Claude Van Kessell, marketing manager for Total Lubricants Canada, said Canusa was appealing because of its reach as a distributor. They have a network covering most of southwest Ontario and the peninsula, Van Kessel said, adding that Canusa plans to expand its reach further east. It covers mostly motor oils and coolants, but also covers transmission oils, greases and most of the lubricants used in the car industry.

In December 2007 the French major acquired Canadian blender Tribospec, and changed its name to Total Lubricants Canada. It produces and distributes automotive and industrial lubricants, coolants, rust proofing, biobased and synthetic lubricants. Total Lubricants Canada has a blending facility in Montreal, built in 2000, with a blending capacity of more than 35 million liters.

The distribution agreement signed Dec. 16 is also part of an effort for Total Lubricants Canada to expand into other lubricants segments beyond what Tribospec focused on. At Tribospec we were strong in the HDMO [heavy duty motor oil] market, but automotive was not a market we were strong in, Van Kessel told Lube Report. With the arrival of Total, our primary market is now automotive and HDMO. We are doing some industrial business too, but our two main targets are HDMO and PCMO [passenger car motor oil].

In November, Total Lubricants North America acquired independent lubricant manufacturer Lubricants USA LP of Plano, Texas. Total said the acquisition provides a springboard to significantly expand its presence within the U.S. lubricants and grease industry.

Canusa is a family business that operates distribution centers in Dorchester and Mississauga, along with 35 corporate and associate stores in south and central Ontario. The company is an independent wholesaler member of Quebec-based automotive parts supplier Uni-Selects Canadian Automotive Group network in Canada.