Lubrizol has announced a five-year expansion project at its Painesville Township, Ohio facility, near Cleveland. The expansion, at an investment estimated at $100 million, includes the addition of new manufacturing capacity, updated automated packaging capabilities, increasing warehouse space, and improvement of staging and loading of truck shipments.

Afton Chemical reported a first quarter operating profit of $105.0 million, representing an improvement of 9.2% over last year’s first quarter operating profit of $96.2 million. Sales for this year’s first quarter were $554.8 million, down 3.4% versus the same period last year, mainly due to changes in foreign currency rates.

On 1 June 2015, Swedish producer of metal powders. Höganäs AB will acquire 100 per cent of Wales, Great Britain-based lubricants manufacturer Abril Industrial Waxes Ltd. Höganäs acquired 19 per cent of Abril in 2010 and is now using its option to acquire the remaining shares in the company. Production will remain in Pyle, Wales.

Expanding its operations in China, Johnson Controls is beginning production of advanced lead-acid batteries for start-stop vehicles. The company estimates that by 2020, 40% of vehicles in mainland China will be using start-stop technology, which turns off the engine when the vehicle stops, and turns it back on when the driver releases the brake pedal.

• HollyFrontier Increases Its (Group I) 150 Bright Stock Posted Price by 10 CPG Effective April 20
• Dow Chemical's 1Q Earnings Rise 41%
• UK’s  Morris Lubricants Launches Versimax, Replaces Ring Free
• Due to Security Threat in Kenya, Argus Will be Moving Africa Base Oils and Lubricants Conference to Johannesburg, South Africa on 24 -25 June 2015