Three standards organizations announced last week that they will cooperate to develop common e-commerce protocols for the petroleum, chemicals and agricultural industries. The organizations – the Petroleum Industry Data Exchange, the Chemical Industry Data Exchange and RAPID – saycommon protocolswill make it easier for companies dealing in chemicals and oil products, including base oils, additives and lubricants, to buy and sell over the internet. Despite certain business and transac...

Milacron Inc. announced yesterday that it is selling most of what remains of its metalworking tool business to focus on production of plastics processing equipment and industrial fluids. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Ronald D. Brown said the divestiture will help improve the companys balance sheet as it weathers a sluggish economy. In the long term, he said, the move will better Milacron’s prospects for profits. The Cincinnati, Ohio, company said it has agreed to sell Val...

American and Japanese automakers have decided to delay adoption of GF-4, the next passenger car motor oil upgrade, according to the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association. The association told members Monday that the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee decided last week that it cannot develop the standard fast enough to have GF-4 oils commercially available by the fall of 2003. The standard, prescribed to protect emissions control systems required on model yea...