Tag: Lubrizol

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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

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The Lubrizol Corporation has announced the reorganization of its Personal, Home and Health Care business lines, integrating them under a newly dedicated brand, Lubrizol Life Science.

The change reflects the company’s commitment to evolve with the beauty, health, home and wellness markets, which continue to cross over and converge. The newly formed Lubrizol Life Science team seeks to enhance the value of its solutions and services to customers and end users through its collective expertise in chemistry, applications and market insights.

“Lubrizol Life Science brings together a great variety of formulation and product development experience to sit under one umbrella,” says Lubrizol Advanced Materials President Rick Tolin. “Our internal capabilities are focused and aligned to help our customers quickly meet the expectations of today’s consumers for products that ensure them of a healthier, more beautiful and comfortable life.”

The newly aligned Lubrizol Life Science team is placing a priority on developing and testing products in partnership with customers, engineering breakthroughs and co-driving initiatives that fuel growth. Practices and processes emphasize agile innovation, enabling the organization to act at the speed of a start-up, while responding with the reach, resources and delivery of a global leader. The new brand will also emphasize the proactive innovation needed to bring market-ready solutions to customers, while capitalizing on the reliability of Lubrizol’s 90 years of science and efficacy.

Tolin points out, “Our beauty, health and home customers can count on us bringing truly differentiated products to market, formulated with ingredients that are consumer-driven and backed by the reliability of Lubrizol.” Tolin adds, “The Lubrizol Life Science team is poised to service customers throughout the value chain, from concept to commercialization. Once viewed by customers as a chemical and ingredient supplier, we have evolved into an essential, concept-to-commercialization solutions partner.”

Lubrizol Life Science also plans to add strategic technology, capability and talent by investing to expand its portfolio, including new acquisitions that bring unique opportunities and synergies.

© 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 Lubrizol Corporation has created an exclusive global partnership with Corbion Biotech, Inc, bringing AlgaPur(TM) high stability high oleic algae oil to the personal care and cosmetics markets.

Based in the Netherlands, Corbion is a global market leader in algae ingredients. This collaboration combines Lubrizol’s formulation experience and knowledge of the personal care market with Corbion’s innovative bio-based solutions and sustainable practices.

AlgaPur(TM) High Stability High Oleic Algae Oil is a unique algae oil with formulation and performance benefits for a diverse range of personal care applications. Key benefits include:

• Elegant sensory experience: Silky, non-greasy feel providing excellent hydration and ease of spreadability
• Stable for formulating: Superior oxidative stability with over 90% Omega-9 oleic acid, allowing for extended shelf life
• Mild formulations: Free from known allergens, low odor and neutral color
• Sustainable production: Palm-free, and produced with a low carbon, land and water footprint

Bio-based ingredients and sustainable solutions are a developing trend in the personal care industry, experiencing significant global growth. “This new collaboration allows our innovation teams to expand our formulation expertise, bringing innovative bio-based solutions with excellent performance attributes,” states Jean Claude Deneuville, global director agile businesses at Lubrizol.

“Working with Lubrizol provides the opportunity to expand access and adoption of AlgaPur(TM) High Stability High Oleic Algae Oil in the personal care market,” says Marc den Hartog, executive vice president of Innovation Platforms at Corbion. “Corbion’s unique algae oil ingredient is a versatile, new ingredient for formulators to help meet consumers demands for sustainable, traceable and high-performance products.”

Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients. Corbion is a global player in personal care, offering natural, safe and cost-effective ingredients, widely known for its their emulsification, moisturizing, pH adjustment and antimicrobial functions.

In 2018, Corbion generated annual sales of € 897.2 million and had a workforce of 2,040 FTE.

© 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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According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Americans alone throw away at least 300 million pairs of shoes each year. These shoes end up in landfills, where they can take 30 to 40 years to decompose. This figure has inspired Lubrizol Engineered Polymers to engineer an innovative portfolio of advanced polymers to provide footwear producers the opportunity to create a nearly 100% TPU shoe that is recyclable* without compromising performance.

Justin Park, Lubrizol’s global market segment manager for performance footwear says, “The advantage of a 100% TPU shoe is that at the end of the shoe’s wear cycle it can be re-grinded and then reformed into a new shoe, therefore extending the life of the product and material.”

Lubrizol Engineered Polymers advanced TPU portfolio for footwear applications gives footwear producers the opportunity to collaborate with one solution provider for their needs. Another benefit to footwear producers of using Lubrizol Engineered Polymers TPU as the prime material for shoe production is having the ability to reuse the scraps, resulting in less unused material during the manufacturing process.

The key technologies in Lubrizol’s Engineered Polymers TPU portfolio for performance footwear that can be engineered to form almost every component of a shoe include Esdex(TM) TPU for upper yarns to keep shoe construction smart and lightweight, BounCell-X(TM) a low density, plasticizer-free, recyclable*, thermoplastic foam for cushioning, Estane(R) TRX TPU as a functional alternative to rubber outsoles, Pearlthane(TM) ECO TPU a bio-based** renewable-sourced material, Estane(R) 3D TPU a soft, flexible material that offers design freedom for 3D printed components, and Pearlbond(TM) TPU for adhesives assembly that provides flexibility to join a large variety of substrates together.

Lubrizol Engineered Polymers has released a video to help support and promote its extensive TPU footwear portfolio for performance footwear applications, One Shoe.

© 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 Lubrizol Corporation will build a new plant within the Ichihara Works (Ichihara City, Chiba, Japan) to manufacture LUCANT(TM) hydrocarbon-based synthetic fluid.

LUCANT is a high performance, hydrocarbon-based, specialty synthetic fluid used primarily as a viscosity modifier. It is used in the most demanding applications including automotive driveline, industrial lubricants and greases, and is the approved choice for leading OEMs and global oil marketers. Mitsui Chemicals was the first manufacturer to offer this unique synthetic fluid which boasts industry leading efficiency and durability.

“This investment in additional LUCANT capacity will allow the Lubrizol Additives business to further optimize its strategic relationship with Mitsui Chemicals to meet the evolving and demanding needs of lubricant market, while ensuring we remain a trusted, reliable and secure supply partner,” said Barrie Masters, global business director for the viscosity modifier business at Lubrizol.

Commercial operation at the new plant is planned for 2021 and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and The Lubrizol Corporation are excited to further invest in their partnership.

In 2014, Lubrizol entered into an exclusory agreement with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. to become the exclusive worldwide seller and marketer of the LUCANT polymer products in the lubricant industry.

© 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.