Heerlen, NL, 26-March-2007
Motor oil additive producers can continue to enjoy the benefits of
high-performance petroleum additives, new innovations and high-level technical
support from DSM Elastomers, thanks to inventive thinking and investment in a
new cost-effective production facility in Brazil by the EPDM market leader.
DSM Elastomers produces tailored and functionalised EPM raw materials for
dispersants (DI) and viscosity index improvers (VII). VII regulate oil
viscosity over temperature intervals to ensure multigrade oils provide engine
protection throughout all seasons; DE’s polymers for DI application improve
engine soot and sludge handling, to allow increased drain intervals under more
severe engine conditions.
After the closure of the EPM facility at its EPDM production site in Addis,
LA, USA in 2004, DSM Elastomers switched production of the base polymers for
its petroleum additive grades to its plant in Brazil. Further tailoring and
functionalization will be integrated in Brazil by the investment in a brand
new, dedicated reactive extrusion line.
The line offers a more flexible, cost-effective production route for petroleum
additives grades and allows customers to benefit from a cost-effectively
produced product range, alongside the high-level service capabilities offered
by DSM Elastomers. The design and capacity of the line ensures flexibility in
product variability combined with economy of scale for tailored EPM grades. In
addition, customers are set to benefit from future innovations for the motor
oils market, with the new extrusion line providing a platform for further
developments in petroleum additives.
DSM Elastomers has a long history of development in partnership with additive
companies. DSM Elastomers and Afton Chemical are in the process of
finalizing/formalizing an exclusive cooperation on Development, Manufacturing
and Marketing of functionalized, reactive extrusion-based EPM for applications
in Petroleum Additives.
Tim Scheerhoorn, Business Manager Petroleum Additives for DSM Elastomers,
comments: “The Petroleum Additives market is very important to DSM
Elastomers and we wanted to demonstrate our commitment to our customers by
creating a responsive, cost-effective production method. The new extrusion
line in Brazil is delivering all these benefits and we are looking forward to
working closely with our customers to explore also its potential for future
innovations .”
For more than 30 years, DSM has provided polymer solutions for lubricant
markets. With the investment in Brazil, DSM has a stable platform to continue
to develop and market a broad range of EPM-based additives for a variety of
engine oil applications.
