PLZ Aeroscience Acquires Champion Brands

PLZ Aeroscience Acquires Champion Brands to Expand Full-Service Automotive Capabilities

DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. – July 1, 2021 – PLZ Aeroscience Corporation (“PLZ”), North America’s largest independent specialty aerosol and liquid product manufacturer, today announced the acquisition of Champion Brands, LLC (“Champion”), a leading manufacturer of specialty lubricants for the automotive and industrial markets. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. With this acquisition, PLZ expands its full-service automotive and industrial offering, positioning the company to better serve its customers with a comprehensive suite of aerosol and non-aerosol products.

Founded by Ralph Lowe in 1956 and with more than 65 years of market leadership, Champion has one of the largest product portfolios in the industry. Champion produces more than 300 functional fluids and performance products, including brake fluid, fuel treatments, semi-synthetic and full-synthetic engine additives and specialty motor oils. Champion operates a 450,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Clinton, Mo., and serves customers across automotive, heavy duty, agricultural and performance racing markets. The speed and versatility of Champion’s lines make the company a cost effective solution for many customers.

“We are very excited to welcome Champion Brands to PLZ,” said Aaron Erter, PLZ’s President and CEO. “Champion is a market leader within the automotive aftermarket industry, and we look forward to leveraging their capabilities across our combined enterprise to strengthen the value proposition we bring to our customers. Champion is an incredible addition to PLZ as we continue growing our specialty automotive and industrial footprint across North America.”

Champion is led by Matt Lowe, the third generation of Lowe leadership at the company. Mr. Lowe will remain with Champion following the transaction.

“I am thrilled for Champion to become part of the PLZ family,” said Matt Lowe. “We look forward to leveraging PLZ’s extensive industry experience and national footprint to help grow Champion in the years to come. Together with PLZ, we will propel the combined company forward into its next chapter as we continue to deliver exceptional innovation, quality and service to our customers.”

Headquartered outside Chicago, PLZ is owned by Pritzker Private Capital.  With their support, PLZ has continued to grow organically and through acquisitions, including four in the last two years – Mansfield-King and Custom-Pak Products in 2020 and Liquid Technologies and Precise Packaging in 2019.

About PLZ Aeroscience
PLZ Aeroscience is a leader in specialty aerosol and liquid product technologies.  PLZ specializes in the development, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of a comprehensive line of contract fill, branded and private label products. PLZ has a robust and proprietary portfolio of products in household cleaning, personal care, food service, maintenance, specialty and industrial, and automotive. For more information, visit PLZAeroscience.com.

About Champion Brands, LLC
Champion Brands, LLC has made a name for themselves as a leader in specialty lubricants. Headquartered in Clinton, Missouri and with over 300 products, Champion is always looking for new and better ways to make their customers more efficient with quality products and high standards. Champion products can be found all over North America and have had long-standing relationships with its customers for over 65 years. For more information, visit ChampionBrands.com

About Pritzker Private Capital
Pritzker Private Capital partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products, services and healthcare sectors. The firm’s differentiated, long-duration capital base allows for efficient decision-making, broad flexibility with transaction structure and investment horizon, and alignment with all stakeholders. Pritzker Private Capital builds businesses for the long term and is an ideal partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Pritzker Private Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). For more information, visit PPCPartners.com.

Why Does Diesel Engine Oil Break Down?

Why can't oil last forever? Why do we have to change our oil so often?

Many vehicle owners have asked this question. Manufacturers, too, wish that it were possible to eliminate oil changes because making time for an oil change is probably a vehicle owner's number one inconvenience.

The problem is, oil breaks down and is no longer able to keep your engine operating as optimally designed. Hence the need for an oil change regimen.

When we first wrote about this topic last fall we shared how understanding  oil chemistry and composition helps us understand the limitations of engine oil. This is why OEMs have recommended drain intervals, and also explains why ignoring these can cause us to risk voiding warranties. 

But there are additional reasons oil deteriorates and can cause engine failure if ignored. Machinery Lubrication published a helpful article by Jim Fitch of the Noria Corporation titled "Four Lethal Diesel Engine Oil Contaminants" that addresses this issue of oil breakdown. The bottom line here is that there is considerable value in periodic oil analysis, as we have noted elsewhere.

What follows is an abbreviated summary of the four destructive forces that can damage the integrity of your oil, potentially leading to the catastrophic failure of your engine. A link to the complete article can be found at the end of this story.

The Four Lethal Forces

Glycol
Radiator fluid with glycol can get into the oil a variety of ways, from blown head gaskets to defective seals to cylinder heads. According to one study, glycol was found to be present in 8.6 percent of 100,000 diesel engine samples tested. 

Even a small amount of glycol can cause serious issue. A 0.4 percent glycol coolant in the oil can cause soot to coagulate, leading to a dump-out condition resulting in sludge, deposits and oil flow restrictions. The article cites numerous other issues and they are all bad.

