Meet Nye - Chuck Denison
Chuck Denison has worked at Nye for more than 20 years and currently serves as Nye’s Senior Manager of International Sales. Chuck works with our global affiliates to manage Nye’s distribution across the globe. Prior to his current role, Chuck served as one of Nye’s International Engineering Managers where he worked closely with our Asian customers in the Automotive industry. We sat down with Chuck to ask him about the latest trends in the Automotive industry and Asian markets.
You’ve worked at Nye for 20 years. How has the automotive market changed in this time?
20 years ago, most vehicles had AM/FM radios with optional AC and cruise control features. Today, these functionalities are standard on most all vehicles and much more is offered in the way of electronics and mechanics. Automakers are using the automotive interior as a way to create a luxury experience for consumers with features that set themselves apart from their competitors. These features range from touch screen displays and controls, GPS navigation, eight-way power seats, heated and massage seating, power lift gates/doors, automated door locks, rearview cameras, you name it, today it is or can be on a vehicle. All of these require some sort of lubricant to function properly and meet the stringent requirements of today’s vehicles.
Why are low odor lubricants important in the automotive interiors market?
Lubricants and the components in the formulations, such as thickeners and additives, can carry orders, some of which are not pleasant. As vehicles become more insulated to help reduce noise and maintain temperatures for comfort, the odors become more prevalent. Much testing is being performed today to formulate lubricants that can meet the functional requirements of all the interior systems yet reduce or eliminate odors.
What can we expect from the Asian Electric Vehicle market in the next five years?
The EV market in Asia is growing very fast, especially in China. By 2030, it is predicted that every three out of five vehicles on the road will be electric. This is an aggressive but achievable goal given the numerous EV startups working on this effort. At this point the bigger hurdle facing the EV market is the semiconductor chip shortage that leaves automakers unable to meet demand.
How has Nye’s distribution to Asia changed since its acquisition by the FUCHS Group?
With FUCHS affiliates in most every country in Asia, the footprint to Nye products and technology has expanded considerably. This enables us to provide more efficient service and support to our customers in Asia. Together, FUCHS and Nye offer an expansive product portfolio that allows customers to get their lubrication solutions from a single source, simplifying their supply chain.
What is your favorite part about working for Nye?
First are the people I work with at Nye. From sales to operations, the teams at Nye are above and beyond anything I expected when I started. It’s been a remarkable 20 years and I look forward to more successful years.
Second is the wide array of applications we work on. While Automotive is a large portion of our business, we provide quality products to many other markets such as Medical, Aerospace, Power Tools, Semiconductor, and others. Each market and application are unique in their own way.
