Germanys Fuchs Petrolub AG has acquired Ovoline Lubricants, a division of British oil products company Brett Oils Ltd. Ovoline sells automotive and industrial lubricants, including wire rope lubes that will broaden Fuchs product line. It had 2004 sales of Euro 13 million and will be folded into Fuchs Lubricants (UK) in Stoke-on-Trent. Brett, based in Gateshead, England, will make the Ovoline products for Fuchs until production operations can be transferred. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lubrizol Closing UK Plant

Hoping to save an eventual $10 million a year and optimize its manufacturing base, Lubrizol soon will begin closing its Bromborough, England, manufacturing facility and transfer its production to higher-capacity plants it operates in France and Texas. The restructuring will cost $17 million in 2004 and another $15 million over 2005 and 2006, Chairman and CEO James Hambrick said. Bromborough, which makes additives for engine oils, fuels and specialty monomers, will be phased out completely by late 2006. Some of its 69 affected employees will have the opportunity to relocate to other Lubrizol facilities.

Polish Your Skills

Key skills for lubricant professionals, ranging from developing new products, to writing and giving a technical paper, creating effective market strategies, and getting more from lube testing, are on the agenda for the STLE Philadelphia Sections education seminar, titled Greener Pastures, March 17 in Deptford, N.J. STLE President Bob Baker and past presidents John Hermann and Jim Dickey will also bring their insights to the event, which aims to give the newcomer or seasoned professional an intense look into the basics of tribology as well as the human skills needed for industry success. Registration ($100) covers course materials, lunch and breaks. Contact: George Arbocus, 205 Bergen Ave., Bellmawr, NJ 08031. Phone: (856) 931-4063

Contracts Inked

The U.S. Navys Military Sealift Command has picked Predict USA to analyze lubricants from the more than 100 government-owned ships it operates. MSC ships are used to supply U.S. Navy ships at sea, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, and deliver combat cargo used by U.S. military forces overseas. Predict will analyze and report on samples from ships all over the world, ensuring their fitness for use…

Anderol Inc. is now providing synthetic lubricants for the ski lifts run by Aspen Skiing Co., supplying polyalphaolefins to keep the Colorado resorts company up and running. In addition to needing lubes that are well-suited to the slopes icy conditions, Aspen Skiing said it wanted to reduce energy consumption and also incorporate green lubes…

SKF has signed again with Houghton Fluidcare to provide comprehensive chemical management at its bearing manufacturing plant in Hanover, Pa., and to reduce industrial fluids usage and costs. The contract covers purchasing, monitoring and disposing of all coolants, cleaners, rust preventives and quenchants at the facility. The contract also was renewed for SKFs Gainesville, Ga., plant.

Learn from Experts

STLEs Chicago Section is offering a two-day lube education program, March 16-17, at Argonne National Labs (near Chicago). Industry and research leaders will address a range of topics including lubrication fundamentals, metalworking, industrial and transportation lubricants, with specific talks on nanotribology, vegetable oil based lubricants, and mycobacteria in metalworking fluids. The agenda is targeted to new entrants to the lubrication field as well as experienced sales, marketing and technical personnel, says section Education Chairman Ted McClure. Theres also opportunity for participants to purchase tabletops for promotional displays (complimentary for event sponsors). For details, e-mail McClure at tmcclure@tribsys.com, or phone (219) 531-2583. Website: www.chicagostle.org.

Faces in the News

Industry veteran Tony Soriano, president of Total Lubricants USA, has announced he will retire March 1, after 22 years leading the Linden, N.J. outfit. Replacing him will be Alain Cleret, who has been with the company for 24 years, the last five in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as regional director of lubricants for the Middle East and Central Asia. Soriano has been in the lubes industry for 28 years, beginning with the former Cooks Industrial Lubricants, which was acquired first in 1980 by Pennwalt Corp., then in 1989 by Atochem, the chemicals business of Elf Acquitaine, which was acquired by TotalFina in 2000.

Crompton Corp. has promoted Robert J. Wampler to commercial director, Americas Region, for its Petroleum Additives business. Wampler has 25 years of industry experience, including 20 in petroleum additives. He joined Crompton in 1999, from Lubrizol.

Markus Scherer has been appointed global technology manager, synlubes, to head up innovative new products, applications and strategies at Cognis Functional Products Technology in Germany. The Ph.D. chemist joins Cognis from RohMax.

Lisa Doren has become product line marketing manager for Hatco Corp., responsible for the companys neopolyol esters. An STLE member, she joins Hatco from ExxonMobil Chemical, and has over 15 years of supervisory and sales experience.

Matt Freitag is the new sales representative for Pico Chemical in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. He has over 15 years of experience in the chemical, lubricant and metalworking industries.