Oleon opened a new esterification facility at its Conroe, Texas, site to expand North American production of specialty esters for lubricants, oil and gas, electric vehicle fluids and thermal management, the company said in a press release. The unit became operational in September.
The facility complements existing blending, filling, packaging and warehousing operations, allowing Oleon to manufacture specialty esters and formulate products locally for regional customers.
Applications include drilling fluids, hydraulic fluids, environmentally acceptable lubricants, rheology modifiers and emulsifiers, alongside fluids for electric vehicles and thermal management systems.
“North America is a key market for Oleon, and this investment brings us closer to our customers,” said CEO Antoine Prevost. He said local production would shorten response times and support closer collaboration on products tailored to customer requirements.
Oleon specializes in converting vegetable oils and animal fats into oleochemicals, including fatty acids, glycerin and esters. The company said the expansion would strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce transportation distances for North American customers.
Oleon is part of French agricultural group Avril and operates eight production sites worldwide.