Green Light for PAO
Chevron Phillips Chemical is moving ahead with a project to add 10,000 metric tons per year of low-viscosity polyalphaolefin capacity at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas. Construction was to begin last month, with startup expected by mid-2017. When it wraps up, Cedar Bayou will have 58,000 t/y of PAO capacity.
The company said the project will allow it to meet increasing demand for high-quality base stocks for automotive and industrial lubricants, and to improve safety and efficiency while reducing waste generation at the PAO unit. Feedstock for making PAO will come from Cedar Bayous full-range normal alpha olefins plant, which was expanded last year.
Chevron Phillips Chemical markets both high- and low-viscosity PAOs under the brand name Synfluid. It is a 50-50 joint venture of Chevron and Phillips 66.
PIB Project in Malaysia
BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn broke ground in March on a 50,000 t/y highly reactive polyisobutene plant at its petrochemical complex in Gebeng, Kuantan, Malaysia. The facility, which is scheduled to come online during the first quarter of next year, will make HR-PIBs for lubricant and fuel additives.
This will be the first facility in Southeast Asia to make HR-PIBs, BASF said. The Gebeng complex – a 50-50 joint venture between German chemical giant BASF and Malaysian national oil company Petronas – is one of two Verbund, or integrated petrochemical complexes, in which BASF is involved in Asia. The other, BASF-YPC, is a joint venture with Sinopec in Nanjing, China, that also includes a PIB plant. BASF also makes PIB in Antwerp, Belgium, and Ludwigshafen, Germany.
HR-PIB is a chemical intermediate used in the production of high-performance lubricant and fuel additives, including detergents and dispersants. Regular PIB can also be used as a synthetic base stock.
Infineum Holds Its Own in China
Infineum has opened its first wholly owned lubricant additive production site in China, a 100,000 t/y blending plant in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province. Although growth of Chinas lubricants market has slowed, officials said the countrys demand for lube additives continues to rise, and that the new facility will help it compete for that business. The plant is an important milestone to further serve our ambitious strategy in China, said CEO Xavier le Mintier.
The U.K.-based company previously produced additives in China through Shanghai High-lube Additive Co., a 2001 joint venture with Sinopec. The 50-50 j.v. built a 40,000 t/y plant in Shanghais Pudong district, supplying additives primarily for engine oils.
Metalube Expands
Specialty lubricants manufacturer Metalube has completed an expansion to its factory in Manchester, U.K., increasing its capacity to make metalworking fluids. The project added storage tanks, factory, warehouse, office and laboratory space, and increased production capacity by 20 percent.
Metalubes core business is making lubricants for drawing non-ferrous wire and metal tubes. Recently, the manufacturer introduced fluids for applications such as ferrous tube forming and ferrous and non-ferrous metal forming, along with corrosion preventives, high-temperature chain oils and wire rope lubricants.
Metalube foresees further increases this year to keep pace with demand. We are seeing a significant increase in sales from Southeast Asia and Indian sub-continent regions, said a spokeswoman. Moreover, Metalube has recently launched operations in the U.S. and is expecting that market to provide a further increase in sales over the short to medium term.
BRB Picks Tiarco for N. China
BRB International B.V. has chosen Tiarco Chemical to distribute its lubricant oil additives and chemicals in northern China. Tiarco is a division of Dalton, Georgia-based Textile Rubber & Chemical Co.
Also, a 50.1 percent majority share of BRBs Netherlands-based parent company, BRB Holdings B.V., was recently acquired by independent investment company Bencis Capital Partners. The investment will allow the manufacturer to continue expanding its silicone and oil additives business segments, it said.
Angus Adds Singapore Tech Center
Angus Chemical, a global supplier of specialty amines and derivatives, in mid-March opened a technical center in Singapore where customers can receive training in the use of its chemistries and work on product development in applications such as metalworking fluids. The Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based company opened similar facilities in Shanghai, China, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November.
Croda Builds in France
Croda International is adding a new surfactants production facility at its Chocques manufacturing site in northern France, which will increase capacity by more than 20 percent. The company said the extra volume, due in early 2017, will not only allow it to meet ever increasing demand for some of its surfactants within the Tween, Brij and Myrj product ranges, it will also significantly improve production flexibility across the manufacturing site. Crodas Tween surfactant line includes a variant used as a corrosion inhibitor in applications such as hydraulic and metalworking fluids.
IMCD Distributes for Solvay
Specialty chemical distributor IMCD N.V. is now distributing Solvay Specialty Polymers lubrication grades of Fomblin perfluoropolyether in Europe, Middle East and Africa. PFPE are often formulated into greases for specific applications in the chemical, electronic, military, nuclear, data processing and other industries that require high performance lubrication.
IMCD, which is based in the Netherlands, also recently opened an office in Tokyo, naming Shunsaku Kubo as managing director of IMCD Japan, effective April 1. Kubo, who has 24 years of senior managerial experience, holds a bachelors degree in chemical engineering from the Kobe University in Japan and an MBA from University of Leicester in the U.K.
ILMA: Fix Calif. Lube Rule
The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association said it will ask the state of California to allow exceptions to its rigid ban on engine oils deemed obsolete by the American Petroleum Institute. The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, requires that engine oils meet at least one active API category, one active sequence of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) or one active original equipment manufacturer specification.
The Alexandria, Virginia-based trade group points out that this narrow definition actually bars oils that have legitimate applications, such as two- and four-cycle engine oils for lawn and garden implements, specialized racing oils such as those used in dragsters, and engine oils marketed to antique cars enthusiasts who want older formulations.
