Balmer Lawrie to focus on retail auto segment

The lubes and greases division of Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. plans to reduce its emphasis on the industrial segment, focusing instead on the retail automotive segment. Balmer Lawrie currently runs its lube plant on a single shift basis to manufacture 25,000 tons of lubricants, roughly 30% of which is directed to the automotive segment. We are planning 30% to 40% annual growth in automotive lube sales for the next two to three years to take the share of automotive to 40% of total sales, a company official said. (October 26, 2006)