About Plastilube
Who We Are
Plastilube is an independent technical training and consulting firm focused on the practical chemistry of lubricants, coolants, fuels, and fuel additives. We examine how fluids perform in real systems—where chemistry, materials, contamination, maintenance practices, and operating conditions interact.
Training is our core service, with consulting used to support deeper investigation, troubleshooting, and product development when required.
Our History
Founded in Sydney in 2001, Plastilube provided independent technical support to performance-critical and regulated industries. From 2001 to 2007, we supported clients across lubricant manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, power generation, services, and transport—delivering technical analysis, troubleshooting, failure investigation, field trials, and workplace training.
Plastilube was founded by Dr David Kehoe, an industrial chemist with more than 30 years of oil-industry R&D and applications experience. His career includes roles with global oil companies such as BP - Castrol Australia, Shell / Viva Energy Australia, and Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia), as well as Australian lubricant manufacturers including Southern Oil and Nulon Products Australia. This background established Plastilube’s evidence-based, vendor-neutral, and outcome-focused approach.
In 2025, Plastilube resumed operations with a renewed emphasis on structured technical training and capability development, supported by consulting services where deeper investigation is required.
Why We Exist
Lubricants, fuels, and coolants are critical to safety, reliability, and equipment performance—yet many failures occur not because products are poor, but because they are misunderstood, misapplied, or poorly monitored and maintained.
Plastilube exists to close the gap between increasing product complexity and the level of technical understanding within industry.
Our training is independent and evidence-based, grounded in real-world experience. We focus on helping people understand why systems behave as they do, how failures develop, and how informed decisions, effective fluid maintenance, and appropriate testing prevent problems before they arise.
By building internal technical capability—not just delivering information—Plastilube helps organisations reduce risk, improve performance, and operate with confidence.