Renewable Lubricants Celebrates New Rail Spur with Ribbon Cutting

Renewable Lubricants recently celebrated the opening of their new rail spur with a ribbon cutting ceremony and cookout at the Kent, Ohio facility. The company, which manufactures environmentally friendly lubricants, including food grade greases and hydraulic fluids, can now bring in more bulk materials, as each rail car holds the equivalent of 4 ½ tanker trucks. This will allow them more purchasing power and the ability to smooth out supply chain and availability issues. Additionally, Renewable Lubricants plans to allow other Portage County businesses to bring in bulk materials that are currently being trucked in, such as canola oil for the manufacture of soft spreadable butter, plastic resins and feedstocks, even lumber and materials for a planned Menards manufacturing and distribution center in nearby Ravenna.

Many dignitaries were on hand, including Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala, Tom Queen, Community Relations Director from Congressman David Joyce’s office, Brad Erhart, President of the Portage Development Board, members of the Ohio Rail Commission, and others who were instrumental in the project.

“There were many people who helped bring this project to fruition, so it was great to host them to celebrate the grand opening,” said Renewable Lubricants VP Ben Garmier.  “We’re looking forward to bringing in our own raw materials, but also those of our neighbors like Land O’Lakes which uses a lot of canola oil that is being trucked in, as well as plastics and lumber for other local businesses. We want to be a good neighbor to the business community in Kent and throughout Portage County.”

Extensive work was accomplished on the 3-acre site ahead of the grand opening, including replacing 400 ties and the accompanying anchors, tie plates and fasteners, replacing two rail switches, and installing 30 tons of new crushed limestone for ballast.    

Renewable Lubricants | www.renewablelube.com