ILMA officials said some of their objections to the law stem from changes made shortly before passage without the industrys knowledge, including labeling guidelines. At the time of writing, ILMA planned to submit a letter to the California Division of Measurement Standards proposing that the agency delay enforcing the ban while it works with industry to develop procedures that would allow some leeway for legitimate, non-traditional products.
Cepsa Warehouse Opens
Spanish oil and gas company Cepsa has opened a fully automated lubricants warehouse in San Roque, Cadiz province, to improve logistics. The 4,590-sq.-meter. warehouse involved an investment of 14 million euros (U.S. $15.9 million), and has capacity to store over 26,000 pallets of lubricant oil drums. The site employs 70 people, with all the packaging movements being handled by automated stacking cranes.
The new facility is next to Cepsas Gibraltar-San Roque refinery, where the company makes fuels and petrochemicals. San Roque has capacity to produce 200,000 t/y of base oils, paraffins and lubricants, and can package 170,000 t/y of engine oils, which are marketed under the Cepsa and Ertoil brands.
New Owner at Nexeo
Houston-based Nexeo Solutions, which distributes an array of additive components and packages used in industrial lubricants and metalworking fluids, was purchased in March for $1.6 billion by WL Ross Holding Corp. WLRH is the investment arm of billionaire Wilbur Ross, who said he aims to reintroduce Nexeo as a publicly listed company. He also views it as a platform to acquire other companies operating in the fragmented chemical distribution space.
Formerly Ashland Chemical, Nexeo is a global marketer of chemicals and plastics, operating in more than 80 countries. It had revenues of $3.9 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2015. Ashland sold it in 2011 for $1 billion to private equity firm TPG, which retains a 35 percent interest.
Tribology Turns 50
In a March 2 ceremony and reception at Buckingham Palace, the United Kingdoms Prince Philip hosted the International Tribology Councils 50th anniversary celebration of the multi-disciplinary science of tribology. More than 140 attendees from 15 nations were present.
The ITCs Prof. Peter Jost reminded those present that tribology has evolved over the past 50 years, and is now understood to be the physical science-based generic technology of friction. Tribology thus encompasses not only the traditional areas of engineering, materials and lubrication, but also nanotribology, eco (green) tribology and biotribology.
Briefly Noted
Amsterdam-based investment company MKB Fonds has acquired a majority interest in Dutch business Technical Lubricants International B.V. (TecLub).
Slavneft, a joint venture between Gazprom Neft and Rosneft, delayed the start-up of its Group III base oil plant now under construction in Yaroslavl, Russia, from this summer to the first quarter of 2017.
Petronas Lubricants International in February began construction of a blending plant in the Ezeiza Industrial Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it will relocate its existing operation in the South American country.
Paris-based specialty lubricants and synthetic esters manufacturer Nyco brought its civil and military aviation activities within a common aeronautics and defense division, led by Guillaume Forestier, previously director of its civil aviation division.
Faces in the News
Trevor Russell has been tapped to become CEO of Infineum International, replacing Xavier le Mintier, who is stepping down on June 30 after four years in the role. Russell has been a member of Infineums senior leadership team since the additives joint venture launched in 1999. He currently holds the position of executive vice president, sales and supply.
Milwaukee-based Benz Oil has added five new positions: Dave Fuerst joined in January as vice president of sales and marketing. He was most recently Castrol Industrial North Americas president and CEO. Michael Grimes is national grinding sales manager, bringing 26 years of experience from companies such as Qualichem, Quaker and Castrol. Tony LeBarge joined as senior developmental chemist. He has 25 years of industrial experience, most recently with Kost USA. Matt Williamson, who has a degree in advertising and more than 15 years of experience, has been appointed marketing manager, and Susan Weiss, with an MBA and nine years of experience, joined Benz as financial analyst.
Mika Lahtinen has joined naphthenics supplier Nynas as senior technical adviser, with a focus on the rubber and tire industry. Lahtinen comes from Nordic company Nokian Tyres and holds a Ph.D. in materials and polymer chemistry.
MidContinental Chemical Co. has appointed Matt Mannette as district manager for the southern United States. He will aid in expanding fuel and lubricant additive sales in this assigned geography. Mannette takes over from Gary Lackore, who was promoted to national sales manager.
Richard Glady has become sales manager of lubricants for VP Racing Fuels. Previously, Glady spent 15 years with American Refining Group, including as vice president of lubricant sales and marketing.
Jim Jung is now president of lubrication equipment manufacturer Trico Corp., the fourth generation of his family to serve in the role.
Specialty chemical distributor Sea-Land Chemical Co. has hired Fabiana Borges as supply chain specialist and Kelly Murray as regulatory specialist.
Glen Pat Fetterman
Pat Fetterman, 68, died suddenly at his home in Media, Pennsylvania on March 26. A 38-year industry veteran, Fetterman was known for more than a decade as the primary face of Infineum Trends, both developing and presenting up to 35 shows per year. Throughout his career, he was involved in every heavy duty engine oil upgrade, including the just-completed PC-11 category.
After graduating from Drexel Univ. in 1970, Fetterman worked at Uniroyal, helping to create snowmobile tracks for Arctic Cat, and then at Chrysler designing the U.S. Armys M1 Abrams battle tank. He moved to Exxon Enterprises in 1975 to work on hybrid and electric cars, and when that project ended, joined the Paramins division of Exxon Chemical in 1981. A mechanical engineer who swam comfortably among chemists, he held roles in formulation science, marketing technical service and automotive development. He joined Infineum when it was formed in 1999 by Exxon Paramins and Shell Chemical, and became its industry liaison in 2001. After retiring in 2014, he worked a consultant to the company.
Fetterman is survived by his wife, Elaine, a son and two granddaughters, and his mother, brother and sister-in-law, among others.