Volume 1 Issue 7

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

It feels like the U.S. market is treading water currently, with only a minimal amount of fixing taking place. Europe is performing reasonably well, but Asia is rapidly decelerating just before the New Year.-by Adrian Brown

ILSAC GF-6 Could Face More Delays

A proposed engine test that is key to the ILSAC GF-6 engine oil specification is failing to discriminate between reference oils, an API official reported last week.

Afton, Valvoline Report Mixed Results

Afton Chemical had decreased profits last year, despite enjoying a strong fourth quarter, and Valvoline reported a decrease in operating income but an increase in sales for its first quarter.

ExxonMobil Bets on Mobile Car Care

ExxonMobil invested in a startup company offering on-demand fuel delivery and mobile vehicle car care service - including oil changes - to help carve out a new sales channel for its products.

From Other Editions of Lube Report

Briefly Noted

Wyoming-based technology company LogiLube and wind turbine drive train component manufacturer Winergy signed a collaboration agreement to test the formers SmartGear condition monitoring technology platform on the German companys gearbox for a GE 1.5 megawatt wind turbine. Proof of concept testing will take place at the U.S. Dept. of Energys laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Anton Paar, a leader in high-tech measuring instruments, acquired Boynton Beach, Florida-based Quantachrome Instruments. George Cortolezis-Supp, Anton Paars executive director of production and purchasing, will manage the new subsidiary. Houston-headquartered SPL acquired Alcor Petrolab, an independent laboratory that offers testing for various products including lubricants, grease and hydraulic fluids.

Clarification

The acquisition that was the subject of a Feb. 7 story, Distributor Extends Reach to Upper Midwest, only included operations involved in Lube-Tech & Partners distribution of Chevron-branded lubricants. Lube-Tech kept other operations, including distribution of other lubricant brands in the upper Midwest.