PRAGUE – Central and Eastern Europes appetite for greases and specialty lubricants may be poised for real growth, but differences abound among the countries of the region. One common factor is cultural pride and sensitivity, an experienced grease manufacturer cautioned-just dont call themEastern Europe. Speaking at the European Lubricating Grease Institutes Annual General Meeting here on Monday, Roman Vanecek of Dow Corning highlighted opportunities for greases and specialty lubricants in ...

Car ownership continues to spread in China, and so does the popularity of a cheap, convenient oil change. That is adding up to rapid growth in the number of quick lubes, according to a new study by Kline and Co. The study, Business Opportunities in the Chinese Lubricants Market, 2004-2009, predicts the number of quick lube centers will grow at an average annual rate of 17 percent over the next five years. Traditionally, Chinese car owners would go to the dealership or buy motor oil at a store an...

PRAGUE – The European Lubricating Grease Institute yesterday announced formation of a Grease Consortium to share the work and cost of registration and testing of soaps used in grease manufacturing, as required under REACh, the European Unions comprehensive new legislation covering registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals that will take effect in the spring of 2007. Total cost for REACh implementation has been estimated at 400,000 to 1 million per large-volume substance, and ...

SK Corp. announced Sunday that it has signed an agreement to build a Group III base oil plant in Indonesia with national oil company Pertamina. The $175 million plant will be designed to make 7,250 barrels per day and is scheduled to come online during the first half of 2008. Reports about the project first surfaced in November, but SK said then that negotiations were still underway and that a final agreement had not been reached. An Indonesian news agency at that time reported the projects capa...