Houston – Shell Lubricants announced a three-year agreement with Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) to supply motor oil and other lubricants to 10 of its campuses across the United States. UTI is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as a professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle or marine technicians. As part of this agreement, Shell Lubricants will be used in all of UTI’s state-of-the-industry automotive and diesel training labs. Not only will students have the opportunity to use the latest products and technology, Shell will provide instructor technical training support and annual core training program scholarships.
“Shell is recognized for its technology leadership worldwide and as the leading supplier of lubricants, we look forward to working with Universal Technical Institute to be a part of the training necessary for their students to effectively diagnose and repair modern vehicles,” said Rusty Barron, marketing vice president from Shell Lubricants. “With engine technology constantly advancing, we believe it is important for instructors and students to understand the vital role that lubricants play in engine performance and maintenance.”
Beginning in November, UTI students will get hands-on experience using Shell Lubricants brands, including Pennzoil and Shell Rotella oils. Shell Lubricants is also working with UTI to develop technical support materials for instructors to ensure students have a comprehensive understanding of the products they use in the lab. These materials will provide detailed information about how oil is made, viscosity grades, product labeling and more.
Shell Lubricants joins more than 30 other leading brands who work directly with UTI to develop programs that meet the evolving needs of the industry, and prepare students who are highly skilled and ready to work. These industry-focused programs help fill the growing nationwide demand for professional automotive service technicians.
“We’re thrilled to work with Shell Lubricants to bring high-quality products like Pennzoil and Shell Rotella into our labs across the country,” said Dennis Hendrix, vice president of industry alliances at Universal Technical Institute. “Our diverse relationships with industry leaders help us train students using the latest vehicles, materials, tools and technologies, so they graduate with the skills employers are looking for, and are prepared for success in the growing transportation industry.”
Shell Lubricants also works closely with a number of other academic institutions on technology development for lubricants. Shell Lubricants collaborates with the Sloan Automotive Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a number of auto and truck manufacturers through the Lubrication and Internal Combustion Engines Consortium. This consortium focuses on research and development of high value, sustainable technologies designed to drive innovation in energy delivery. It also addresses future and emerging technologies that demonstrate game-changing potential for the energy industry.
These endeavors are part of Shell Lubricants’ strong heritage in technology and innovation. Currently, Shell Lubricants has over 200 scientists and lubricants engineers dedicated to lubricants R&D and focused on industry challenges.
Since 1965, more than 180,000 students have graduated from UTI with the training needed to work in the automotive, collision repair and refinish, diesel, marine and motorcycle industries. UTI consistently graduates and places more technicians in the transportation industry than any other school in the country – helping to meet the growing demand for skilled technicians.
About Shell Lubricants
The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying more than 13% of global lubricants volume. a The companies manufacture and blend products for use in consumer, heavy industrial and commercial transport applications. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX® and Jiffy Lube®.
Kline & Company, “Global Lubricants Industry 2011: Market Analysis and Assessment.”
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 180,000 graduates in its 49-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information visit www.uti.edu.
