Category: Lubrizol

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation has become the first lubricant additive technology supplier to join the Getting to Zero Coalition. An international group currently endorsed by 14 governments and composed of more than 100 organizations, it aims to drive the development of commercially viable, zero-emissions deep-sea ships by 2030.

The partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action boasts leading ship owners, ports, technology providers and fuel companies as well as academic and research institutions.

“Joining the Getting to Zero Coalition is an opportunity for Lubrizol to contribute to one of the most important challenges of our time,” says Simon Tarrant, business manager – large engines, with Lubrizol. “It is also a chance to align with forward-thinking industry stakeholders to gain some insight into the engine and fuel solution challenges of the future.”

Lubrizol brings a wealth of experience in lubricant and fuel research. It recently analyzed IMO 2020-compliant very low sulphur fuel oil blends to develop a robust cylinder oil additive package to handle the widely varying properties of these fuels.

The coalition has chosen 2030 as its target date because most ships after that date will still be sailing in 2050, by which time global regulator the International Maritime Organization hopes to at least decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by half. To fulfil that vision, a big proportion of the fleet will need to operate on low- or zero-carbon fuels.

New fuels and enhanced engine design will bring new operating condition challenges. For example, while today’s lubricants must counter the corrosion caused by sulphuric acid in cylinders—the result of sulphur in fuel—new fuels will form different acids. New lubricant formulations will therefore be needed to tackle any challenges that arise.

Ian Bown, technical manager – marine diesel engine oils, with Lubrizol, adds: “We are talking with engine manufacturers to understand the challenges that new fuels might bring. This will help us to evaluate the type of additive chemistry required in the future. But to gain more understanding we need in-service testing, which depends on the availability of ships operating on the relevant fuels.”

Lubrizol’s wider approach to sustainability aims to reduce both the environmental impact of making its products and the impact of the products themselves. It takes a lifecycle analysis approach to sustainability decisions in order to identify genuine opportunities to reduce its impact and prevent shifting the environmental burden from one product, process or phase to another.

“We are excited about the important work the coalition is doing and look forward to working together to help the shipping industry achieve its emissions goals by 2030,” says Tarrant.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol together with NIKE, Inc. is helping protect frontline medical workers fighting against COVID-19. To support Nike’s efforts to develop and donate full-face shields and powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses to hospitals across several U.S. cities, Lubrizol donated ESTANE® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymers, an important element in both pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Nike’s version of the full-face shield transforms elements of the brand’s footwear and apparel, including TPU. Lubrizol’s innovation team quickly evaluated materials, provided insights to optimize performance and re-orchestrated its production and supply chain to produce and donate the necessary material to Nike as part of this effort.

In addition to the full-face shields, the ESTANE TPU donation will be used in lenses for powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) helmets, used in situations where medical professionals face the greatest airborne pathogen exposure as they provide critical care to infected patients.

With Lubrizol’s support, Nike has shipped full-face shields and PAPR lenses to health systems in Oregon, where Nike is headquartered, and several other U.S. cities, including Cleveland, where Lubrizol’s world headquarters sit.
“We are grateful for the generosity of companies around the country as we build up our supply levels in anticipation of a surge in COVID-19 patients,” said Lara Kalafatis, Chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Philanthropy Institute. “This collaboration between Lubrizol and Nike demonstrates ingenuity applied alongside compassion and a sincere interest to help thousands of our caregivers.”

“These face shields will allow us to treat patients while keeping our front-line medical providers safe,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD, FACHE. “We appreciate this generous donation. It’s another example of the community coming together to care for each other.”

Lubrizol’s TPU is an incredibly versatile polymer that bridges the gap between flexible rubber and rigid plastics, which allows partners to apply TPU across a wide range of applications. In addition to full-face shields, Lubrizol’s TPU is being used in medical gowns, medical equipment, hospital mattresses, tubing, hoses, and medical devices for many other critical applications.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Nike to improve lives and support those in need during COVID-19,” says Rick Tolin, President, Lubrizol Advanced Materials. “Every day our employees enable products used across the world, and our team is fully committed to enabling our science and applications expertise to deliver even greater impact during this global crisis.”

