Sister companies Kluber Lubrication Munchen KG and Chem-Trend are joining the flock of lubricant manufacturers building factories in China, with parent Freudenberg Chemical Specialities KG announcing plans to open a joint facility in 2007. Freudenberg said it is building the plant to supply customers that are also beginning to manufacture in China, but added that it expects to land new customers once it is there. Munich-based Freudenberg did not disclose the size or cost of the facility but said...

Valvoline was among the large lubricant companies that imposed sales allocations in the wake of this years hurricanes, but distributors say impact was light thanks to delayed implementation and relaxation at the start of this month. Distributors told Lube Report this week that Valvoline imposed allocations in mid-October of 50 percent on packaged goods and 90 percent on bulk deliveries. Two weeks later, they added, the company raised those caps to 100 percent of normal monthly orders. Valvoline ...

Koch Industries Inc. has agreed to buy paper products and chemicals supplier Georgia-Pacific Corp. for $21 billion, the companies announced last week. Georgia-Pacific, which markets metalworking fluid additives, among other products, will retain its identify as a wholly owned subsidiary of Wichita, Kansas-based Koch. The agreement, announced Nov. 13, calls for Koch to buy all of Georgia-Pacifics stock for $13.2 billion, or $48 per share. In addition, Koch will assume upwards of $8 billion in Geo...

Indian oleochemicals manufacturer VVF Ltd. has entered the U.S. market by establishing a sales office in Freehold, N.J. The company, which sells vegetable oil derivatives into the lube additives and other industries, appointed former Pilot Chemical executive Neil Burns to be its vice president of U.S. operations. Headquartered in Mumbai, VVF operates six oleochemical plants in India. Its sales have been primarily in India and Southeast Asia, but the privately owned company has set a goal to beco...