An explosion and fire at Cortec Corp.s corrosion inhibitor plant in Spooner, Wis., yesterday injured two workers and caused a limited evacuation of local area residents and businesses. According to a Wisconsin State Patrol report, an explosion and fire broke out at 8:43 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Cortec Spray Technology Division plant which manufactures vapor phase corrosion inhibitors that serve as additives for lubricants and fuels, aerosol products and paint solvents. The explosions impa...

ExxonMobil Chemical and Shell Chemicals Ltd. last week announced they have agreed to evaluate market interest and discuss the possible sale of Infineum International Ltd., their additives joint venture started in 1999, with several potential buyers as part of a strategic study. The two companies, divisions of Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC respectively, said the study is part of an ongoingassessment of the Infineum business andopportunities for growth, restructuring or divestment de...

S-Oil and Total on Monday signed an agreement to form afifty-fifty joint venture, S-Oil Total Lubricants Co. Ltd., that combines S-Oils lubricant business division and Totals lubricant subsidiary in South Korea. The new venture, jointly managed by S-Oil and Total, will have capital of 35 billion won (U.S. $34.7 million). The joint venture will offer a variety of finished automotive and industrial lubricants for the domestic market in South Korea. The companies said they have agreed to eventually...

Weyerhaeuser Co. on Monday announced the sale of its containerboard packaging and recycling business to International Paper for $6 billion in cash. Bruce Amundson, spokesman for Weyerhaeuser, told Lube Report the sale includes the SpaceKraft and Tri-Wall divisions, which each provide packaging for industrial lubricants. Federal Way, Wash.-based Weyerhaeuser said it expects to use a substantial portion of the after-tax proceeds to pay down debt. The transaction, subject to closing conditions, is ...

Last month, Houghton International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William F. MacDonald, Jr. retired from the company following a 40-year tenure. The specialty chemicals manufacturer named Gary Cappeline and Paul DeVivo to succeed him as chairman and chief executive officer, respectively. My initial personal goal is to add my global management experience to that of the existing team to continue to focus on and to serve the growing global demands of Houghton International customers, DeVivo ...

Huntsman announced increases in prices for a variety of amines used in lubricants and solvents, while Oxea raised prices for amines used in surfactants and polymer additives. Meanwhile, Dow raised prices for oxygenated solvents and Pilot Chemical boosted prices for a variety of chemicals used in metalworking fluids. Huntsmans Performance Products division, based in The Woodlands, Texas, March 6 outlined a variety of new prices effective April 1 or as specific contracts allow. The increases are ...

Dow Biocides on Monday announced it would increase its U.S. production capacity for glutaraldehyde by 60 percent as of January 2009, when it expects the new capacity to be online and operational. An Institute, W. Va. site managed by Dow subsidiary Union Carbide Corp. produces Dow Biocides glutaraldehyde. Dow Biocides general manager Mark Henning said Dow is investing in the United States because of the availability of critical raw and intermediate materials. In addition to making incremental ex...