Fuchs UK has invested in new offices at its headquarters in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. Key features of the office design include energy efficiency and the requirement to create an environment for employees that encourages team work and creativity. The building utilizes LED lighting, climate control systems and efficient insulation.

Besides being the U.K. manufacturing plant for the Fuchs Group, Hanley is also the companys global center of excellence for machining, mining, glass and Silkolene motorcycle oils. To support these areas, Fuchs enhanced the R&D technical center attached to the new office block. This creates additional capacity for the analytical work carried out in the Service and Quality laboratories.

Russian Supplier Plans India Foray

Russian lubricants supplier Obninskorgsintez is set to expand its business in India this year, the company said in an interview. The company operates a 125,000 metric tons per year blending plant in Obninsk, Kaluga Oblast, about 100 kilometers southeast of Moscow. It also produces a wide range of coolants and auto chemicals.

We are looking for local distributors of our products in India and do not rule out the possibility to open our own production there as soon as we set up the distribution points, said Evgeny Goryansky, Obninskorgsintez commercial director. Our India plans include distribution of our own brand and distribution of co-branded products produced in our factory in Russia.

The company said it recognizes the huge potential of the Indian market and has identified a variety of niches into which it could fit, such as engine oils and other automotive products for the countrys expanding fleet of motorcycles and passenger vehicles. Created in 1999, Obninskorgsintez has since reached across Russia and into 35 countries including China, Mongolia and Turkey as well as Central Asia, North Africa and Europe.

ATIEL Launches Compliance Policy

ATIEL, the technical association of the European lubricants industry, has launched a new Compliance Policy. Its aim is to support lubricant marketers who make performance claims against the ACEA Oil Sequences, for which compliance with the European Engine Lubricant Quality Management System (EELQMS) is required.

The Policy aims to encourage greater compliance across the industry through the continuous monitoring of automotive engine lubricant quality in the market and the exchange of information and technical data that supports the education of lubricant marketers. It also provides a framework for supporting marketers, who are responsible for all aspects of product liability, to take corrective action to address non-compliance issues. This includes procedures for ATIEL to give feedback and advice to marketers, or to take action against them, depending on the severity of the non-compliance.

The Policy currently applies only to engine oils that claim to meet the requirements of the ACEA Oil Sequences, but the principles apply equally to other clearly defined technical standards. The full Compliance Policy is available on the ATIEL website.

Total Invests in Data Platform

Total Energy Ventures, the venture capital arm of Total that invests in start-ups, announced that it has acquired an interest in Xee, an open platform that collects, processes and manages data from connected vehicles. Xee helps clients optimize their operations and suggests new offerings. Potential customers include auto service centers and vehicle fleet managers who want to develop predictive maintenance solutions, insurers looking to provide pay-as-you-drive solutions and businesses interested in real-time marketing, Total said in a press release.

Acquiring this stake enhances TEVs portfolio of digital solutions. Connecting cars to the cloud is an important building block for the mobility of the future. Xee stands out from its competitors through the wide range of vehicle models and brands covered by its platform and the quantity of data collected and analyzed, Total Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation Philippe Sauquet said.

This funding will enable Xee to accelerate the commercial deployment of its platform begun in 2016, invest in its technological lead and expand the use of artificial intelligence to manage the data, Total said, adding that it will sit on the companys Board of Directors as an observer.

Umongo Buys South African Distributor

Umongo Petroleum acquired South African base oil distributor Orbichem Petrochemicals, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary. Terms were not disclosed.

Cape Town, South Africa-based Orbichem distributes API Group I, II and III base oils, naphthenic process oils, transformer oils, waxes and bitumen. In 2014, Orbichem began distributing Ergon Internationals naphthenic insulating oil, base oils and process oils in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

Umongo Petroleum of Durban distributes base oils and lubricant additives in various regions in Africa for several multinational corporations, including Chevron, Evonik, BASF, BRB International and Innov Oil. Umongo CEO Boston Moonsamy told a reporter that the acquisition of Orbichem will allow Umongo to continue its expansion into other parts of Southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Moonsamy said the deal shows that local companies can develop into significant regional suppliers for multinational players.

Cliff Classen will continue to lead Orbichem, according to Moonsamy. Classen asserted that the African market is poised for growth but faces supply and logistics issues. African consumers will benefit not only from the comprehensive spectrum of oils offered but also from the technical expertise and the supply and logistics capabilities inherent in the company, he said.

Rowe Banks on Sustainability

Lubricant manufacturer Rowe has announced plans to render the company climate-neutral from the year 2017 onward and offset all emissions in doing so. To do this, the company calculated its ecological footprints from currently available data. To compensate for the carbon dioxide-equivalents determined and footprint they leave, Rowe decided to offset in advance its emissions and brand ambassadors for 2017 and 2018 by purchasing climate certificates, while also offering customers climate-compensated lubrication products.

Thanks to the conversion into a climate-neutral company, our customers can rely on the fact that all our products, from 1 to 1,000-liter containers, have been produced in a 100 percent climate-compensated manner, the company said in a news release. Thus, customers contribute to global carbon dioxide compensation by their purchase.

Lubmarine Launches Feed Rate Optimization Program

Total Lubmarine is introducing a new feed rate optimization program, tailored for the latest generation of two-stroke marine diesel engines through the combined and regular analysis of lube, drain and system oils. The company said that the service responds to customers who are increasingly requiring a more sophisticated approach to long-term engine maintenance through ongoing monitoring. The program gives ship operators a picture of engine condition to prevent corrosion and wear as well as reduce lube consumption and operating expenses.

The service is being trialed onboard a range of ships with a full roll-out expected this summer. It will consist of a regular analysis of drain and system oil by Total engineers and will be combined with the companys Diagomar Plus laboratory based lube oil analysis, which examines residual base number, kinematic viscosity, insolubles, water content, PQ index, oxidation, iron and other metal content.

Total Lubmarine OEM Relationships Manager Nikolaos Kotakis said, Achieving the right levels two stroke engine cylinder lubrication is about combining many different operating parameters under the guidance of a lube expert. Modern engines are particularly sensitive to corrosive wear, and both under and over lubrication can cause expensive damage. We believe that our new service will be a significant step forward for customers needing better engine monitoring support and lube oil consumption advice.