Peter Greven starts new production facility for ester lubricants

Peter Greven, a leading producer of oleochemical additives with sites in Germany, the Netherlands, and Malaysia, is starting up a new production facility for ester lubricants at its headquarters in Bad Munstereifel in the summer of 2013, exactly 90 years after the foundation of the site.
The total investment amounts to EUR8 million (USD10.8 million). Besides the actual production facility and the required infrastructure like tanks, power, and operating resources, investments were also made for a pilot plant, laboratory equipment and testing facilities.
The investment supports the growth strategy of the company to be, along with metallic soaps, more intensely focused on the production and marketing of esters in the future. The main applications for the ester line, sold under the brand name Ligalub, include the plastics and the lubricant industries. A high potential for this market is expected based on increasing environmental demands and the trend for biodegradable and sustainable lubricants. The investment is also expected to create 10 new jobs in production, laboratory, and application technology.
The new production facility is based on state-of-the-art technology that will provide returns on cost and promote energy efficiency. The utilization of fatty acids produced at the site and the existing energy and operating resources were decisive factors for the choice of the location. In the new 30 meter high production building, an additional production line with the same capacity can be integrated with relatively low effort, if needed.
During 2013, the new laboratory and administration buildings on site will be started up. Through the demolition of the former buildings, sufficient expansion space will be available for any production growth in the next years.
(August 8, 2013)