The growing strength of GUD Holdings-owned lubricant company Indy Oil’s brand and reputation among its customer base, which includes members of the mining industry, has led to a multimillion-rand investment in a blending plant in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

GUD Holdings is a manufacturer of original equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty and industrial products in South Africa.

The new Indy Oil blending plant completed earlier this year has a bulk-storage capacity of one-million litres for base oils and additives, which can be expanded to two-million litres. The facility is also equipped with blow-moulding equipment for the in-house manufacture of Indy Oil bottles and has an upgraded lubricant analysis laboratory.

The expansion of the plant’s capacity has enabled Indy Oil to refocus its energies on growing its industrial customer base and its industrial lubricant range.

Recently appointed to grow Indy Oil’s industrial market share, GUD Holdings industrial national sales manager Derek Torlage points out that the GUD industrial sales team is looking to use the Indy Oil brand to strengthen its relationships with the mining industry and the sectors servicing the industry.

The team services all forms of manufacturing, as well as the engineering, textile, construction, steel, brick and pharmaceuticals industries, among other markets, which now includes mining.

Through the improved blending plant, Torlage advances that the aim is to promote Indy Oil’s range and high level of quality to the mining industry, as well as provide solutions that are proven to deliver results.

What is rarely recognised, he says, is that Indy Oil has a comprehensive range of products that meets the needs, including niche applications, of the industrial sector.

Torlage explains that one such range is Indy Oil hydraulic oil, which is extensively used in the mining industry and is manufactured using a high-quality base oil and specially formulated additives that provide excellent antiwear performance.

Indy Oil hydraulic oils can be used in any circulating hydraulic system and are suitable for use in machine tools found at mining operations.

Torlage explains that Indy Oil’s range of hydraulic products is designed to continually outperform conventional oils in their applications and remains a “firm favourite” among its industrial customers.

Indy Oil’s formulations contain high-quality virgin base oils and an additive package for each application that meets and exceeds global American Petroleum Institute, European Automobile Manufacturers Association and Japanese Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel specifications. “Indy Oil’s hydraulic oils range includes products that have a high viscosity index, are zinc-free and contain antiwear additives and rust and oxidation inhibitors,” Torlage says.

He highlights that, Indy Oil’s hydraulic products are available in various quantities and, as stock is kept at its distribution centres in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and several countries in Africa, it is readily available for dispatch.

Meanwhile, he mentions that, earlier this year, Indy Oil was awarded the exclusive contract to supply heavy-duty and industrial lubricants and chemicals to the manufacturing and retail divisions of South Africa-based trailer and truck parts solutions provider Henred Fruehauf.

Indy Oil’s heavy-duty and industrial range of gear oils, engine oils, hydraulic oils and greases will be distributed through Henred Fruehauf’s comprehensive network of 58 parts depots across Africa.

“Henred Fruehauf is renowned in the commercial market for exceptional semitrailers and heavy-duty machinery. We are very pleased to partner with them in this new venture. Their recognition and support of our Indy Oil brand attests to our high-quality lubricant blends and performance,” Torlage asserts.

The Indy Oil brand has come a long way since it started 20 years ago, he adds, emphasising that by “drawing on these years of experience, blending expertise and our substantial investment in infrastructure and equipment”, the company will continue to offer its premium products for the automotive, heavy-duty and industrial sectors.