Fuel Dilution
It is fairly common to have minor fuel dilution occur with frequent starts or excessive idling. Severe dilution (2 percent or more) indicates a more serious causes like leakage or fuel injector issues. 

In cold temps fuel dilution can cause waxing that results in low oil pressure or oil starvation. Fuel dilution can also thin out the oil so that it is no longer adequate to protect against wear in the combustion zone. Severe dilution undermines the effectiveness of oil additives. These and other issues are amplified when using a biodiesel lubricant.

Soot
Soot is a by-product of combustion that is present in all diesel motors. The presence of soot is normal, but when present in abnormally high quantities it is indicative of other problems that need to be addressed.

Combustion efficiency is directly related to soot production. Things to look at include poor ignition timing, excessive ring clearance or a plugged up air filter. 

Fitch details a host of other concerns that can crop up when you have soot issues inside the engine. 

Water
Though we can't live without water, it is also quite destructive, especially inside your engine. As the saying goes, oil and water don't mix. Too much water will result in that greasy slop that is not going to be fixed with an oil change. It also increases the corrosive power of acids inside the engine and attacks additives. 

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The article closes by noting that total engine failure is something that happens over time as a result of the cumulative effect of one or more of these forces. This is not, the author notes, the some total of all that can go wrong in an engine. Dozens of other factors may lead to what seems like a sudden death. Usually, however, there are all kinds of warnings that we put off addressing or fail to notice.

Oil analysis is your best early warning system, though some of the signs of trouble can be observed as you do routine maintenance. 

Links

Four Lethal Diesel Engine Oil Contaminants

Champion Brands Offers Free Oil Sampling Kits for Diesel Engines

How to Tell Whether You Have a Bad Diesel Fuel Injector

All diesel engines use fuel injection. The first mass-produced diesel car, the Mercedes-Benz, used fuel injection as early as the late 1930s. Fuel injection was first introduced in gas-powered passenger cars in the 1950s. By the 1990s fuel injection replaced carburetors altogether in passenger cars. The chief difference between carburetion and fuel injection is that the former sucks the fuel into the engine whereas fuel injectors atomize the fuel by injecting it under high pressure through the nozzle.

Fuel injectors consist of two main components, the nozzle and the injector body. If either of these gets damaged of clogged, it compromises the overall performance of your vehicle. One of the keys to smooth, efficient performance is to make sure your injectors are clean. 

A story in yesterday's EconoTimes addresses this issue of injector performance. It's titled 7 Signs That You May Have a Bad Diesel Fuel Injector. Here are the seven things to pay attention to, according to this story. 

1. Engine Misfiring or Vibrating
Does your vehicle frequently misfire? Do you experience a delay when you press the accelerator? This could be a sign that you have an injector issue.

2. Check Engine Warning Light
There was a time when check engine lights were more of a nuisance than accurate indicator of trouble. I had a mechanic once tell me that the solution was to put a postage stamp over it because they were too sensitive. Nowadays, they are invaluable. A good mechanic can take a reading on the codes and tell you precisely which cylinder injectors are causing a problem. You should first check your glow plugs before going the extra mile to check the injectors.

3. Rough Idle
According to EconoTimes, if you have a change in the feel of your vehicle when idling, it may be a clogged injector. It may also be an clogged air filter, so you may want to start there, especially if you drive on dusty roads and haven't checked it in a while.

4. Engine Stalling
If your engine stalls for no apparent reason, it may be because the engine is not getting the fuel it needs. Insufficient fuel will cause the engine to stall out. When injectors are badly clogged, this will be a consequence, though it can also be caused by a fuel leak where the injector is connected to the fuel lines.

5. Diesel Fuel Smell
If you have a diesel fuel smell while driving, this is very likely a faulty injector leaking. You need to take care of this right away. 

6. Poor Fuel Economy
Another reason to keep your injectors clean is because for it is essential for optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency.

7. Bad Emissions
If you live in a state with required vehicle inspections, you may fail an emissions test and wonder why. It is quite possible you have partially clogged injectors. 

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One way to address these issues is to include fuel injector cleaning as part of your routine engine maintenance regimen. Just as you have become disciplined about routine oil and filter changes and checking fluids, so you will want to incorporate routine fuel injection cleaning. 

Diesel fuel injection cleaners are fairly essential to longer service life from your engine. There are other fuel additives that serve specific purposes as well including deposit modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, freeze depressants and more.

Two fuel additives from Champion Brands that you may be unaware of are Diesel Flo Fuel Conditioner and Power Plus Diesel Fuel Additive with Cetane.  The latter will not only remove deposits but also reduce emissions, provide corrosion protection, increase cetane and improve power, a multi-functional diesel additive for today's high-pressure common-rail injectors and modern diesel fuels.

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The article 7 Signs That You May Have A Bad Diesel Fuel Injector has additional information that is not elaborated upon here. To read the full story, Follow This Link.