Don M. Pirro is the global alliance technical manager at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, Paulsboro, New Jersey. He started his career in 1978 as a test engineer for Ingersoll Rand’s Turbo Compressor Division. He has more than 36 years of lubrication experience with ExxonMobil in various technical positions. He is the author or contributing editor of several scholarly articles on synthetic lubes, environmental awareness applications, grease technology, lubricant interchangeability, used oil analysis, and marine lubricants. He graduated from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, with degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration.
Ekkehard Daschner is the industrial lubricant section head and greases technology program lead at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, Paulsboro, New Jersey. Daschner earned his mechanical engineering degree in Germany and started his career in an aluminum company. In 1982, he joined the Mobil Oil AG R&D laboratory in Germany supporting product development projects. After holding various positions in technical support, he was appointed Area Sales Director and Brand Manager in Germany and the European headquarters in London and Brussels, and later served as European and later as Global Industrial and Marine Equipment Builder Services Manager.
Martin Webster is a senior research associate at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, Annandale, New Jersey. He earned his BS and MS in aeronautical engineering and his PhD in tribology from Imperial College, London, UK. In 1986, he was awarded the Bronze Medal in tribology from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in the UK. After spending four years working in the UK, he joined ExxonMobil in 1989. At ExxonMobil, Martin has held various positions in research and product development and is currently involved in the study of fundamental lubrication mechanisms at the company’s Corporate Strategic Research Laboratory.