Used oil re-refiner VeroLube and Aumento Capital IV Corporation have entered into an agreement in which Aumento will acquire all of the shares of VeroLube. Just last month, VeroLube announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Thermo Fluids, Inc., the largest western U.S. used oil collector and the third-largest collector of used motor oil in the U.S.

Hagen, Germany-based Carl Bechem GmbH announced last week that it has completed the acquisition of its joint venture partner’s 50 percent interest in Etna-Bechem Lubricants LLC, forming a new company, Carl Bechem Lubrication Technology LLC. Chagrin Falls, Ohio-based Etna Products Inc., the joint venture partner, will continue to operate as an independent, privately held company.

Elk Grove Village, IL-based BioBlend Renewable Resources has announced that Peter Haines has joined the company as VP-Business Development. BioBlend has also announced the addition of National Energy Solutions as distribution for Indonesia. Throughout SE Asia, NES is known for their Rust Bullet line of coating products for the marine industry.

In January, consulting and research firm Kline & Company introduced its monthly Base Stock Margin Index, a characterization of recent cash margin contributions in the U.S. base oil market over the past 24 months. Margins for Group II base oil refineries and re-refineries rebounded for the month of March, as profit improvements were derived from Group II price increases, accompanied by declines in feedstocks and consumables costs.

Toyota will soon introduce vehicles globally with a series of newly-developed, highly efficient gasoline engines that achieve outstanding thermal efficiency and fuel efficiency improvements of at least 10%. The new engines will be used in models scheduled for partial redesign in the near future, and a total of 14 engine variations will be introduced globally by 2015.

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• Former Shandong Shangong Engineering Mechanics Co., Ltd. in China Changes Name to Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Co., Ltd.
• Phillips 66 Cancels Plans to Sell its Whitegate Refinery in Ireland
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