Green View Technologies expects to commission and bring online a base oil rerefinery late this summer in Rollinsford, N.H. Green View President Mark Wentworth yesterday said work is about 80 percent complete on the project, which has an estimated cost of $10 million to $12 million. Well be producing [API] Group II base oil, Wentworth told Lube Report. Wentworth anticipates the plant will sell the rerefined base oil to compound blenders in the New England region. The company doesnt yet have an e...

Chemtura said it will increase calcium sulfonate grease production capacity 40 percent by years end at its West Hill, Canada, facility in response to growing demand. Chemturas calcium sulfonate grease is used in wet, high-load, high temperature applications in a variety of industries, including marine, steel, paper, mining, construction and food. The capacity increase at the facility in Ontario involves adding equipment, rather than a debottlenecking process, according to Kirk Schlup, Chemtura...

PARIS – Following a major reorganization, the European REACH Grease Thickeners Consortium is on target to submit its REACH dossier for the most popular grease thickener in 2012. Forty-seven companies are now in the consortium. Membership is still open, but will likely close before the dossier is submitted, Sabine Hausmann, REACH compliance manager with Fuchs Europe Schmierstoffe GmbH, told the European Lubricating Grease Institute annual general meeting here on May 3. The consortium unde...

PARIS – The French grease market, about 20,000 tons per year, is subject to heavy regulation but offers real opportunities for innovative producers. Serge Dal Farra, manager for grease business development at Total Lubrifiants, offered a look at the countrys grease business at the European Lubricating Grease Institute annual general meeting here on May 2. Lithium and lithium complex greases are the major types. The French grease market accounts for about 10 percent of the EU market, Dal ...

Dow, BASF, Taminco and Oxea announced increases in prices for lubricants and lubricant-related chemicals. Dow Chemicals polyglycols, surfactants and fluids unit effective June 1 will raise prices up to 15 percent, varying by product or as contracts permit, on its North America lubricants (Ucon brand) products. Midland, Mich.-headquartered Dow cited current market conditions and escalating manufacturing costs as factors, noting that feedstock availability and pricing remain volatile. Effective...

Flooding of the Mississippi is causing a significant slowdown in trade out of the U.S. Gulf. In contrast, European trade has been active, while Asian markets have been quiet due to public holidays. U.S. Gulf of Mexico The severe flooding on the upper reaches of the Mississippi has been causing much consternation further down the river with a number of installations having stopped operations or preparing to stop. The floodwaters are only expected to reach the lower parts within a week or so, but...