The next stage of the project is approval by Infineums Board of Directors, planned for later in 2012.

Infineum signed a letter of intent in late April with Chinas Zhangjiagang Industrial Park, about 160 kilometers northwest of Shanghai. We foresee that our manufacturing planned at Zhangjiagang will become one of our largest worldwide operations over the coming decade or so, said Trevor Russell, Infineums sales and marketing vice president and chief strategy officer.

The first phase of the investment will be focused on blending capability to meet local customer needs, with future component plant investments anticipated.

This Chinese operation will join Infineums existing manufacturing plant in Singapore, which has both component and blending capacity, in meeting Asian customers growing demand for lubricant additives. Singapore is also the site of Infineums new salicylates facility, now under construction and scheduled to start up by the end of 2013.

Infineum is in distinguished company in making significant investments in Asia. Afton Chemical is currently manufacturing lubricant additives in India, Singapore and China. Chevron Oronite manufactures additives in Singapore and has affiliated operations in Japan and India. Lubrizol has blending facilities in Australia, Japan and Singapore; joint venture manufacturing facilities in India and Lanzhou, China, and jv blending in Tianjin, China; plus a wholly-owned additive manufacturing plant under construction in Zhuhai, China.

This month were pleased to bring you a range of thought-provoking articles, including a look at API Group II vs. Group III base oils; a spotlight on Russias sometimes-murky base oil market; and a new answer to the old problem of varnish. Enjoy!