Lubricating Specialties Co. has completed the startup phase of its new blending and packaging facility in Azusa, Calif. The company also promoted Sydney Thwaites to president/chief operating officer, and welcomed back Rob Kress as senior vice president effective today.
The Azusa facility is a partnership between LSC and MIT Group, which is based in northern China. LSC is the operating partner and the majority owner of the facility.
The new facility is the companys fourth in southern California, serving the western United States as well as exporting to the Asia Pacific region. Located on a 4.9 acre site, the facility has 20 storage tanks, bulk truck loading and unloading capabilities, four freight docks, three small packaging lines, a full service laboratory on site and an operations management team in place.
Pico Rivera, Calif.-based LSC acquired the site from Parker-Hannifin in early 2012. After almost a full year in reconstruction and startup testing, the facility is now ready for full time production, the contract blender and packager said in a statement. The new facility is currently producing aftermarket fuel and lubricant additives, with capacity available for expanding into other products.
LSC Chief Executive Officer Stephen Milam said the company has not yet made the final decision on how to use that additional capacity.
Given the permits that are available on that site, we were able to expand our product offerings to our current customer base and expand our customer base, Milam told Lube Report. We have additional capacity and space in this facility, and we are currently evaluating how to use that, and whats the best use of that equipment in that space, given our marketplace. Were doing it very judiciously.
Thwaites has been with LSC for 15 years and was formerly its chief financial officer. He will be responsible for the companys operations, technical and financial activities. The company is welcoming back Kress, formerly vice president of business development, who had left LSC in 2012 to work in the base oil trading business. Kress, who will report directly to Thwaites, will be responsible for the companys technology activities and new business development.