International trade link-up leads to partnership deal

Douglas Hunt and Mike Cundari

International lubricant manufacturers Metalube and H.L. Blachford have announced a North American partnership at Interwire 2019 in Atlanta.

The two companies exhibited together between May 14-16.

The partnership between Blachford and Irlam-based Metalube will initially focus on selling Metalube’s non-ferrous copper and aluminium wire drawing lubricants across the US, Canada and Mexico.

Mike Cundari, Blachford president, said: “This is a very exciting time for us. We have been working to develop our relationship with Metalube for some years now and we are delighted with the exceptional quality of the lubricants they produce. We look forward to a long and fruitful joint venture.”

H.L. Blachford is a privately-owned company, founded in 1921, with production facilities in Canada, the US, and England.

Blachford’s ferrous and non-ferrous wire drawing products are sold under the trade name Chemdraw.

Douglas Hunt, Metalube commercial director, said: “This partnership is also excellent news for Metalube.

“Blachford has a highly-established presence in North America and, like us, are a privately-owned family business with a similar ethos.

“They have superb relationships with all of the key non-ferrous wire drawing producers in the region and we are highly confident that our products will be very well received here.”

Metalube is part of the Bishopdale Group, a private holding company for a group of industrial lubricants brands – Metalube, Molyslip and UOP.

The company exports 95% of its production to more than 90 countries worldwide and has offices in Manchester, Dubai, Mumbai, São Paulo and Shanghai.

From its headquarters in Irlam, Manchester, the company has a fully integrated lubricant manufacturing facility, including new state-of-the-art laboratories.

Research and development are key to the business and it is constantly investing in the Metalube Technology Centre to ensure technical excellence and innovation across its entire range of products and services.

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