Earlier this month, Lubrizol announced a $2 million donation commitment to support COVID-19 needs globally. The company has contributed critical supplies to hospitals across the world, donated to Food Banks where Lubrizol has major operations and supported local restaurants by purchasing meals for hospital workers, amongst other efforts. The company has also challenged its employees to contribute 2,020 virtual or at-home volunteer hours to assist organizations providing support in this environment.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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On January 1, Lubrizol’s Lipofoods SLU became a part of the Health Business of Lubrizol Life Science (LLS Health), strengthening the organization’s global presence and providing support to advance its growth in the rapidly developing nutraceutical market.

The Lipofoods brand, was previously part of the Lubrizol Life Science Beauty business.

Lipofoods Nutraceutical Ingredients is now the umbrella brand for the new Nutraceutical Division within LLS Health and includes all existing brands and product platforms for microencapsulated minerals and botanicals.

The transition gives the Lipofoods brand strong global infrastructure for driving more innovative solutions to the expanding nutraceuticals market.

“Over the last few years, the Lipofoods brand has experienced rapid growth and scale-up,” says David Padró, Business Unit Manager of the Nutraceuticals Division of LLS Health. “This has propelled the need for a larger structure to meet the demands of the fast-changing, highly segmented global nutraceuticals marketplace. This new structure will bring technology and scientific support to active ingredients with functional performance attributes.”

The newly formed Nutraceutical Division will leverage the broad range of internal Lubrizol capabilities for improving bioavailability and oral delivery for its portfolio of active ingredients. It will benefit from LLS Health’s technological platforms, well established applications expertise, global sales and marketing structures, operations and regulatory know-how to continue developing the nutraceuticals market, while keeping the current sales structure and distribution network.

“The addition of the Lipofoods brand to our portfolio will boost Lubrizol’s exposure to the nutraceuticals market and complement our product offerings in the health and wellness industry,” adds Barbara Morgan, Global Business Director for Pharmaceutical Solutions of LLS Health. “This illustrates our holistic commitment to improve health outcomes by providing expertise that accelerates customers’ growth through expanded access to innovative nutraceutical platforms.”

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Sientra, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIEN), a medical aesthetics company, has announced the acquisition of the dedicated FDA-approved silicone breast implant manufacturing operation in Franklin, Wisconsin, from Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Life Science.

Lubrizol will receive $20 million in cash and up to 607,442 shares of Sientra stock for assets comprised of dedicated manufacturing equipment, building improvements, in-process inventory, raw materials and supplies and the transfer of the intellectual property rights, processes and know-how necessary for Sientra to manufacture its breast implants.

The transaction is as follows:

• $14 million is payable in cash at closing.

• The balance of the cash consideration will be paid in a $3 million cash payment in 2021 and a $3 million cash payment in 2023.

• Sientra will also issue up to 607,442 shares of stock to Lubrizol Corporation if certain Sientra share price milestones are achieved over a 48-month period.

In exchange, Lubrizol Life Science will turn over to Sientra a turnkey, fully operational Class 3 breast implant manufacturing operation that is now 19 months into commercial scale-up with established capacity that continues a steady ramp to position the Company to meet its near-term and long-term commercial objectives. Importantly, this transaction culminates a win-win commercial relationship between Sientra and Lubrizol Life Science that began in 2016 with co-development to achieve the validated manufacturing processes and specifications necessary to gain FDA PMA supplement approval in April 2018.

Sientra has agreed to employ the majority of Lubrizol Life Science’s employees that are currently dedicated to the Sientra implant manufacturing operation in Franklin. The parties have also agreed to a transition services agreement and a long-term lease agreement of existing and expansion space in Lubrizol’s Franklin facility. Sientra’s tissue expanders will continue to be manufactured by Lubrizol Life Science in Victor, Montana and both companies will continue to collaborate on bringing innovative new products to the aesthetic market.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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French prosecutors on Tuesday launched an investigation into whether there was negligence on behalf of Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation that caused the massive fire that destroyed the Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Normandy, France.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz released a statement that prosecutors where investing whether there was “involuntary destruction caused by fire due to an obviously deliberate breach of a security obligation”.

