Reef Millennium Project.

Alliances in today’s competitive world are becoming the norm. The latest entrant to the growing list of alliances are Fuchs Petrolub AG of Mannheim, Germany, a global lubricant company and Bel-Ray Company, Inc of New Jersey, USA an international speciality lubricants company. The two have entered into an international alliance, under which the latter will market its No-Tox range of speciality food grade lubricants, through Fuchs subsidiaries in most markets outside the United States. For implementing the deal, the two have founded a 50-50 joint venture, Fuchs Bel-Ray No-Tox Lubricants Gmbh in Mannheim. Bel-Ray will continue to market its products in the United States and selected international markets through its present network of distributors.

According to a company spokesperson, the No-Tox range of products is a high class lubricants range, which contain special base oils and additives. These are based on highly refined white oils or synthetic, polyalphaolefin-based components and sophisticated additive packages that guarantee outstanding lubricity. He added that by fulfilling FDA and USDA H1 specifications these lubricants meet the most stringent demands in the food, beverage and confectionery industries. The No-Tox brand of products are mineral-free lubricants and can totally defuse potentially critical processes, thus avoiding contamination of foodstuff.

Fuchs, a Germany-based corporation listed at the Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Zurich stock exchanges, operates from 80 countries worldwide and is known for marketing lubricants of a much higher degree of specialisation and innovation than the industry's average. It is the eleventh largest company worldwide from out of 1,700 lubricant manufacturers and is number 1 among the independent companies.

Bel-Ray is one of America's leading manufacturers of lubricants for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. 

Reef Millennium Project.

To examine the influence of conventional lubricants on the flora and fauna and to preserve the ecosystem of the ‘Great Barrier Reef’ in Australia, Fuchs Petrolub AG has initiated, in January this year, a millennium project at the Reef. The project, which is also sponsored by the Australian government, examines potential improvement, which ecological-compatible lubricants can make. Fuchs has signed a specific research contracts with the Australian Institute for Marine Science and the Technical University of Queensland, Brisbane to examine these influences. The implementation of the results and the focused application of environmentally compatible engine, hydraulic, gear and other oils are guaranteed by contractual agreements between two leading shipping lines, Quicksilver Connections and Sunlover Cruises and the Mackay port authorities.

Part of the Fuchs Millennium project is scientific research to be conducted at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The study is investigating the impact of biodegradable lubricants on mangroves, fish and coral. The results of this study will be
considered in further product development of Fuchs Petrolub AG.

In line with the growing demand from world over, Fuchs has developed and launched the Planto brand of biodegradable lubricants. The Planto range is based on harvestable raw materials, which allow their use in industrial and technical applications and also vegetable oils such as rapeseed, sunflower, palm and their derivatives.

Speaking to domain-B, Mr Alf Untersteller, managing director, Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd said, " We are taking the lead in bringing out environmentally safe products without compromising on performance." He further added that it was a unique high-tech company offering a unique range of products in terms of technology. Adding to this statement, Dr Michel Behar, chairman of the company, said, " It is always good to be conscious of the environment. Through our products, one can save 7 per cent of fuel which is a major saving."

India operations

According to Mr Kersi Hilloo, managing director, Fuchs Lubricants (India) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fuchs Group, the company was closely working with leading automobile manufacturers to register itself as an OEM manufacturer. He said already it had successfully registered itself with Hindustan Motors, Ashok Leyland and Mercedeez Benz. He added that it was in the process of setting up its own blending unit through an investment of Rs 50 lakh, expected to be operational some time next year. He said the company had already appointed about 100 distributors and was in the process of setting up a 3-tier system. Fuchs’ products are comparatively expensive to traditional ones.