The Japanese Automotive Standards Organization updated its four-stroke motorcycle engine oil standard with redefined clutch friction parameters and a new reference friction plate and reference oils for testing. Meanwhile, a long-awaited gear-pitting test is still unformed.

Nynas recorded a steep second quarter drop in operational cash flow for its naphthenics unit due to unfortunate results from oil and currency hedges. The company’s naphthenics business unit, which supplies mostly naphthenic base oils, posted earnings before interest, taxes...

In today's competitive economy, businesses are challenged to identify ways to increase profit margins without significant capital investments. For facility managers, cost control can be supported by raising maintenance standards to a Total Level...

Global demand for lubricants – including naphthenic and paraffinic mineral oils, synthetic fluids, vegetable oils and specialty oils – has been constant for a number of years. Naphthenic base oils are a key component of this market, and in 2015 accounted for about 9 percent of the world’s mineral base oil capacity.

Shell Chemical LP will increase production of linear alpha olefins (LAO) at its manufacturing plant in Geismar, La., adding 425,000 metric tons per year to bring its total LAO capacity to 1.3 million t/y.

Kyodo Yushi Co. announced last week that it has finished building a synthetic grease plant in Kameyama city in Japan’s Mie prefecture. While the nation’s lubricant demand is slowly contracting, Kyodo Yushi said grease demand is rising thanks to the expanding automobile industry.