Fears of toxic chemical contamination from the September 27 fire are ongoing, but France’s Minister of Health previously announced that “first samples remain below the recommended thresholds of the normal environment.”

The Rouen plant was founded in 1954, and manufactured and packaged additives for lubricants and paint.

No casualties have been reported.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance

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According to the newspaper Les Echoes, Lubrizol will set up a fund of roughly 50 million euros pay for the losses of farmers and other industries affected by the fire that destroyed its chemical plant in Rouen, Normandy, France.

An estimated 5,250 tons of chemicals, oil and fuel additives went up in flames in a massive fire that caused roughly 40 to 50 million euros ($44-55 million) in agricultural losses in the surrounding area, according to France’s Agricultural Minister.

The government has ordered a ban on the harvesting of crops and sale of animal products from the area due to the oily soot that blanketed the countryside.

According to Les Echoes, Lubrizol will directly compensate some 450 farmers in the region due to the ban on milk production because of the blaze.

The Rouen plant was founded in 1954, and manufactured and packaged additives for lubricants and paint.

No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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The estimated 5,250 tons of chemicals, oil and fuel additives that went up in flames in a massive fire at a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Normandy, France, has caused roughly 40 to 50 million euros ($44-55 million) in agricultural losses in the surrounding area, according to France’s Agricultural Minister.

The government has ordered a ban on the harvesting of crops and sale of animal products from the area due to the oily soot that blanketed the countryside.

During the multi-day blaze, nearby residents sheltered in place and local schools were closed, as more than 130 firefighters battled the fire, which left the facility in ashes.

Some fears of toxic chemical contamination eased a bit when France’s Minister of Health has announced that “first samples remain below the recommended thresholds of the normal environment.”

The Rouen plant was founded in 1954, and manufactured and packaged additives for lubricants and paint.

No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Lawsuits are already lining up after a reported 5,250 tons of chemicals, oil and fuel additives went up in flames in a massive fire at a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Normandy, France.

Nearby residents sheltered in place and local schools were closed, as more than 130 firefighters battled the fire, which left the facility in ashes. There was also concern that the nearby Seine river would be polluted.

Fears of toxic chemical contamination are ongoing, but France’s Minister of Health has announced that “first samples remain below the recommended thresholds of the normal
environment.”

The Rouen plant was founded in 1954, and manufactured and packaged additives for lubricants and paint.

No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Over 130 firefighters battled a blaze at a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Normandy, France.

The chemical plant was fully engulfed in flames and is expected to take days to fully extinguish. Nearby residents were sheltering in place and local schools were closed. There is concern that the nearby Seine river could be polluted.

The plant was founded in 1954, and manufactures and packages additives for lubricants and paint.

No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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As an affirmation of its commitment to sustainability, Lubrizol is proud to announce the company recently received a Gold sustainability rating from EcoVadis. EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, providing detailed assessments of business’ environmental, social and ethical performance.

A Gold rating means Lubrizol scored within the top five percent of more than 55,000 companies rated by EcoVadis and the top two percent of its industry. The company was evaluated on the strengths of its actions and policies relative to Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. This is the sixth year Lubrizol was part of the EcoVadis evaluations and has seen a steady increase in its scores every year.

“The EcoVadis scores are an important external validation of our focus on sustainability,” says Julie Edgar, Lubrizol’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Lubrizol touches the lives of billions of people every day, and we take our responsibilities to those consumers, our customers, our employees and our communities very seriously.”

Lubrizol’s commitment to inspiring sustainability that improves lives is fully integrated across the organization. The company’s approach includes a broad view of sustainability, including balance among Environmental, Social, Governance and Ethics, and Economic factors, as well as life-cycle thinking to support business strategies.

In addition to its own internal sustainability assessments, the company seeks and incorporates external stakeholder feedback, such as the EcoVadis scores, and applies global trends to identify opportunities in the continued progression of its sustainability strategy and practices.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment