Dennison Lubricants, a manufacturer and distributor of motor oils and industrial lubricants, recently acquired two lots at the Libby Hill business park in Gardiner, Maine, where the family-owned company plans to build a 20,000 square foot distribution and blending operation. The company expects to begin site work in April 2008.
In addition to motor oil, the company provides gear lubes, aviation lubes, industrial and marine lubricants in various packaging (from drums to cases). The company has been in the business since 1987. Dennison Lubricants coverage area includes all of New England, as well as eastern New York state.
The location was a good geographic fit for the company, according to president Tim Dennison. As much as its a little bit removed from the concentration of business, it is central to the state, and were committed to service the whole state, Dennison told Lube Report. The city and the state of Maine were very helpful in supporting us to get some incentive to get in there and do business.
The industrial site has room for additional future expansion. Were designing the building to expand it to 40,000 square feet, Dennison said. We purchased two lots, so weve got room to grow even beyond that if we need to.
He said the company has 12 employees in Maine currently, with hopes to have as many as 25 when the new building is in operation. We hope to be in there in early to mid fall of 2008, Dennison said.
The company early in 2007 acquired a blending plant facility from BP in Worcester, Mass., Dennison said. That was our first big move for us in distributing and manufacturing in New England, he added. Company-wide, Dennison Lubricants currently employs 50 full time employees.
He said the new facility in Gardiner will give the company some blending capability. Just the way we see the products moving, we have opportunities to gain efficiencies by moving base oils that you can make multiple products out of, Dennison explained. Well have a limited blending capability. More than anything, well have distribution.
Dennison distributes industrial, commercial and passenger lubricants, including the BP Castrol, BP and Citgo brands. Were a compound blender, Dennison said. We see opportunities for growth with our lines and also as part of us buying the facility from BP, we also purchased the old Oilzum brand. Were excited about opportunities with that to reintroduce it and build it back up. Its got a lot of heritage in New England. Oilzum – which was White & Bagley Co.s brand – motor oil has been marketed continuously in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest since 1900, according to Dennison.
Dennison Lubricants customers include auto dealers, service stations, public works garages and fleet management businesses, from Aroostock County to York County.