Bradford Refinery
The oil refinery in Bradford, Pennsylvania is considered to be the oldest plant that has been in constant operation since its opening in the entire United States. The plant is owned by the American Refining Group (ARG), and it was established in 1881. During its first year, the plant supplied more than 83% of the oil that was used throughout the United States.
Over the years the refinery has been known for accomplishing many first time achievements in the field of oil production. Some of those first include:
• The introduction of a quart sized can to package and ship oil products nation wide.
• The development of automotive lubricant products within the state of Pennsylvania.
• They were the refinery that first produced heavy duty motor oils in their home state.
• ARG produced and marketed SAE 10W-30 before any other refinery.
• In the 1960's the company made great progress for the automotive industry. First they created racing oil for motorcycles, and later they produced similar oil that was designed for sports cars.
ARG has a proud history of oil production in the United States, but one long running issue did affect the company. Years ago, a variety of products that were made out asbestos were found in oil refineries throughout all of America. Asbestos was a key ingredient in many items because it has the ability to withstand the high amount of heat that is necessary for the oil refining process. The products worked well, but unfortunately it was later determined that asbestos is actually a very harmful substance.
People who are exposed to asbestos are likely to inhale particles of the material into their respiratory system, where it can do massive damage. It can also cause a form of cancer called mesothelioma. This cancer is commonly deadly, and can develop over a period of several years. Plant workers who were employed during the time period when the products made with asbestos were in use should notify their doctors about their potential exposure immediately.
In 2006, the American Refining Group celebrated 125 years of operation at the Bradofrd facility. The company held a large festival to mark the historic occasion, and even started work on a book that examined the history of the facility. Today the refinery continues to operate at full capacity, and produces up to 557,000 each day. ARG received a special award in 2008 for being the Employer of the Year. The honor was given to the company by the Governor’s Workplace Development Employer of the Year award for Central Pennsylvania.
Last modified: December 09, 2009.
