The International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM) is an organisation aimed at promoting research and development in the field of machines and mechanisms by theoretical and experimental methods, along with their practical application. IFToMM has several technical committees in different fields, and one is dedicated to Tribology. The technical committee for tribology requests prominent research groups in tribology to host and organise an international symposium on tribology. The symposium was held in the Luleå University of Technology campus during three fantastic winter days, providing a perfect forum for the tribologists for presenting their latest research and exchange of ideas. The participants were also given the opportunity to experience the snowy landscape during a memorable outdoor dinner.The symposium attracted 146 participants from 26 countries. In all, 92 papers spread over 32 sessions (including six plenary sessions) were presented. These papers covered both the fundamental and applied aspects of wide ranging topics such as friction, wear, lubrication, lubricants, tribology in hostile environment, tribomaterials, solid lubricants, surface engineering, tribotesting, tribological design and optimisation of machine components, modelling in tribology, biotribology, micro/nanotribology, tribotronics, tribology in power generating systems, metal working tribology and tribology in rail and road transport. Two additional events were also organised in conjunction with the conference, a young researcher forum and the second international high temperature tribology workshop.This special issue of Lubrication Science contains papers 1-8 from those presented at the 3rd International Tribology Symposium of IFToMM (ITS 2013) that were recommended by the organising committee of ITS 2013.Zhmud et al. 1 introduced the triboconditioning process, which is a mechanochemical surface finishing technique developed for improving the tribological properties of mechanical components made of steel or cast iron. The process combines elements of extreme pressure mechanical burnishing of the component surface with a tribochemical deposition of a low-friction anti-wear film of tungsten disulphide (WS2).