Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing produced bio-based greases by using microwaves earlier this month, demonstrating a technology created by University of Northern Iowa researchers and an Iowa-based industrial microwave company. Its a revolutionary process that is going to change and make our industry more competitive, Lou Honary, owner of Grundy Center, Iowa based bio-lubes and greases producer ELM, told Lube Report. Honary is professor and director of the universitys National Ag-Based Lubr...

OSHA has cited Calumet Shreveport Lubricants & Waxes LLC for 22 alleged workplace safety violations at its Shreveport, La., refinery, with proposed fines adding up to $173,000. The federal agencys Baton Rouge Area Office began its inspection Feb. 23 at the Shreveport facility as part of OSHAs Petroleum refinery Process Safety Management National Emphasis Program. Calumet has until Sept. 7 to comply, request an informal conference or contest the citations and proposed penalty that were issu...

Cognis functional products business unit, including synthetic lubricants, reported 483 million (U.S. $616.5 million) in sales in 2010s first half, up 21.4 percent from 398 million in the year-earlier period. This was driven by strong demand in all market segments, including automotive, housing and mechanical engineering, Cognis stated. As a whole, Cognis posted six-month sales of 1.5 billion, up 16.3 percent from 1.3 billion in the first half of 2009. The company overall recorded 109 million ...

Lurgi will provide technology licensing and engineering to Saudi Basic Industries Corp. for its planned oleochemical plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. According to SABIC, the plant will be the first of its type in the Middle East. The complex will be designed to produce 83,000 metric tons per year of distilled natural alcohols of various compositions that are commonly used in lube additives, plastic industries, household and laundry products, cosmetics and personal care. The Riyadh-based company ...

Motor oil distributor Chesapeake Petroleum acquired the business of Skyline Oil, broadening its market from Maryland into Virginia. The price was not disclosed. We have known the owners of Skyline for probably 35 to 45 years, and have had a very good relationship with them, Chesapeake vice chairman and CEO Tony Santy told Lube Report. The fact that it is going to help us protect our western borders certainly also played a part in it. They complement our western geography. Winchester, Va.-based S...