Volume 1 Issue 8

Savory Deal for Conoco, Anderol

Trying to get a foot inside food processing plants, Conoco Inc.s finished lubricants division has agreed to serve as marketer of Anderol food-grade lubes. Houston-based Conoco has a strong industrial lubricants business but has found few customers in the food processing sector. The reason, according to one official, has been the absence in its portfolio of food-grade lubes – products that are non-toxic, have no smell or taste, and are harmless in case of incidental contact with foods. Plan...

Lab Managers' Salaries Soar

Laboratory and R&D managers responding to an annual survey of U.S. lubricant industry salaries say they earned an average of $86,032, or 13 percent more than last year. Number of people supervised and employer size appeared to be major factors in determining salary, according to LubesnGreases magazine, which conducts the survey. Salary Survey 2001 respondents supervising more than 12 people earned an average of $130,250, compared to $80,164 for those supervising five or fewer. Those working...

Downturn Erodes Lube Earnings

A spate of recent earnings announcements offer a glimpse of how the U.S. lubricants industry is faring during the current economic downturn. The reports suggest that the industry in general is slumping, although the industrial market has suffered more than the automotive market. U.S. lube marketers are undoubtedly feeling the pinch, said Geeta S. Agashe, director of Petroleum and Energy for Kline and Co. consultants. Mergers and acquisitions in recent years have reduced the number of companies f...