With a tri-national Ph.D. and two decades of global experience, Dr. Ravi Bactavatchalou reflects on innovation, sustainability and why India must think beyond lubricants.
“My hardware is Indian, my software European – French mother tongue, German mindset and Italian heart.”
After spending 20 years in France and 16 years in Germany, Dr. Ravi Bactavatchalou relocated to India in 2025 to lead R&D at Klüber Lubrication India Pvt. Ltd. With over 15 years of experience in sealing, lubrication, tribology and material sciences, he has pioneered the integration of atomistic simulations and customer-driven innovation in lubricant development. In this conversation, he shares his global insights, India-specific challenges and his vision for bridging industry and academia to shape a sustainable lubricants future.
Can you share your professional journey and current role in the lubricants industry?
I am responsible for driving R&D activities for India and the Asia-Pacific region for specialty lubricants. My role includes building and leading a Regional Chemistry & Tribology Laboratory in Mysore, supporting sales, marketing and quality teams with innovative solutions. I focus on developing sustainable new products, while ensuring high HSE standards and a zero-accident culture in a constantly evolving region.
What inspired you to work in this sector?
I am driven by the idea of innovating to provide solutions for current needs. For me, it is about driving the right lubricant solutions in complex tribological systems for a sustainable world.
What has been your proudest career milestone so far?
Balancing private life and career while supporting the new generation to innovate is my proudest achievement. But equally, I take pride in my internationality and diversity — my hardware is Indian, my software European: French mother tongue, German mindset, Italian heart.
What innovations or projects stand out in your career?
One of my proudest projects has been implementing atomistic and multiscale simulations as an essential pillar for developing lubricants and seals in complex environments. This new mindset has become embedded in Freudenberg and has helped us rethink innovation approaches.
How has the lubricants industry evolved over the past decade?
There’s been a clear mindset change — from being lubricant suppliers to becoming solution providers. Companies are now expected to deliver not just fluids, but full application-oriented solutions. Sustainability has become a key driver, even shaping tribological projects.
What technologies will shape the next 5 years?
The combination of multiscale simulations and AI will transform how industrial solutions are developed. These tools allow us to anticipate performance at multiple levels and optimize solutions faster and more accurately.
How do you see sustainability influencing India compared to Europe?
In Europe, sustainability is already a driver. In India, it’s not yet fully developed. I believe we need to explain to policymakers how the right lubricant in the optimal tribological system can itself be the sustainable long-term solution.
What are the key challenges facing the industry today?
One urgent issue in India is raw material availability, from base oils to additives and thickeners. Customers also expect higher technical performance at lower prices, while supply remains inconsistent. This mismatch is a constant challenge.
Which sectors hold the most growth potential?
Right now, heavy machinery, steel, cement, mining and textiles drive demand. Within two years, the focus will shift more strongly to automotive and in five years, aerospace will play a much bigger role in India’s lubricant landscape.
How do you view bio-based lubricants and client challenges?
Bio-based lubricants still struggle under high pressure and temperature conditions. Innovation is needed here, especially through research institutes in India. Meanwhile, clients increasingly ask for higher technical performance at lower cost, which is difficult when raw materials are limited.
What skills and workforce capabilities will be most critical?
Basic chemistry is no longer enough. We need computational chemistry, mechanical engineering and simulation skills to understand real conditions. More importantly, we need a young generation with an innovation mindset -people who live and breathe lubricants, trichological systems and digitalization, not those who settle for the bare minimum.
How important are training and collaboration for the industry’s future?
Certification is less important to me than passion. What I value is colleagues who are committed to this field. At the same time, we need closer collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers. India must invest in lubricants and tribology as a major technological pillar of the country – just as the US or Germany have done. This means more long-term thesis work in industry and government-financed projects co-funded by companies.
What advice would you give lubricant manufacturers expanding in India?
Diversify your raw materials portfolio. Build solutions in India for India and beyond. This will be key to resilience and competitiveness.
Why are events like Lubricant India Expo & Summit important?
It is essential that India positions itself as a future leader and not as a last follower. Lubricant India expo and summit provide a platform to showcase innovation, build networks and bring industry, academia and policymakers together.
What motivates you outside of work?
People inspire me- family, friends and leadership. I believe in a healthy body and mind to embrace challenges, so I actively pursue sports. I enjoy wild camping, trekking and cycling, which give me energy and perspective outside my professional life.
“Bringing an impact for shaping a sustainable environment for the future generation.”
Dr. Ravi Bactavatchalou is Head of R&D at Klüber Lubrication India Pvt. Ltd., responsible for India & Asia-Pacific. He holds a tri-national PhD in Experimental Physics from France, Germany and Luxembourg. A former Advisory Board member of the German Association of Tribology (GfT), he has also led alumni initiatives to bridge academia and industry. With roots in India and deep European experience, Dr. Ravi now focuses on building sustainable R&D structures tailored to customer needs in India and Asia-Pacific.