Afton Chemical (Richmond VA, NewMarket Corp NYSE:NEU, ~$2.6 B revenue) markets the HiTEC additive brand globally and operates Afton Chemical India Pvt Ltd in Navi Mumbai. HiTEC 11183 (PCMO API SP), HiTEC 9610 (HDD CK-4), HiTEC 1530 / 1540 (gear GL-5), HiTEC 3000-series (VII / PPD / dispersant) and HiTEC 597 (motorcycle JASO MA2) cover the workhorse Indian lubricant segments. Lubechem reverse-engineers each HiTEC code to functional equivalence at 30-42% landed-cost saving with full formula IP transferred to the client.
| Parameter | HiTEC Branded (Mumbai) | Lubechem Custom | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landed Cost (₹/kg) | ₹340-420 | ₹215-275 | 30-42% saving on additive cost line |
| Lead Time (factory order) | 12-16 weeks | 4-6 weeks | Mumbai warehouse stock 1-2 wk for select codes only |
| OEM Approval Ownership | Afton-held | Client-held | Client owns API / BIS / OEM approval in their brand |
| Customisation | Catalogue product | Bespoke per service | TBN, treat rate, base-oil compatibility tuned for client |
| MOQ | 5,000-10,000 kg | 500 kg | Suits private-label and regional aftermarket volumes |
| HiTEC Code | Chemistry Family | Lubechem Equivalent | ASTM Performance Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| HiTEC 11183 | PCMO DI — Ca/Mg sulfonate + PIBSA-PAM + mixed ZDDP + phenolic/aminic AO | LC-DI-PCM-SP01 | ±3% on Seq IIIH, VIE-LP, IX |
| HiTEC 9610 | HDD DI — high-TBN Ca sulfonate + heavy succinimide + sec-ZDDP | LC-DI-HDD-CK01 | ±4% on Mack T-13, ISM, RFWT |
| HiTEC 1530 | Gear EP — sulphurised olefin + phosphate ester + CI | LC-EP-GL5-01 | ±2% on Timken OK, L-37, L-42 |
| HiTEC 3092 | VII — OCP solid, mid SSI, multigrade PCMO/HDD | LC-VII-OCP-MS | ±3% on D6278 shear, D445 KV100 |
| HiTEC 597 | Motorcycle 4T DI — JASO MA2 friction-clutch | LC-DI-2W-MA2 | ±3% on JASO T903 SAE / DFI / SFI |
| HiTEC 343 | Ashless AW — phosphate ester for fire-resistant hydraulic | LC-AW-ASHLESS | ±3% on D4172 four-ball, D2882 |
| HiTEC 3419 | Multifunctional VII — PMA dispersant copolymer | LC-VII-PMA-DD | ±3% on D6278 shear, sludge |
| HiTEC 4951 | Hydraulic AW — ZDDP + ASA CI + AO for ISO HV / HVI | LC-HYD-HVI | ±4% on Denison T6H20C, FZG fail stage |
No. Lubechem Consultant is an independent Indian formulation house and not a licensee, distributor or representative of Afton Chemical Corporation. Afton Chemical (Richmond VA, a subsidiary of NewMarket Corporation, NYSE: NEU, ~$2.6 B revenue) operates Afton Chemical India Pvt Ltd from Navi Mumbai as their direct India presence. Our custom equivalents are functionally equivalent, not branded as HiTEC.
Yes. The reverse-engineering process decomposes the target HiTEC sample by GC-MS, ICP-OES, FTIR, TBN by D2896 and viscosity by D445. We rebuild the chemistry — Ca/Mg sulfonate detergent, PIBSA-PAM dispersant, primary/secondary mixed ZDDP, phenolic + aminic AO, alkenyl-succinic CI, foam inhibitor — to match HiTEC's published OEM spec slate.
Bench panel (TEOST 33C, NOACK D5800, RPVOT D2272, four-ball D4172) and sequence engine tests (IIIH, IVB, VIE-LP, Mack T-13) confirm parity within 5%.
In the India landed-cost comparison, Lubrizol OS-series HDD DI runs ₹360-450 / kg; Afton HiTEC 9610 (CK-4 HDD) runs ₹340-420 / kg. Afton is typically 3-7% lower on HDD DI at equivalent performance. Lubrizol still leads on PCMO and on industrial. For Indian HDD blenders chasing CK-4 / FA-4 spec at lowest landed cost, HiTEC 9610 has been the volume winner — but our custom LC-DI-HDD-CK01 equivalent comes in at ₹220-280 / kg, 30-40% below the Afton landed cost.
Afton Chemical India Pvt Ltd operates from Navi Mumbai with technical service, sample logistics and Indian inventory. The Mumbai warehouse stocks HiTEC 11183, 9610, 1530, 1540, 3000-series and 597 in 200 L drum and 1000 L IBC. MOQ is typically 5,000-10,000 kg per code per order.
Lead time on Mumbai warehouse stock is 1-2 weeks; on factory order (Richmond / Sauget IL) 12-16 weeks. Our custom Indian-blended equivalents have 4-6 week lead time at 500 kg MOQ.
4-6 weeks from sample to first 500 g lab blend. Add 2 weeks for 5 MT pilot batch. Add 8-12 weeks if API sequence licensing (CK-4 Mack T-13, RFWT, Caterpillar 1N) is required for client's API SP / CK-4 licensed brand. Total from kick-off to API licensed product in client brand: 16-22 weeks. Afton's branded HiTEC route is faster on day one (use the existing API license) but ties the client to Afton's price and supply long-term.
The client. At project closeout we hand over the BOM, named suppliers (BRB, IPAC, Vanderbilt, BASF, Songwon, Wincom), treat-rate stoichiometry, blending SOP, and QC method document. The client owns the formulation IP and can contract-manufacture, switch suppliers, or scale in-house. Afton, by contrast, retains all formulation IP — the blender stays dependent on Afton's supply, pricing and any future product withdrawals.
The custom DI is taken through full API sequence at SwRI San Antonio, Intertek Caleb Brett, or BIS-recognised Indian lab IIP Dehradun for IS 13656 / IS 14234. PCMO API SP requires Sequence IIIH, IVB, VIE-LP, VIII and IX. HDD CK-4 requires Mack T-13, Caterpillar Oil Aeration Test, Caterpillar 1N, ISM/ISB, RFWT and EOAT.
Total sequence cost ~$300-450 k. Once passed the API licence is issued in the client's brand.
Share the HiTEC product code (11183, 9610, 1530, 3092, 597, 4951), your target service category and volume requirement. We respond within one business day with a reverse-engineering plan, timeline and indicative cost.