Afton invests in Sauget plant to support EV fluids development

Afton Chemical Corporation based in Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A., said it has recently completed a USD70 million investment in its automatic transmission fluid (ATF) additive production facility in Sauget, Illinois, U.S.A. 

The investment will help support the growing needs of oil marketers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for next-generation developments in electric vehicle (EV) fluids, including hybrid and battery electric vehicles (HEV, BEV). The improvements will also provide additional capability and capacity to meet continuing quality standards such as IATF 16949.

IATF 16949 is a technical specification aimed at the development of a quality management system which provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the automotive industry supply chain and assembly process.

“We are committed to maintaining best-in-class manufacturing capabilities to better manage and respond to the needs of oil marketers and OEMs in the rapidly evolving EV market,” said Ryan Pannell, Afton Chemical’s vice president of Manufacturing. “The investments improve the overall efficiency of our manufacturing footprint to ensure supply continuity for our customers.” 

With the support of its parent company NewMarket Corporation, Afton Chemical has invested more than half a billion dollars  since 2016 building capability and capacity around the world.

“We are proud of the Sauget team’s ability to safely complete this complex project during the past two years. The capability and capacity added to the facility have us well-positioned to meet our customer’s increasing needs,” said Kevin Steding, Sauget Plant manager.

Afton Chemical is a global leader in automatic transmission fluid (ATF) additives, leading the way in transmission additives for traditional step-type automatics and newer technologies, such as dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).

“The rapid pace of change in HEV and BEV development brings additional lubricant demands and opportunities for enhanced performance, neither of which should be overlooked,” said Adam Banks, eMobility marketing manager. “Close supplier partnerships are vital to ensure that electrified transmission fluid (ETF) enables OEMs to keep driving powertrain designs forward without being held back. In addition, we continue to invest in new capabilities at our technology centers in the U.S., UK, China, and Japan for the unique testing and development capabilities necessary for EV product development and technology understanding.”