Afton Chemical reported another strong performance for the first quarter 2010 with operating profit improving to $70.4 million, an increase of 41 percent over operating profit for the first quarter of last year of $50.1 million. Sales of petroleum additives in the first quarter of this year increased to $389.3 million, an increase of 16 percent from sales for the first quarter of last year of $334.8 million.

Ashland India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Ashland Inc., announced it has acquired a 10-acre site near Mumbai, India to build a 100 million liters per year lube blending and packaging plant for Valvoline® branded automotive, industrial and heavy-duty lubricants. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in April, with completion targeted for late 2011.

Lubrizol last week announced the launch of AxleFacts.com, a new Web site dedicated to providing current, comprehensive information on axle technology and related gear oil programs. The site includes innovation highlights from key original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), industry updates and trends, and an education center featuring data on gear oil credentials and lubricant information.

BASF will introduce the Plurasafe® Insure™ line of food-grade lubricants and Plurasafe® H2O-K™ hydraulic fluid for marine applications at STLE 2010, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers’ Annual Exposition which will be held May 16-20 in Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was announced at this month’s ILMA Management Forum that the Association has begun its 2010 ethics initiative to collect and test samples of engine oils and tractor hydraulic fluids (THFs) manufactured and sold by ILMA members. For the first time since ILMA’s random sampling and testing began in 2007, Supplier Members’ finished products will be subject to the Association’s quality testing initiative.

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