Wayne, PA-based re-refiner Puralube announced plans to further expand one of its re-refineries in the industrial park in Zeitz, in the south of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, to enable production of API Group III base oil in the first quarter of 2017.
Puralube's Group III production capacity will be 50,000 metric tons per year, converting one of its two existing re-refineries at the Troeglitz/Zeitz, Germany site each currently having 50,000 metric tons per year Group II+ base oil production capacity. Puralube says it will be the first manufacturer in the world to provide API Group III base oils from used oil.
"I am very pleased that our Board has decided to approve this investment" said Puralube President and CEO Andreas Schueppe.
Puralube uses patented HyLube catalytic processing technology developed by Des Plaines, Ill.-based UOP. Puralube acquired exclusive rights to the technology in 1995.
Puralube started up the worlds first HyLube plant in 2004, followed by the second HyLube plant in 2008.
Puralube produces and distributes up to four different viscosities of top-quality, high-grade base oils for the European lubricants market under the brand name pur e.g. pur60, pur75, pur160, pur300. Their excellent physical and chemical characteristics correspond to the requirements of API Group II+ base oils and already meet the stricter industry specifications and the tougher environmental standards.
Frankfurt, Germany-based Puralube GmbH is the German subsidiary of the U.S.-based parent company Puralube, Inc.
