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 Münstereifel in summer 2013 - exactly 90 years after the foundation of the site.

The total investment amounts to €8 million, in which beside the actual production facility and the required infrastructure (tanks, power, operating resources) investments for a pilot plant and for laboratory equipment and testing facilities have also been made. The investment supports the growth strategy of the company to be, along with the 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. Especially in the lubricant sector high potential is expected based on the increasing environmental demands and the trend for biodegradable and sustainable lubricants. Medium term it is assumed that due to the investment in the site, 10 new jobs in production, laboratory and application technology will be created.

The new production facility is based on state-of-the-art technology; the focus of the development was primarily based on the highest cost and energy efficiency. The utilisation of the fatty acids produced at site and the existing energy and operating resources presented decisive factors for the choice of location. In the new over 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.