Lubricant supplier Acrotech Industries said it recently acquired Panef Corp., a Milwaukee-based packager of oils and greases. Acrotech said it was attracted by Panefs ability to fill small containers – and that it will be incorporated into Acrotechs strategy of catering to small volumes. Our strategy is to service those companies who are looking to have a professionally packaged product but cannot meet the minimum volume levels required by high-volume contract packagers, Acrotech Vice Pres...

Valvoline announced last week that it has agreed to buy Car Brite, a line of automotive reconditioning products, for an undisclosed amount. Valvoline officials said the deal will strengthen the companys car care business. Car Brite is a premium brand that has earned a great reputation with auto and recreational vehicle dealerships, auto auctions, detail shops and car washes, President Samuel J. Mitchell said. This acquisition will help Valvoline expand its customer base and help us achieve our ...

ChevronTexaco announced Monday that it has changed its name to Chevron Corp., reverting to an identity used before the 2001 merger of Chevron and Texaco Inc. The company, which is based in San Ramon, Calif., said it made the change to convey a clear, strong and unified presence. The company also said it will maintain the Chevron, Texaco and Caltex retail brands and its portfolio of lubricant brands – such as Delo and Havoline – in order to take advantage of respective strengths in va...

Higher raw material costs ate away at profits of two metalworking fluid suppliers during the first quarter of 2005. Quaker Chemical Corp. said last week that its operating income fell 75 percent compared to the same period of 2004, while Milacron Inc. reported a 44 percent decline in earnings for its Industrial Fluids segment. Quaker Chemical had sales revenue of $104.1 million for the first three months of the year, up 6.1 percent from the same period a year ago. The increase, though, was mainl...

Dover Chemical Corp. has offered to buy the Pioneer Companies chlorinated paraffins plant in Cornwall, Ontario, according to plant employees. If completed, a deal would give Dover a monopoly on chlorinated paraffin production in North America. Two union employees told Lube Report Monday that Pierre Ducharme, manager of Pioneers chlorine plant in Becancour, Quebec, visited the Cornwall plant April 12 and informed employees that Dover had offered to buy the facility and that Pioneer had made a cou...