Brad Penn^® Lubricants

 Announces 51% Volume Growth

Bradford, PA, August 13, 2003: American Refining, Group, Inc., manufacturer of Brad Penn Lubricants announced that its lubricants volume grew 51% through the 3rd quarter of fiscal year 2003.  In addition, the number of distributors selling Brad Penn^® Lubricants east of the Mississippi has increased to 55.  Currently Brad Penn^® Lubricants are marketed as far away as Montreal, Indiana, Alabama, and South Carolina. 

"The consolidation in the industry has created a unique opportunity for Brad Penn^®, providing lubricant distributors with the opportunity to purchase not only quality, but consistent quality lubricants at a value price point.  Often distributors niche Brad Penn as their quality house brand" stated Dick Glady, Director of  Sales and Marketing for Brad Penn^® and Gulf ^®Lubricants. 

"We are not a compound blender, but a fully integrated refinery providing a full line of quality lubricants at a value price point to compete against the major oil companies and the price points of compound blenders.  We have eliminated the expensive costs of advertising and programs out of our quality lubricants, " stated Jennifer Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for Brad Penn^® / Gulf^® Lubricants.

Since 1881, the Bradford, PA refinery has refined 100% Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil and today is the only refiner capable of making that claim.  The refinery is the oldest, continuously operating refinery in the world.  Due to the consistency of the feedstock, the quality process can be traced from the wellhead to the finished products.  "In addition to refining high-end Group I Pennsylvania Grade Base Oils, nuetrals are hydrotreated to provide Group II performance. Brad Penn Lubricants are truly a made in the U.S.A. brand," stated Dick Glady.

Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil is a thermally stable paraffinic crude that has a naturally high viscosity index, free of asphalt constituents and only trace amounts of sulfur and nitrogen are present in the crude.  Since its discovery in 1859, lubricants refined from Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil have been the choice of manufacturers and consumers throughout the world. 

The Bradford, PA refinery, Blending and Packaging Operations are ISO 9001:2000 certified and was the first refinery in the USA to become ISO 9002 certified.  The refinery stretches over 2 1/2 miles and contains a fully automated state-of-the-art Blending and Packaging facility.

In 1997, American Refining Group, Inc. purchased the Kendall^®/Amalie^® refinery located in Bradford, PA from Witco Corporation.  As a result of the sale of the Kendall and Amalie^® brands to a third party, a new name was given to the products produced at the site - Brad Penn^® Premium Pennsylvania Grade Lubricants. 

American Refining Group, Inc. is a privately held ISO 9001:2000 certified refinery.  American Refining Group, Inc. is a manufacturer and blender of quality Brad Penn^® and Gulf^® branded lubricants, packager of private label lubricants, and a premier refiner of specialty products.

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