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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 UNI's NABL Center technology moves to consumer markets CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Technologies developed by the University of Northern Iowa's National Ag-Based Lubricants (NABL) Center are being championed by major lubricant companies and entering the consumer market.
Two companies have begun to push the lubricant technology created by UNI's NABL Center: Plews/Edelmann and Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing, Inc., (ELM), both marketing biobased consumer lubricants.
Plews/Edelmann is a Dixon, Ill., based company that last month celebrated its 100-year anniversary. It features its line of biobased lubricants and grease under the LubriMatic Green™ brand. The company is an industry leader in hand-held lubrication equipment, lubricants, air hose and accessories, tire repair, power steering hose and repair kits, transmission oil cooler lines, and automotive fittings. With a broad reach to major retailers, Plews/Edelmann has stocked the shelves of major retail stores like Ace Hardware, Do-It-Best Hardware, Handy Hardware and Lowe's with its biobased lubricants.
Steve Venghaus, general manager of Plews/Edelmann, said, "… the company had decided to add a line of biobased lubricant products. When we learned that these products had been developed at UNI'sNABL Center, it gave us the confidence to make the switch. From the results to date, we believe it is the right decision as the consumers seem to be ready to purchase these products. They're not just 'green' products, they are better-performing lubricants that just happen to be 'green.' "
Last week another company that has been marketing NABL-created lubricants announced that it has created a line of biobased lubricants and greases for use around the house. ELM introduced six lubricants packaged in an environmentally friendly kit for use in and around the house. ELM's product promotion can be seen in a full-page ad in the Delta Airline Magazine, which according to marketing manager Mark Chiattello, "will expose the products to several million consumers per month." ELM's brand is called SoyLube®.
Lou Honary, director and founder of NABL, said "the fact that these products are now championed by others who are committed to promoting them, is a great success for our research center. Our mission has been to promote the use of U.S.-grown, crop-based lubricants; and some of the products created at NABL have been successful in specialized fields like railroads and the trucking industry. But now these products will be seen and purchased by the average American consumer. This is huge positive exposure for these products and rewarding for our center and our researchers."
"Interest in biobased and renewable products has grown tremendously in the past few years as petroleum prices have risen and the call for more environmentally friendly products has increased," said Wes James, NABL assistant director. "When we see others are committed and pushing the products, it tells us that we are doing something right."
NABL is a non-profit, university-based research and testing facility dedicated to the advancement of biobased lubricants. Its research focus has moved from industrial to automotive-related lubricants, starting with engine oils. The research team expects to continue creating new biobased products, which will help create opportunities for U.S.-grown crops.
NABL was established in 1991 through the collaborative efforts of UNI, the state of Iowa, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Iowa Soybean Association/Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more information about NABL, visit www.uni.edu/nabl. For more information about Plews/Edelmann, visit http://www.lubrimaticgreen.com/. For ELM information, visit www.elmusa.com.
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