Lubrizol to expand its Bowling Green plant

2/13/2013

BOWLING GREEN — Lubrizol Corp. will break ground today on a 60,000-square-foot expansion of its facility in Bowling Green that manufactures soap products.

The expansion will include new process equipment and storage tanks. Plant manager Sean Stadler said work on the new equipment started in October. The expansion is expected to be finished by the year's second quarter, he said.

The total cost of the expansion is estimated at $11 million.

Lubrizol, based in the Cleveland suburb of Wickliffe, produces a variety of chemicals, including lubricant additives for engine oil, industrial lubricants, additives for gasoline and diesel, and ingredients and additives for personal-care products and pharmaceuticals. In Bowling Green, the company makes surfactants — essentially the active cleansing part of soaps — that it sells to a variety of companies that produce consumer products.

About 70 people work at the Bowling Green facility. Officials say no new jobs are immediately planned as a result of the investment.

“The technology for the business is changing and [the expansion] allows us to keep up with that and preserve jobs,” Mr. Stadler said. “The hope is the expansion leads to new business and more jobs.”

Mr. Stadler said right now the mixture that Lubrizol ships from Bowling Green is 30 percent active ingredients and 70 percent water.

The new equipment will allow the company to increase the amount of active components to 70 percent, which will make them more efficient.

Lubrizol has operated in Bowling Green since 1994.