EoW July 2014

News Corporate

Innovative Metalube’s second Queen’s Award ▲ ▲ The laboratory team at Metalube, from left to right, Lesley Hallam, Chris Nettleship, Kevin Duncan, Ben Clarkson, Naomi Pells, Wayne Thornhill and Beverley Gallifant

Metalube manufactures lubricants and greases mainly for the wire and cable industry. The majority of households will own everyday appliances that use copper wire, lubricated by the company, and its greases protect the overhead power cables that conduct electricity to homes. The experienced exporter employs 31 people and has offices in China, India and Brazil. Metalube Ltd – UK Website : www.metalube.co.uk Border crossing! Plans have been submitted for a 500kV Great Northern transmission line, crossing the Minnesota–Manitoba border, to transport wind power from the USA into Canada for storage. Minnesota Power has submitted its plans to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for approval and also applied for a presidential permit from the US department of energy, and estimates the cost of the project to be between $500 million and $650 million. Minnesota Power – USA Website : www.mnpower.com

Specialist manufacturer Metalube has been awarded a highly prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2014. This is the second successive year that it has been honoured with this accolade. Exporting to over 86 countries worldwide, the company won in the International Trade category in 2013. An Innovation Award was made for inventing a synthetic grease – OCG 6000 – to protect overhead electrical conductors. The corrosion-preventing grease can operate at over 200°C with an operational life exceeding 20 years. OCG 6000 extends the lives of conductors and ultimately saves capital investments by delaying future renewal of pylon infrastructure. Chris Nettleship, technical director, said: “This is a great feather in our cap. To win the Queen’s Award once is a major achievement, but to win two years in a row is a superb honour. I am so proud of all our chemists who innovate on a daily basis. It is fantastic that their hard work and technical expertise is now acknowledged by this esteemed recognition.” lubricant

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July 2014