Steffen Bots Named President of STLE for 2026-2027

The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers announced that Steffen Bots, vice president of global sales & R&D at ADDINOL Lube Oil GmbH, in Leuna, Germany, has assumed the role of 2026-2027 president for a one-year term, beginning May 19.

Per a press release, Bots serves as the society's principal executive officer and chair of its board of directors.  He is a frequent presenter at the STLE annual meetings and other industry conferences in North America, Europe, and Asia. 

In his current role at ADDINOL, Bots is responsible for global sales operations of the German lubricant manufacturer, which operates in over 120 countries with 15 affiliate companies and more than 90 distributors worldwide. His work focuses on technical sales support and market development, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and North America through ADDINOL North America Inc. In addition, he oversees the strategic direction of the company’s R&D activities.

During his one-year term, he will focus on education, international representation, and OEM and lubricant consumer participation with STLE.

“Steffen brings a powerful combination of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and deep commitment to the tribology and lubrication engineering community,” said Rebecca Lintow, CAE, STLE executive director. “His long-standing involvement with STLE and passion for advancing our mission make him uniquely positioned to lead STLE into an exciting new chapter. We are confident his presidency will strengthen STLE’s impact, expand our reach, and inspire continued innovation in the field.”

Bots has been an STLE member since 2010 and a volunteer since 2014. He was a member of both the STLE Certified Lubrication Specialist and Certified Oil Monitoring Analyst Certification Committees and was chair of the OMA Committee from 2017-2018. He also has served on the STLE Certification Board.

Joining him on the STLE executive committee for the 2026-2027 term are Vice President Dr. William B. Anderson (Afton Chemical Corp.), Secretary Peter Lee (Southwest Research Institute), Treasurer Douglas Sackett (Dilmar Oil Co.), Immediate Past President Kevin Delaney (Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC), and STLE Executive Director Rebecca Lintow.

“I am honored to serve as STLE president and deeply grateful for the trust the membership has placed in me,” said Bots. “STLE has been an integral part of my professional journey, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers, members, and staff to advance the science of tribology and lubrication engineering, and to ensure our society remains a vital resource for professionals around the world.”