the company was formed. Net profit was in excess of 70 per cent versus the previous year. This result is even more impressive given that the Western Europe lubricant market is still in decline. Some of the improvement has to be attributed to Q8Oils’ export activity, with customers in over 75 countries. However, the most recent development in Q8Oils strategy is its entry into the Gulf region focusing on its industrial specialty product portfolio.
The improved business performance was also evident at two of Q8Oils largest blending plants, Antwerp in Belgium and Leeds in the UK, both of which recorded their highest annual production volumes of the last 25 years.  The Antwerp plant continues to improve its position in the European lubricants manufacturing sector, with a multi-million-dollar investment to increase its production capacity. Within three years it will be one of the largest facilities in Europe, manufacturing over 250 million litres of lubricant per annum.
The consistently high standards of all Q8Oils products are maintained by internationally recognised quality certifications and the result of long, rigorous testing procedures. All Q8Oils blending plants hold ISO 9002 certification, or its local equivalent, which indicates its achievement of the highest standards of operation. 
Q8Oils are also committed to world-class safety health and environmental (SHE) performance, conducting its business in accordance with best industry practice so that the safety and health of its employees, contractors, suppliers and the community are protected. In operating its business it seeks to protect the environment, minimising the overall environmental impact of its operations. Leadership accountability for SHE performance is fundamental to its principles and the actions of its people, the excellence of its processes and respect for stakeholders are visibly demonstrated.
Product research & development is conducted at Kuwait Petroleum Research & Technology which is located next to its main base oil refinery Kuwait Petroleum Europoort, in the Netherlands.  The Q8Oils product range covers nearly all automotive applications and industrial sectors.
Q8Oils wire & tube drawing technology goes back more than 100 years due to its acquisition of the UK-based Germ-Allcard company in the 1990s. Last year was particularly productive for the company with many new customers in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman and of course Kuwait.
 The energy sector is another niche area for Q8Oils. The Q8 Mahler range of gas engine lubricants is already synonymous for giving high levels of protection and extending operating intervals. The Q8 van Gogh range of gas and steam turbine lubricants is used by several OEMs and nuclear power generators in Europe. Last year Q8Oils supplied over 1000 tonnes of product into Saudi Arabia.
Metal rolling lubricants are an example of where Q8Oils field engineers have made them the market leader in Germany and are now developing their influence in China. It is no surprise therefore that Q8Oils is already supplying a major rolling facility in Bahrain.
Abdulmohsen Homoud, Q8Oils sales manager for the Gulf region, says: ‘’When it comes to product quality and service, there is no compromise. Our technical expertise is unrivalled and I am confident that our customers in the Gulf area will testify to that.’’
Neil Grieve, Q8Oils marketing manager, says: “The philosophy for working with our customers is simple – stay close. Our approach is to make sure we understand our customers business; their processes and applications. We want to be regarded not as product providers, but providers of improvements and solutions. This is something we are very passionate about’’.
In many respects Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants entry into the Gulf region is somewhat ironic. After 25 years of success in Europe, the Far East and North America, the Q8Oils brand is finally coming home.