OVERSEAS


Return to the USA It was in 1979 that Members of the B .L.F. flew the Atlantic to visit a number of Companies in the U.S.A. involved in the lubricants industry. The highly success- ful visit was organised then by past President Peter Burrows with the help of Pres Bagley (a long standing friend of the B.L.F. ) of White & Bagley, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and a past presi- dent of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA).


Ten years on the B.L.F. Members are onceagaingatheringtocrossthe "pond". The forthcoming visit will be organised by Ian Meadows and Brian Latty with the help of Pres Bagley. The visit will take place from the 7th to the 13th Octo- ber. An exciting and very interesting programme has been organised based from three centres, Boston, Cleveland - Ohio, and New York.


It is anticipated that this year's visit will be covering blending and manufactur- ing facilities, packaging and filling plants, technical services, research and devel- opment, and full details will be posted to Members in the near future.


Autumn Overseas Visit Denmark 1988


Copenhagen drew a record number of BLF visitors in early October at the invi- tation of Adibis. A four day visit was filled with the sights and produce of Den- mark from Hamlet's Castle and Carlsberg to smorgasbord and Nyborg, site of the Adibis blending centre and focus for the technical visit.


Delegates were serenaded by Viking fanfares at a reception and dinner hosted by Adibis on the eveniilg of arrival in Copenhagen. By mornin\J, most were fully acclimatised and armed with facts


and figures for the land and sea trip to t)J.e island of Fyn (pronounced fun) and the Nyborg plant.


This 30,000 tonne blending centre pro- duces fuel and lubricant additive pack- ages and viscosity index improvers for markets throughout theN ordic countries and Europe. Most impressive of the facilities was the recently expanded and re-equipped laboratory complex - clear evidence of intent from a British com- pany investing in Europe. Parties of delegates were conducted around the blending and technical facilities by Adi- bis local staff who coped well with fusil- lades of searching questions but politely resisted requests for 100 tonne free


samples! Small samples of local distil- lates were later dispensed to accompany a variety of pickled Danish delicacies at lunch before the party returned to Copen- hagen.


The .following day saw the group embark on a guided coach tour of the sights of Copenhagen city and the scenery ofN orth Sealand. Highlight of the tour was a visit to Hamlet's castle in Kronburg- inspira- tion of (or inspired by?) the Shakespear- ean tragedy.


All agreed that the 1988 Overseas visit was a successful venture due in no small part to the efforts oflan Meadows. Phrase books for the 1989 United States visit will be available shortly.!


Additive blending plant at Nyborg.


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