Specialty lubricant blender Hydrotex Partners announced last week that it will expand by moving its manufacturing operations to a new 96,000-square-foot plant in Tulsa, Okla. Officials said the company needs bigger quarters to accommodate growth of its specialty lubes business. The new building is double the size of our current facilities and provides us the room necessary to build a state-of-the-art food grade lubricant manufacturing area, as well as planned technology improvements, President a...

A union of Nigerian petroleum workers launched its own motor oil recently as part of an effort to combat illegal sales of fraudulent products. The head of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said the project has a two-pronged strategy: to offer motorists a reliable brand; and to rein in truck drivers who help to divert base oil for the illicit products. Since we are in the oil industry, we want to improve the quality of products that are being sold, the unions Genera...

U.S. demand for lubricant additives is expected to grow 2.3 percent per year to $1.7 billion in 2006, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group Inc. Volume demand is projected to reach 1.9 billion pounds. Prices will continue to increase as higher-value, higher-performing additives are used to meet original equipment manufacturer, consumer performance and safety requirements. In addition, the increasing use of non-petroleum base stocks will require higher additive treat rates, the study sa...