Castrol, a brand owned by BP since 2000, is now a global leader in lubricant manufacturing, with activities covering the automotive, industrial, marine, and aerospace sectors. In China, the company has production facilities in Taicang and Tianjin, where it has been collaborating for years with Aetna Group China (the Chinese branch of Aetna Group) to introduce advanced technologies across all stages of the production process.
As part of its ongoing modernisation efforts, Aetna Group China was honoured with the “Excellent Partner” award by Castrol (the global leader in the oil and natural gas sector) in recognition of its technological leadership. The strategic collaboration, launched in 2019 and fully implemented in 2023, led to the installation and commissioning of a new high-speed production line at Castrol (Tianjin) Lubricants Co. Ltd., located in the Nangang industrial district of Tianjin.
The award celebrates the successful completion of a production line dedicated to 1- and 4-litre bottles. The line reaches a speed of 14,000 bottles per hour for 1-litre containers and 6,600 bottles per hour for 4-litre containers, thus becoming the first Castrol line in China to achieve such a high level of automation and productivity.
The project incorporates a complete range of advanced technologies developed by OCME (part of Aetna Group). These include: Pegasus robotic depalletiser, a Libra R5 weight filler, label and cap inspection machines, aluminium film sealers, pallet elevators, spiral conveyors, but also conveyors for bottles, boxes, and pallets, as well as case formers, taping machines, and pick & place case packers, Perseus palletisers, and Helix Universal stretch wrapping machines.
The goal of this integrated solution is to ensure maximum reliability, operational continuity, and quality of the finished product.
The commissioning of this line marks the latest milestone in the long-standing collaboration between the two companies. The partnership began with the supply of filling equipment for the Shenzhen plant. In May 2022, Aetna Group China successfully completed the installation and start-up of a 4-litre lubricant packaging line at the Taicang plant. The new Tianjin line, launched in September 2023, is now the most automated among Castrol’s facilities in China.
The trust Castrol places in Aetna Group’s technology and services reflects the shared vision of both companies: to continuously strengthen and expand collaboration in the lubricant sector. With this new project, Aetna Group China further consolidates its presence in the Chinese market, strengthening its position as a global reference partner for industrial automation and packaging solutions.
