Industrial Oils & Lubricants

Contact: Bill Brady, 952-742-6608

Cargill to Debut Biobased Tractor Hydraulic & Transmission Fluid at USDA Earth Day Expo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 8, 2003 – Cargill Industrial Oils & Lubricants will unveil its new biobased high performance tractor hydraulic & transmission fluid at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biobased & Renewable Energy Product Showcase here on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22.  The Showcase will be from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on the patio of the Jamie Whitten Building, 12^th and Jefferson Drive SW in Washington, D.C.

Novus™ THF hydraulic & transmission fluid contains 50 percent renewable plant-based ester content and delivers greatly improved oxidative stability and low temperature performance over traditional soybean or canola oils.  The product meets the service requirements of farm and construction tractors and equipment and provides the same component life as conventional petroleum-based fluids.  It is recommended for use in most major equipment brands including Case, John Deere and Caterpillar.

“It is fitting that we introduce this exciting new product at the USDA Biobased & Renewable Energy Product Showcase,” said Cargill Industrial Oils and Lubricants Marketing Director Luis del Valle.  “America’s farmers produce the crops that are its main ingredients, and they’ll also be the primary beneficiaries of its superior performance.  Novus THF tractor hydraulic fluid joins a family of biobased lubricant products that is already the largest of its kind in North America.  We look forward to presenting it at this national showcase.”

Other Cargill products to be highlighted at the showcase include

• BioTrans® dielectric transformer fluids for the utility industry
• Agri-Pure™ base oils, environmentally sensitive alternatives to petroleum products, esters and animal fats for use in lubricant formulations.
• Novus™ finished fluids, including anti-wear hydraulic oils that prevent rust and corrosion and food-grade hydraulic and gear oils safe for food processing with no adverse impact wastewater treatment operations.

Sponsored by the USDA’s Biobased Products Coordinating Council, the Biobased & Renewable Energy Product Showcase is designed to highlight the role of biobased products in developing global environmental solutions.  It features exhibits from biobased product manufacturers and relevant government agencies.

Cargill Industrial Oils & Lubricants provides environmentally advantaged products for industrial and commercial uses. It is a business unit of Cargill, Incorporated, an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products and services with 97,000 employees in 59 countries. The company provides distinctive customer solutions in supply chain management, food applications, and health and nutrition