MUMBAI, India — This month, India’s new Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance government promised a white paper on disinvestment. This was an attempt to quell the considerable turmoil that followed its decision to categorically rule out privatization of oil majors Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., and to desist in general from privatizing profit-making PSUs (public sector undertakings, or state-controlled corporations). The white paper, though, ...

Bearing and seal manufacturer SKF Group announced last month that it has agreed to acquire Germanys Willy Vogel AG, a supplier of lubrication systems. SKF said the purchase will strengthen its knowledge of lubrication systems and make it one of the worlds leading suppliers. The companies did not disclose details of the transaction and noted that it is subject to approval by antitrust authorities. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, SKF sells bearings and spindles, along with steel used to manufacture b...

Several companies recently announced price increases for chemicals sold into the lubricants industry. Higher raw materials costs received some, but not all of the blame. Troy Corp. said it will raise prices on defoamers and additives by 3 percent and that price tags on some Troysan-branded bactericides will be marked up between 4 cents and 15 cents per pound, all effective July 5. In addition, the Florham Park, N.J., performance chemical manufacturer will hike rates for large and small steel dru...

Contract blender Delta Petroleum Co. recently bought Canadian company Vulsay Industries Ltd. The acquisition expands the reach and packaging capabilities of Delta, which already lays claim to being one of the largest independent blenders in North America. Vulsay, which is based in Brampton, Ontario, is also a contract blender and packager. It operates a 117,000-square-foot plant with capacity to fill 26 million gallons of fluids per year. It also blowmolds its own bottles. Formed in 1972, the co...

Noco Energy Corp. announced this month that it has opened an 11,500-square-foot distribution center in Williston, Vt. Moving into the new center allowed the distributor to close three smaller warehouses that it owned after last years acquisition of Champlain Oil Co.s lubricant division. The new center is located on Interstate 89, the states main north-south corridor. It now handles product that passed through Nocos old distribution center in Middlebury, Vt., along with those from former Champlai...