Oil and natural gas have been the quintessential sources of energy for a very long time. Mankind throughout history has found the application of these fossil fuels in various industrial and non-commercial activities, evolving as its demand has transformed over time.
The oil and natural gas business does more than only fulfil society’s energy requirements. It opens up possibilities. It creates jobs, supports local companies, encourages important research and development, and promotes education and training, all while building and sustaining long-term infrastructure. One such company standing tall since a long time is Nynas.
Nynas is a global company with a strong position in niche markets. The specialisation in NSP (naphthenic specialty products) and bitumen sets Nynas apart from most other oil companies, which offer oil as a source of energy.
The Visionary Genesis of Nynas
Nynas’ core competence is to refine heavy crude oil into a balanced mix of long-lasting, high-performance specialty products for sustainable use. Nynas is the leading brand and global market leader in NSP (naphthenic specialty products) and a market leader in bitumen in the European market where it operates.
Nynas’ products support growth in infrastructure and touch the lives of nearly everyone every day through their presence in roads, roofs, running shoes, adhesives, rubber, paint, magazines, and lubricants, which are just some of the thousands of everyday objects that contain Nynas oils.
Most oil companies turn their crude oil into fuels. However, Nynas is not like other oil companies! It transforms its crude oil into long-lasting products for hundreds of applications. Its products play an important role in everything from consumer items to industrial products.
Simply put – Nynas takes oil further.
Brief History:
- 1928: Nynas builds the refinery in Nynäshamn.
- 1950-1960s: The economy recovers, and the Nynas petrol station network and Nynas bitumen business grow with the Swedish road network expansion.
- 1970s: The energy crisis makes oil prices skyrocket and crude supplies unreliable.
- 1980s: Nynas sells all petrol stations and focuses on specialty products.
- 1990s: Investment in hydrotreatment technology pays off, and the export of specialty oils increases.
- 2000s: Nynas continues its growth as a global leading, service-driven, solution providing specialty oil company.
- 2018: Nynas celebrates 90 years of experience and expertise.
Currently, Nynas has 23 depots all around the world, of which Antwerp, Houston, and Singapore are central storage facilities and blending stations. Last year, 700,000 tons of oil were transported by sea. There were also 30,000 deliveries by road tanker, 6,000 container transports, and 250,000 drums delivered to customers all over the world. To ensure dependable supply to customers – in the event of disruptions, for example – production can be transferred to other refineries and capacity increased at its blending facilities.
Nynas continues to focus on adding sustainable value to its global customer base by producing, manufacturing, and supplying quality oils into specialized markets across the world.
India – A Focus Market for Nynas
India is a unique market and one of the fastest developing economies in the world. Nynas has a long-term growth strategy for India. Nynas started operation in 2006 as a liaison office and then moved to become a local registered legal entity in 2009 as Nynas Napthenics Pvt ltd. Today Nynas has a pan India coverage of their products with help of multiple bulk storage facilities.
It was an extremally tough journey initially for the team. India being a dominant paraffinic base oil market, it took a lot of effort and hard work to convince market about key advantages of Napthenics base oil and answer a lot of doubts from old myths about Napthenics base oil.
“We used to work more like an ‘oil missionaries’ creating awareness about Naphthenic base oil and its application advantages, in various industrial applications, during the initial days,” shares Manoj.
“Today, Nynas has a firm foot in India and continues to grow strength to strength. We have a long-term strategy for India market with high focus on renewable and sustainable products,” shares Manoj.
Differently Unique
Nynas’ vision is to strengthen its position as the global leader in naphthenic products and as the premier bitumen partner in Europe. The company does this by developing next-generation solutions for its customers, assuring profitable growth, and providing an attractive place to work.
To achieve this vision, it works closely with the customers to understand their needs and processes. Owing to its specialist knowledge, it is able to provide a strong partnership in product development.
High-quality sourcing and manufacturing – along with a supply network that is strategically located around the world – ensures that customers receive prompt and reliable delivery, regardless of their location.
At Nynas, “we are committed to achieving sustainable development in parallel with the company’s ambitions for growth and profitability. Strict company policies are in place to ensure that our business operates in line with objectives related to safety, human rights, business ethics, the environment, and other materiality areas,” says Alistair.
Providing an attractive place to work is essential when it comes to focusing on its greatest asset – the employees, both current and future. Nynas’ diverse workforce is made up of people from different countries and cultural backgrounds who share one common attribute – all act according to Nynas’ three core values: dedication, cooperation, and proactivity.
