This was sent to us via Steve Bugenske
SPECIALTY LUBRICANTS CORPORATION was established in 1979 by our founder Robin Bugenske. At that time we were marketing Industrial and Automotive lubricants in bulk form.
We expanded into Custom Packaging of Lubricants when we discovered there was a void in quality packaging and private labeling of lubricants. This all started in 1987 when a major manufacturer of wheels called us to ask for a specialty lubricant for a run flat rim they were developing for the Hummer vehicle. At that time, the Hummer was the replacement for the Jeep in the military. Our Sister Company in Norco, CA HUSK-ITT CORPORATION developed the perfect lubricant. It had to be rubber compatible, and have a wide temperature range, because you never knew if the Hummer would be in the desert or the South Pole. There was one problem though, the grease moved around in the tire causing a balancing issue. Robin proposed putting the grease in a portion pouch, or a Lube-Pak®, as it was later coined. Two Lube-Paks were fastened to each side of the rim to keep the tire balanced and when the tire was shot out, by the enemy, the tire ran on the inner rim and burst the pouch lubricating the run flat assembly. This allowed the soldier to continue driving out of harm’s way.
We originally hired a Contract Packager in California to do the prototypes of these Lube-Paks. However, an emergency meeting was called when all the prototypes were leaking. They asked Robin what he was going to do about it! Robin didn’t hesitate and proceeded to inform the customer that he was getting into the packaging business!
It all started in Robin and Marilyn Bugenske’ basement. We brought in pre-made pouches, and the grease came in 120 pound kegs. We pumped the grease downstairs where we metered it to 3oz. One man filled the pouch; the other man sealed the pouch and put it in a box. The box was loaded into our pick-up truck and was delivered to Michigan.
SPECIALTY LUBRICANTS CORPORATION was now officially in the custom packaging business and there was no turning back! The Lube-Pak® has become our most popular package for liquids and semi-solids for both sampling programs and service repair kits. However, we understood early on how our packaging was complementing our lubricant sales. So we expanded into Squeeze Tubes, Bottles, Jars, Cartridges, and Syringes to name a few. Because of the success of our packaging we started SLC Custom Packaging Limited. In 2010 we added a GMP room in which we package HABA (Health and Beauty Aid) products.
We truly feel, “It’s All in the Package”™. Whether it’s our product, or our customer’s product, the end package is quality produced to our customer’s design and specifications.
In summary, our position as a lubricants’ manufacturer, through our sister company,
Husk-Itt Corporation, as well as a quality custom packager, not only of lubricants, but most liquid and semi-solid products, puts us in a unique competitive position in meeting our customers’ total packaging requirements.
