The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lubrizol unveils Painesville Twp. plant
The Lubrizol Corp. introduced the public to its new $70 million drumming and warehouse facility.
The Lubrizol Corp. on Sept. 29 introduced the public to its new $70 million drumming and warehouse facility at 155 Freedom Road in Painesville Township.
Construction on the 180,000-square-foot structure began in April 2015, “with a focus on enhancing safety and business processes,” the company stated in a Sept. 29 news release.
“The new buildings will be instrumental in reducing risk and achieving the company’s business objectives of improving effectiveness, efficiency and consistency,” the company reported.
“Historically, the Painesville Township site has been of great importance to our business, operating for more than 60 of the company’s nearly 90 years,” said Tom Curtis, incoming president of Lubrizol Additives. “This latest investment reinforces our commitment to the community by further ensuring the site as a key source in Lubrizol Additives’ global supply chain.”
Lubrizol’s Painesville Township plant manager, Craig Hupp, said during Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony that the company’s objectives focus on three main parts: “Our employees, the environment, customers and business.”
He said that, every year, the company goes through a strategic planning process to ensure these components are being addressed appropriately.
And the new facility will help Lubrizol meet those needs, he said.
“With our new drum filling facility, we will be able to improve safety by minimizing the manual packaging of drums, reducing packaging time for a single batch by more than 50 percent and minimizing the number of times a drum is handled by more than 70 percent,” Hupp said. “And, with 100 percent indoor storage provided by our new warehouse, we will improve the quality and appearance of packaged products delivered to our customers. All of these improvements will be a tremendous value to our overall organization.”
On hand Sept. 29 were Lake County Commissioners Jerry C. Cirino, John R. Hamercheck and Daniel P. Troy, among other Northeast Ohio elected officials and authorities.
“I kind of feel like I’m in the same business as Lubrizol — to reduce friction” Troy said as he addressed the crowd of about 100 gathered inside the new facility, adding that he’s pleased with the relationship the company has had with the community over the last six decades.
Hamercheck commented on its importance to the area’s economy.
“Over the years, I’ve often been asked: ‘What’s that smell?’ ” he said regarding the odor often produced by the plant’s production. He said his answer is “money.” Cirino concurred. “You’re a very important part of the Lake County economy,” he said. “And we look forward to a grand future with you for some time to come.”
The company reinforced the importance of its Painesville Township plant in its Friday afternoon statement.
“With more than half of all Lubrizol Additives products worldwide containing at least one component manufactured at the Painesville Township site, adding new manufacturing capacity and updated automated packaging capabilities was a necessity,” it reads. “Furthermore, these efforts are important to ensure product integrity and to improve the overall safety and efficiency of handling product drums and totes.”