The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists will hold an October symposium on the health effects of metalworking fluids – a meeting described by the organization and observers alike as important to the writing of revised caps on exposure to oil mist concentrations. The association has previously drawn criticism from industry for recommending lower limitsfor workplace exposures tomineral oil and metalworking fluid mist and for advising that mineral oils be classified as ca...

Stocks may be tanking and corporate losses generally mounting, but financial news from the lubricants industry was refreshingly good this week. Lubrizol and Valvoline delivered improved earnings for the most recent quarter, while Quaker Chemical said that it is recovering from the recession. Lubrizol Corp. reported that consolidated earnings for the second quarter increased from $32 million, or 63 cents per share, to $34.5 million, or 67 cents per share. Revenues for the period ended June 30 ros...

ChevronTexaco Corp. and Shell Oil Products U.S. are in a tug-of-war over the biggest portion of the Texaco Xpress Lube chain. With both companies aiming to win over a majority of U.S. sites, one is bound to fall short of its goal. The competition has operators in the enviable position of being recruited, not just by the two combatants, but also by other chains. Xpress Lubes became the subject of this contest in the wake of Chevron Corp.s merger with Texaco Inc. last October. In order to gain the...