Castrol Technology Centre

Castrol Technology Centre
BP Pangbourne, Pangbourne Technology Centre

Castrol oil advertisement
Location within Oxfordshire
Former names Bozedown House
Alternative names Castrol Global Technology Centre, BP Technology Centre, Castrol Research Laboratories[1]
General information
Type Chemical Research Centre
Address Whitchurch Hill, Oxfordshire, RG8 7QR
Coordinates 51°30′00″N 1°04′52″W / 51.5°N 1.081°W / 51.5; -1.081
Elevation 130 m (427 ft)
Current tenants 500 staff
Completed 1907
Client Castrol
Owner BP/Castrol Ltd
Landlord BP UK
Dimensions
Other dimensions 36 acres (14.6 ha)
Technical details
Floor count 3

The Castrol Technology Centre is a research institute owned by BP in South Oxfordshire, north of Whitchurch-on-Thames.

History

Castrol

Castrol was founded by C.C.Wakefield in 1899, making lubricants (Wakefield lubricator) for railways.

The research site opened in 1907.[2] The site was purchased by Castrol in 1976.

In 1993 it won the Queen's Award for Export Achievement for its Castrol Marine Cyltech 80. Castrol employs around 7,000 staff worldwide. Castrol was bought by BP in 2002. [3]

Structure

The site is around three-quarters of a mile north of the River Thames, east of the B471, accessed from the A4074 at Woodcote. The site has around 500 staff.

Function

Castrol has twelve research sites around the world. The site at Pangbourne is the largest of the twelve sites. Research is done on rheology and the viscosity of engine oil.

References

  1. ↑ New Scientist June 1989
  2. ↑ Castrol history
  3. ↑ BP
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