Infineum investing in strategic products and projects
Infineum investing in strategic products and projects
Keywords: Infineum, Investment
Infineum International Ltd has announced aspects of its investment plan,which is based on a continuing commitment to develop new and differentiated technologies and projects aimed at reducing overall cost to serve its customers.
According to Tony Gaskell, Infineum's CEO: "A highlight of our substantial investment strategy is enhanced customer interface through our new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and eBusiness initiatives. The ERP system supports operating processes by integrating globally all departments and functions through introduction of the industry-standard SAP R/3 business application software. Customers will benefit from faster order confirmation and tracking, and more consistent and better quality global data as a result of the ERP integration now being rolled out worldwide. ERP also serves as a platform for enhanced eBusiness capability, which will enrich customer relationships and provide opportunities for collaboration to operate more efficiently, especially in supply chains."
Gaskell added: "We are also currently investing in facilities in Berre,France, to produce new, proprietary complex detergents that are field proven in marine applications. We believe these products will bring significant performance benefits to our customers in the marine lubricants marketplace."
Infineum's strategic investment initiatives include expansion of its plant operations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and closure of the Campana, Argentina,plant to position the company for long-term growth and optimum cost structure for Latin America. These efficiency measures are consistent with a move toward fewer but larger and more efficient manufacturing facilities in the region,which Infineum views as an important and growing area of opportunity.
The investment plan further calls for consolidation of polybutene (PIB)production into the Bayway, New Jersey, facility with closure of the PIB unit in Baytown, Texas. Plants in Koln, Germany, and a joint venture in Jinzhou, China,will also continue to produce PIB.
Since formation of Infineum in 1999, the company has invested in other proprietary technologies such as the unique molybdenum trimer and in facility rationalization in Europe. It will continue to explore opportunities to manage effectively its asset utilization and cost structure in this mature industry while continuing to invest in proprietary and differentiated technologies.
Now three years into its joint venture, Infineum can point to significant accomplishments as it continues to build on its strengths and distinctiveness in the rapidly changing lubricants and fuels marketplace.
