Calumet Specialty Products Partners announced on June 24 at a special groundbreaking ceremony, it will invest $40 Million to to more than double the production capacity of its polyolester synthetic lubricant basestocks manufacturing facility in Louisiana, Missouri. Expansion plans include a 25,000 square-foot addition to the current facility, which will increase manufacturing capacity to meet growing product demand. The groundbreaking ceremony at the plant was for a new warehouse, chemical storage tank firm and truck-railroad car loading area. The new warehouse will be 11,000 square feet and the project will add two miles of pipe to the premises.
The company currently makes lubricants for air conditioning and refrigeration compressor lubricants. This basestock is also used in jet engines, hydraulic fluids, textile lubricants, crankcase oil, two-cycle engine oils, turbine oils, transmission oils, gear oils, and high-temperature greases. Calumet expects the expansion to be complete in August 2014.
Calumet purchased the plant in Louisiana, Missouri in early 2012 from Ashland's Hercules Incorporated. (please refer to the story 'Ashland to Sell Synthetic Lubes Business' in the November 14, 2011 issue of the OEM/Lube News).
The state of Missouri is helping make Calumet’s expansion possible through a strategic package of economic incentives, which the company can redeem if it meets the strict job creation and investment criteria each program. The company plans to hire 21 additional employees, Gov. Jay Nixon's Office said.
