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Industry News
NLGI Announces a review and new edition of it's popular Lubricating Grease Guide
The review was under taken to update, as much as possible, many of the photos to reflect newer technology from testing equipment to the latest in electron micrographs, information about the NLGI and the new Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist program to mention just a few of the items reviewed and changed. The books may be purchased for $50.00 (US-Member Price), $75.00 (US-Non Member Price).
CITGO Lubricants Division announces new General Manager
CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently named Karl Schmidt as the new General Manager of its lubricants division, which produces a full line of engine oils, greases, process oils, fluids and other lubricants. Schmidt will be responsible for the division's business oeprations, from base oil manufacturing to finished lubricant marketing. Additionally, he will oversee the development and implementation of a new organizational structure and go-to-market strategy.
TIMCAL Graphite & Carbon launches new website
Timcal has a new interactive platform featuring a user friendly environment that makes navigating through content a breeze. Please see it at www.timcal.com
Aircraft Grease Standard Promotes Safety, Savings
SAE International's AMS-M Committee on Aerospace Greases has finished developing a long-awaited standard for general purpose airframe greases, and soon will turn its attention to developing a specification for aviation wheel-bearing greases.
The committee has balloted the airframe grease specification, reviewed comments and made final edits, according to the online newsletter Lube Report. The final draft has been approved and will be assigned a number upon adoption, said committee Chairman Geoff Bishop, of Shell Aviation Ltd. in London.
Committee members -- who include grease suppliers and aircraft manufacturers -- say the new standard should counteract the proliferation of airframe lubes prescribed for planes and other aircraft. Boeing, for example, said it will allow operators to use a single grease on all but nine of the 359 lubrication points on a Boeing 737. By contrast, service manuals in the past may have called for scores of products to be used on some commercial planes.
"Clearly this will simplify things for maintenance crews, and it should yield a cost savings for airlines by reducing the number of products they need to inventory," Bishop told Lube Report. "There is also a safety issue, because there is less possibility for misapplication if they are dealing with a smaller number of greases."
Bishop added development of the specification for wheel bearing greases will likely take two years. The group already has a good start on a document that would incorporate new test methods, including one for water tolerance.
Mexican Firm Adds U.S. Base
Mexican lube and grease packager Vexa Group is targeting the U.S. market, by acquring a Houston-based lube packager and distributor. Cole Chemical Inc., the Houston firm, in September sold a 49-percent stake in its distribution arm, Cole Distribution, to the Monterrey, Mexico, based Vexa. Vexa, which was originally founded in 1927, is to acquire the rest of Cole Distribution over the next three years, and will immediately be investing in new packaging lines and storage tanks. The investments will boost the Houston facility's capacity fourfold. The expanded plant will make products for sale to Mexico, Canada and the Far East as well as the United States, according to Cole Sales and Marketing Manger Dave Luther.
Antioxidant Capacity Grows
NLGI member company Crompton Corp. is investing again to boost its alkylated diphenylamine antioxidant capacity -- the fourth time in two years it has done so. This latest expansion, at its chemical plant in Geismar, La., will help meet demand for Crompton's Naugalube antioxidants, which has been spurred by the introduction of the new GF-4 passenger car motor oils, according to company Vice President Janet Mann.
People In The News and on the Move
Craig McK. Duncan, Chevron Global Lubricants, previous Vice President North American Lubricants, has been appointed the new General Manager-Technology responsible for Chevron's Lubricants, Grease and Coolants Technology world-wide. Mr. Duncan was an outstanding Industry Speaker at the NLGI Annual Meeting 2005 in San Antonio, Texas, USA
James E. Reddy has been promoted to Research & Development Manager for the newly formed Overbased Metals Technology Department of OM Group. OMG recently adapted its overbased technology for additives for lubricants and greases, offering compliance with new environmental regulations in the transportation and food industries. Mr. Reddy was most recently Product Manager of Lubricant Additives.
Barbara A. Bellanti has been appointed president of Battenfeld Grease & Oil Corp. of New York. She joined the company in 1981, and held positions of increasing responsibility since then. An officer and board member of NLGI International, she holds an MBA from Canisius College. John A. Bellanti Jr., her brother, was named chief operating officer of the family-owned lubricant manufacturer.
American Refining Group, in Bradford, Pa., has named William F. Murray as manager of crude oil operations, Western Div. He will be responsible for ensuring consistent crude oil supply to the company's refinery. He previously was head of Murray Energy, a consulting firm.
David DeVore has been named president of Functional Products Inc., the Macedonia, Ohio, lube additive manufacturer and longtime NLGI member. DeVore took over from Fred Litt, who retired effective Nov. 1.
Brian Chase is now vice president, Asia Pacific, at ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants. Chase joined ChevronTexaco from Pennzoil-Quaker State in 2000, and most recently served as vice president, global base oils for the company. He will be based in Singapore.
Industry veteran James V. Rocco, who rose to become Valvoline's senior vice president for operations and the designated "owner" of its NASCAR race team, says he will retire on March 31, 2005. Replacing him will be the company's Mitchell K. Skaggs, in the newly created position of vice president of worldwide operations and supply chain. Skaggs will lead Valvoline packaging and blending facilities worldwide, customer service and the supply chain. Also, consumer marketing executive Scott R. Vogel has joined the division as president of Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC), its quick-lube segment. John Q. Wesley, former president of VIOC, is now senior vice president and general manager for Valvoline's DIFM (do-it-for-me) Distributor Group.
Joseph P. Speese has been named president of Acme-Hardesty Co., the Blue Bell, Pa., based distributor of vegetable and animal-fat based oleochemicals, derivatives, specialties and industrial process chemicals. Speese holds an MBA from Pepperdine Univ., and previously was with WR Grace & Co. Acme-Hardesty also made several other appointments: Mark Lucke of Strongsville, Ohio, is now regional sales manager for a 12-state region from New York to the Dakotas; Fred Hawco will manage its lubricants, grease, paints and coatings business group; and Gwen Vestraci of Lakewood, Calif., is regional sales manager, covering the U.S. west.
Petron, the New Berlin, Wis.-based supplier of lubricants for the mining, metalworking and industrial markets, has hired Elisa Pieronim as quality and technical director. Pieroni has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and has 10 years experience in the specialty chemicals business.
Betty Pfiester has been promoted to account manager for Rhein Chemie's mid-central U.S. region, and will manage sales training as well. She has been with Rhein Chemie since 1996, when she joined Elastochem, a company it acquired in 1999.
