Lubrita International and Sunkalp Lubricants Pvt Ltd. opened a joint venture blending plant in Mumbai this month. Lithuania-based Lubrita said it needed a local presence to become a player in the worlds third-largest lube market.
India is one of the most important markets, which necessitates a special focus from Lubrita International, Managing Director Martynas Markevicius said in an Oct. 13 statement, not only in terms of investment, but more so to address the Indian customers desire to adapt the high European standards of product quality and services [and] to address the diverse local issues of environment, road conditions and usages simultaneously.
The companies did not disclose the capacity or cost of the plant.
Lubrita has one solely-owned lubricant manufacturing facility – a plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands that makes a wide variety of automotive and industrial lubes. It also operates grease plants in Sweden, Netherlands, France and the United States.
Sankalp, which is based in Mumbai, is a conglomerate with interests that include real estate and chemicals manufacturing.
The new lubricant plant is a 50-50 joint venture between Lubrita and Sankalp, operating as Lubrita India Private Ltd. It will make lubricants for sale in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
The companies said the joint venture will benefit from Lubritas formulation technology and Sankalps access to sales channels.