LUBE REPORT



Wednesday, May 15, 2002		VOLUME 2 ISSUE 20

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ISSUE ARCHIVE

May 8, 2002
Vol. 2 Issue 19

May 1, 2002
Vol. 2 Issue 18

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FTC Puts Shell-Pennzoil Under Microscope
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is expected to signal within two weeks whether it will raise issues that could lead to conditions for approval of Shell Oil Co.’s proposal to buy Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. Some independent lubricant blenders are warning that the deal could hamper their access to Group II base oils, just as the need for those stocks is growing.
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Infineum Moves to Rationalize Plants
Infineum International Ltd. announced Monday that it is expanding a plant in Berre, France to produce detergents for marine lubricants. The Milton, U.K.-based additive company also said it plans to close operations in Campana, Argentina, and Baytown, Texas, while expanding plants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Bayway, N.J.
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Fire-stricken Ergon Down, Not Out
An Ergon official said this week that the company is ahead of schedule to repair damage caused by an April 30 fire at its Vicksburg, Miss., base oil refinery and that it has sufficient inventories to supply contract customers during the halt in production.
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ChevronTexaco Stung by Independent's Jabs
When an independent motor oil supplier suggested that Texaco lubricant brand names might fade away, it received a sharp rebuke from ChevronTexaco. Then North American Lubricants Co. issued a retraction that doubled as another pitch to undercut the oil major.
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Base Oil Price Report
For a change, the U.S. base oil market was quiet last week, the first in a month to pass without price changes. Suppliers expressed varying opinions about the desirability of the calm, with some saying further price hikes are warranted while others said they would prefer stability.
[Click here to view FULL STORY]

Correction
A “correction” in the May 8 issue incorrectly identified a compound used to make rolling elements in turbopump ball bearings on America’s space shuttles as sodium nitride. We were actually closer with the original mistake, in an article in the May 1 issue that referred to silicon nitrite. In fact, the compound is silicon nitride. Silicon nitride. Silicon nitride. After discovering the second goof, our dismay only deepened with receipt of an e-mail from a PhD chemist seeking more information about the mythical material.

Copyright © 2002 LNG Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
Tim Sullivan, Editor. Lube Report, Lubes'n'Greases Magazine and Lubricants Industry Sourcebook are published by LNG Publishing Co., Inc., 6105-G Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, Virginia 22044 USA. Phone: (703) 536-0800. Fax: (703) 536-0803. Website: www.LNGpublishing.com. For sponsor information contact Gloria Steinberg Briskin at (800) 474-8654 or (703) 536-7676 or gloria@LNGpublishing.com.

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