Universal Lubricants is making news with a flexible, 1-quart stand-up pouch for its premium engine oils – a first in the U.S. retail market. The tough, three-layer package incorporates a glug-free pour spout, and gives retailers a unique opportunity to bring customers an exciting, high-performance product in an environmentally responsible package, says company President John Wesley. Once drained and flattened, flexible pouches can significantly reduce landfill waste and require much less raw material to make. The product inside is environmentally responsible too: Eco Power synthetic-blend engine oil is made from high-quality rerefined base stocks and premium performance additives. Available now on Amazon .com and at selected vendors, the quarts will make their retail debut in 2013, followed by a larger, 5.1-quart FlexPak. Web: www.ecoultraoil.com

ARGs Better Biogas Engine Oil

American Refining Group has reformulated its Brad Penn medium-ash biogas engine oil with a more robust additive package, one specifically tailored for engines running on different types of fuel gases, including harsh bio-and landfill gas. This additive package is said to be more efficient for sour, high-sulfur gas service, where acid and base controls are among the limiting factors. For example, Brad Penn works to protect the engines seen at anaerobic digestion farms, which are subject to harsh methane, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. In an extensive field trial in central New York, the new 10 TBN formulation demonstrated drain intervals of over 1,000 hours (42 days), and good tolerance for hydrogen sulfide spikes while maintaining its residual alkalinity. Web: www. bradpennsgeo.com

Kluber Gear Grease Has NSF Nod

Kluberfood NH1 94-6000 is a new synthetic fluid gear grease based on highly refined synthetic hydrocarbon and a special calcium complex soap thickener. NSF H1 registered, as safe for incidental, technically unavoidable food contact, the grease provides excellent wear protection even at the very soft consistency of NLGI 000, says the company. Features cited include excellent corrosion protection and good water resistance. The special synthetic base materials also assure lubricant supply in refrigerated environments. Suitable for central lubrication systems, Kluberfood NH1 94-6000 can be used for the immersion lubrication of toothed and worm gears, chains, bearings, guides and other friction points. Web: www.klubersolutions.com

Bel-Ray Upgrades PAO Lubes

Bel-Ray Synthetic PAO Lubricant has been upgraded to achieve performance advantages not found in conventional mineral based oils, the company boasts. Based on superior polyalphaolefin base stocks, the formula has enhanced oxidation stability that can increase the service interval rating to 10,000 hours. It features improved lubricity, extended seal life and greater varnish clean-ability for optimal machine efficiency and life. Suitable for a variety of applications, Bel-Ray Synthetic PAO Lubricant can be found in rotary screw compressors, heavy-duty reciprocating compressors, anti-friction bearings, hydraulic systems, chain drives and power transmission reservoirs. And for applications requiring NSF H1 registration for nonfood contact areas, theres No-Tox Syntra synthetic oil. Web: www.belray.com

Gain Hydraulic Efficiency

Rando HDZ and MV oils (ISO 15, 22, 32, 46, 68, 100) are antiwear hydraulic oils formulated with premium base oil technology to protect hydraulic pumps against wear, rust and corrosion. Chevron recommends them for hydraulic or circulating oil systems, including marine on-deck machinery, hydraulic-actuated loading bins, or equipment that faces a wider operating temperature than single-vis oils. In laboratory efficiency tests, Rando HDZ oils provided up to 5 percent improvement in overall hydraulic pump efficiency, versus a typical monograde hydraulic oil with V.I. Below 105. The Rando HD MV version promotes even and continuous power transmission over a wide temperature range with a minimum of shudder. The oils meet key specs from top OEMs. Web: www.Chevron Lubricants.com

Just pHone for pH

Sensorex has developed an industry-first mobile accessory for pH measurements. Compatible with Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad devices, its PH-1 pH meter measures and records pH values in the lab or field. The patent-pending accessory plugs into a standard Apple dock connector and uses a Sensorex pH electrode to measure pH with accuracy to .01 pH. A free Sensorex app displays pH, millivolts, ambient temperature and solution temperature in real time. The device supports multiple calibration points, and sends readings by e-mail for later analysis. If used with a GPS-enabled device, the app will even record measurements with both timestamp and geographic coordinates, eliminating transcription errors and improving efficiency. Web: www.sensorex.com

Fine-tune Your FM

Controlling friction is the key to controlling fuel efficiency, reducing emis-sions, reducing wear and extending the durability of equipment, states Croda. It has created a new family of organic friction modifiers based on polymer chemistry, Perfad 3000 and Perfad 3050. In a matrix of tests, each displayed outstanding ability to reduce the coefficient of friction of engine oils, to levels unachievable with conventional organic FMs, it says. Based only on C, H and O, Perfad 3000 and 3050 contain no sulfated ash, phosphorus or sulfur, which enables formulators to develop heavy-duty and passenger car engine oils that improve fuel economy while reducing emissions. View all of the new data, or request samples at www.crodalubricants.com.

New Dropping Point Method

Producers of grease, waxes, oils, asphalt, polymers and similar materials face major challenges related to time, capacity and variation. Any batch-to-batch variation in dropping or softening point can be costly and time consuming, notes Leah Barton of Advanced Technology Group, and may require the entire batch to be reworked or even discarded. To help, a new Dropping Point System has been developed by a major technology developer, and validated by the research and testing community, she adds. The system is said to operate according to standards of ASTM, Pharmacopeia and others, and to be easy to use, simple to clean, and efficient. It also offers automatic, video-recorded analysis to provide certainty of results. E-mail: leah.barton@coalesce.com

New Entrant in Succinic Acid

Reverdia, a joint venture between DSM and Roquette, is partnering with specialty distributor Helm to develop the European market for Reverdias Bio succinium – a sustainable succinic acid based on renewable raw material. Targets uses include coolants, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, lubricants, resins and more. Biosuccinium is derived from non-fossil feedstock and produced with proprietary yeast-based fermentation technology, proven in a 300-ton demo plant operating in France since early 2010. Reverdias large-scale facility for commercial production is nearing completion in Cassano Spinola, Italy, and due to be operational by year end. The bio-based succinic acid will have best-in-class quality, economics and environmental footprint, the companies say. Web: www. reverdia.com and www.helmag.com