British lube producer Morris Lubricants announced last week the completion of a new blending and storage plant built at a cost of 1 million (U.S. $1.56 million).
Officials said the company undertook the project to better position itself after economic recovery.
Its an old adage to invest in down time, General Manager Andrew Goddard told Lube Report. One advantage of doing this at the present time is that we were able to get contractors to do the work. But we also hope that well be able to put our foot on the gas once the economy recovers.
The new plant is located on the same site as Morris old plant in Shrewsbury, in Englands Western Midlands. It gives the company capacity to make 60,000 metric tons of lubricants per year, a 30 percent increase.
Although the company kept its existing blending vessels, it was able to achieve significant debottlenecking through the installation of additional storage tanks, pipe work and blending control software, Goddard said.
He allowed that Morris was struck hard by the recession, losing 15 percent to 20 percent of its sales volumes. The company has customers in all corners of the U.K. but also exports to 65 countries.
Morris is 140 years old and one of the United Kingdoms leading independent lube suppliers. Goddard is a fifth-generation descendant of James Kent Morris, who founded the company in 1869. An opening ceremony has been scheduled for next month, and Princess Anne is expected to attend.