Nynas product lines are designed and produced for certain specialized applications, and thus its target market is very focused. Whilst it produces a large number of SKU’s, its key focus lies in the below sectors:
- Specialty oil orientation – A very different product mix
- Bitumen for roads and industry
- Transformer oils
- Base oils for lubrication and other uses
- Process oils for tires, rubber, adhesives, and much more
- Some fuel streams sold to other producers for upgrading
“I believe that we differentiate ourselves from our competition based on our ‘People’ approach, our technical knowledge, world-class support functions as well as the excellent foundation we have built over the years with our valued customer base and partners,” adds Alistair.
Redefining Excellence with Knowledge
Mr. Alistair Meyer
Oil has been in Alistair’s blood since he was 23-year-old. He joined a multinational oil company as a sales executive. As the years progressed and the interest progressed, the expansion of knowledge led the way for Alistair to join Nynas in 2010. Since then, he has taken more responsibility in the organization, “Oil always will be in my blood,” shares Alistair.
Alistair’s interest lies in developing the brand, expanding the brand into target countries, and target markets. His passions lie in sales, interacting with people, and sharing knowledge. Alistair did a B.com in business administration, and he studied the background before getting into the Oil industry.
Mr. Manoj Singh
A seasoned oil professional with more than 18 years of rich experience in oil and lubricants business. He worked with BP-Castrol for eight years in B2B lubricant division before moving to Nynas in 2012. Since than he is instrumental in making Nynas’s presence in India stronger with each day passed.
Manoj interest lies in creating a sustainable and long-term business growth market for Nynas in India. His passion lies in meeting new people, developing new application and create a highly performance oriented Nynas team. Manoj did his B tech from Rajasthan Technical University in Production and Industrial engineering and hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Business management from ICFAI.
Leveraging Technology
“In my opinion, the harnessing and implementing of developing AI and ML technologies is crucial for the success of any business in the modern world. Nynas is continuously looking at creative and innovative ways to improve its entire value chain, not only within the organization but also across the industry,” expresses Alistair.
The rapid increase in AI and ML technologies is constantly being assessed and used across entire Production, Manufacturing, Logistics, HSE, and Sales Operations. These technologies vary from crude extraction to data collection and processing to production improvements safety standards and stretch into sales and marketing and, in essence, allows a company to evaluate its entire operation from within.
Facing the Pandemic Dynamically
The team of Nynas believes that the pandemic was and continues to be a catalyst in accelerating changes in all industries (as well as Consumer behavior) across the planet. The pandemic brought on challenges that no one could have predicted across the Oil industry (Including all Global Industries), and the aftereffects will be felt for many months to come (e.g., Manpower restrictions, HSE impact, Product shortages, Logistical challenges, customer/supplier behavior shifts, finance models, storage requirements to mention a few).
Nynas has and will continue to adapt to the ongoing change and will continue to serve its valued customers and partners to the best of its ability by leveraging on its world-class relationships with the partners and strong brand. HSE is the number one Priority within Nynas, and they continue to be vigilant of the pandemic and the impact it has on their valued employees and implement proactive actions, initiatives, and processes to follow in-country best practices as well as guidance from various bodies around the world.
In the end, it’s all about results. Through the team’s dedication, competence, and problem-solving ability, it will continue to help the customers in many different industries around the world to meet the challenge of ever-changing demands. The company provides customers with the solution – and along the way, they help each other and perhaps even the world around whilst ensuring safety protocol and the health and happiness of our valued employees.
Word to the Wise
Based on the rapid transition of Oil companies to adopt a “greener” and more sustainable strategy to energy solutions, Alistair forsees an exciting, creative, and significant change to the way Oil companies are perceived in the future vs. Currently. In lieu of this, he would encourage the youth to get involved in the Energy sector and be a part of this evolutionary journey.
Future Endeavours
Nynas’ vision is to strengthen its position as the global leader in naphthenic products and as the premier bitumen partner in Europe. The company does this by developing next-generation solutions for its customers, assuring profitable growth, and providing an attractive place to work.
To achieve this vision, Nynas works closely with its customers to understand their needs and processes. High-quality sourcing and manufacturing – along with a supply network that is strategically located around the world – ensure that customers receive prompt and reliable delivery, regardless of their location.
Nynas is committed to achieving sustainable development in parallel with the company’s ambitions for growth and profitability. Strict company policies are in place to ensure that its business operates in line with objectives related to safety, human rights, business ethics, the environment, and other materiality areas.
“We have some very interesting developments in 2022 and beyond, which I am sure will continue to revolutionize the way we think about Oil and the applications and Customers we develop our product portfolio for and around,” states Alistair.
Modern technologies, volatile markets, and ever-changing customer needs not only require companies to constantly be reacting to these demand changes but also require a proactive approach of product development to retain the position of a market leader. Nynas is constantly exploring new applications and technologies, and this will ensure that it continues to grow (along with Nynas’ values partners) well into the 21st Century.
