About Us

Who We Are

CPI Fluid Engineering, a division of The Lubrizol Corporation, enhances modern life through fluid engineering. Our products impact everyday life by helping to provide natural energy, home comforts, food that is safe and healthy, and much more.  CPI connects the best of both worlds – the production capabilities and technical application expertise of major equipment and lubricant manufacturers with the flexibility and responsiveness of a service-oriented organization.

• Over 40 years experience advancing the industries we serve by providing world-class engineered performance fluids, unmatched support & innovative collaboration
• Base oil agnostic mentality which allows us to provide the best fluid solution for the application without bias
• Wide breadth of existing products spread across many industries but focused on challenging applications in compression & heat transfer

Our History

CPI Engineering Services was founded in Midland, Michigan in 1971 by William (Bill) Miller and his wife, Lorraine. The original concept of the company was to provide engineering consulting services, mechanical hardware and a limited number of highly specialized synthetic lubricants for industrial applications. Our main customers were end users of compressors and pumps in the chemical and natural gas industries. What started as a shared dream has grown into a thriving organization, fueled by the strength of our employees operating in many countries around the world. Much has changed over the last 40+ years, but one thing remains constant: our dedication to providing world-class lubricant solutions & support to our global base of customers.

   The Lubrizol Corporation acquired CPI Engineering Services in 1996.  The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals.  Examples would be specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol’s industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers’ products, while reducing their environmental impact. With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, The Lubrizol Corporation owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world.

In November of 2007, The Lubrizol Corporation acquired the refrigeration lubricants business of Croda International Plc. The acquired products were integrated into CPI, and include the Emkarate® brand product lines. As a result of this acquisition, we became better positioned to support our customers with broader product options and improved refrigeration lubricant technology. In 2012, we acquired another industrial fluids business – Paratherm – specializing in heat transfer fluids. This acquisition strengthened our portfolio of product offerings which allowed us to even better serve our customer base.

Several expansion projects have allowed CPI to more than double the size of its facilities in Midland, MI.  Between 2002 and 2013 an additional 102,000 square feet of space was acquired or built.  The expansions allowed CPI to strengthen its laboratory, warehouse and office areas creating additional production opportunities and new jobs in the area.  CPI has remained committed to its roots in the Midland, MI area – strengthening the local economy while conducting business on a global scale.

The CPI Brand

In 2014, we launched a brand identity initiative to discover exactly how our brand & products were perceived by our customers and non-customers alike.  As a result of that initiative, the decision was made to change our name to CPI Fluid Engineering to better represent who we were, and the products we manufacture. Fluid engineering is what we do – and what we always have done. We chose this as our new name in part to pay respect to our solid foundations, but also because it represents our solemn promise to deliver purpose-built fluid solutions for our customers today and for the future. CPI aims to maintain a strong brand name in our industry, built on years of technical expertise, customer support and fluid performance.

Global Customer Support

CPI is strategically positioned to support you with its global infrastructure.  Headquartered in Midland, MI, we have 5 sales office locations, 2 internal production facilities, 9 contract manufacturing sites and 2 laboratories across multiple countries worldwide to support our operations. Our dedication to partner with our customers in unmatched – through logistics, our innovation leadership, and desire to provide the best possible lubricant solutions for all applications.  Contact us or send us a Project Request to discuss how CPI Fluid Engineering can partner with your company on all your compressor lubricant applications.