Chemie-Technik

What Chemie-Technik does

Chemie-Technik GmbH is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-performance specialty lubricants, founded in 1956 and headquartered in Vöhringen, Germany, operating under the ELKALUB brand. The company produces more than 190 specialty products spanning lubricating oils (LFC series), greases (GLS, VP, GLL, GLG series), and sprays (FLC series), built on mineral oil and synthetic base stocks (PAO, ester, silicone, PFPE), polyurea and other thickener systems, and white solid lubricant technologies. The portfolio includes 94 NSF H1-registered products, with select lines carrying halal and kosher certifications, addressing food-contact and pharmaceutical manufacturing lubrication requirements.

Chemie-Technik primarily serves industrial OEMs and end users across food and beverage processing, offset printing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, power tools, automotive assembly, and general mechanical/plant engineering. It is a first-fill supplier for leading offset printing press manufacturers — Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Koenig & Bauer, Komori, and manroland — and has strategic co-development partnerships with Krones AG (GLS 867 EPDM gasket grease) and Festo AG (H1 linear-axis lubricants). The company runs an integrated production, R&D, and administration campus in Vöhringen, including a modern polyurea grease facility completed in 2017/2018, and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hefei, China, established in 2006.

The business generates revenue through direct enterprise sales, authorized dealer networks, OEM first-fill supply, and Private Label contracts, with approximately 50% of revenue from exports. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; transactions are handled through the technical sales team and product inquiry forms. The company remains in third-generation family ownership following the 2017 transition, employs 11–50 people, and continues to expand its H1-certified portfolio with recent launches targeting robotics, linear motion, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and adjacent industrial niches.

Name

Chemie-Technik

Legal name

Chemie-Technik GmbH

Website

https://elkalub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chemie-Technik GmbH (ELKALUB) is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-performance specialty lubricants — oils, greases, and sprays — serving industrial OEMs in printing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, and power tool applications. Founded 1956; ~50% export via a Hefei, China subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Industrial Lubricants

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Lubricant Formulation & Blending (Finished Lubricants) (EUALAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Lubricants (Hydraulics, Gear, Compressor, Turbine, Metalworking) (EUALAJAG), Lubricant Additives & Performance Chemicals (EUALAJAB), Packaging, Filling & Private Label / Contract Manufacturing (EUALAJAD)

Keywords

• Industrial specialty lubricants
• High-performance lubricating greases
• Food-grade H1 lubricants
• Industrial lubricating oils
• Private label lubricants

Headquarters

HQ city

Vöhringen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lubricant Products (Oils, Greases, Sprays): Sale of specialty high-performance lubricants including over 190 specialty greases, oils, and sprays. Products are sold in various container sizes from 5ml to 200L drums. Revenue generated through direct sales and authorized dealer networks.
2. Private Label: Customers can order ELKALUB products under their own branding/design (Private Label). Products available as Private Label across greases, oils, and sprays.
3. Custom/Special Product Development: Custom formulation and production of specialty lubricants for specific OEM applications and individual customer tribological requirements. Products produced individually on request (e.g., VP 840 Getriebefließfett).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chemie-Technik GmbH manufactures and sells high-performance specialty lubricants under the ELKALUB brand, offering over 190 products across lubricating oils, greases, and sprays for industrial tribological applications. The company develops NSF H1-certified lubricants for food and pharmaceutical processing, supplies first-fill lubricants to major OEMs in printing, robotics, and power tools, and provides custom formulation and Private Label services.

Product overview

Chemie-Technik GmbH (brand: ELKALUB) is a German manufacturer of high-performance specialty lubricants established in 1956, offering over 190 products across three main categories: lubricating oils (Schmieröle/LFC series), lubricating greases (Schmierfette/GLS, VP, GLL, GLG series), and sprays (FLC series). The product portfolio also includes corrosion protection agents (MBF series), H1 food-safe certified products for the food and pharmaceutical industries, and specialty packaging solutions including the proprietary MCP 100 one-handed grease gun, brush cans, and cartridges compatible with Memolub and Flexxpump automatic lubricators. ELKALUB serves diverse industries including printing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, plastics technology, and robotics, with approximately 50% export rate. Products are available as standard offerings or as Private Label solutions in custom packaging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lubricating Greases (GLS, VP, GLL, GLG Series) Over 190 specialty greases covering temperature ranges from -40°C to +250°C, including high-speed greases, high-temperature greases, food-grade H1 greases, silicone greases, MoS2 greases, PFPE high-temperature greases, and specialty flow greases for gear applications. Used in printing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and general industrial machinery.
• VP 899 Miniature Ball Bearing Grease Rolling and sliding bearing grease based on synthetic and ester oils. Suitable for higher temperature applications with relatively firm consistency and high base oil viscosity. Includes special chain lubrication use for sterilisers.
• VP 840 Gear Flow Grease Special gear flow grease based on mineral oil for gear and electric tool applications. NLGI class 0-00, suitable for applications requiring flowable grease properties. Custom product developed for specific OEM applications.
• ELKALUB GLS 361/N1 Tribocorrosion Grease H1-certified special grease designed to prevent tribocorrosion. Combines high load capacity with excellent wear protection against fretting corrosion caused by vibrations and oscillations. Used for open gear drives, shaft-to-collar connections, and applications with high frictional wear. Achieves 4,400 N load capacity in VKA four-ball test.
• ELKALUB GLS 867 Mounting Grease H1-certified high-performance mounting grease specifically developed for EPDM gasket rings in food processing equipment. Viscous NLGI Class 0-1 grease on synthetic oil basis. Easily removable during standard 20-minute CIP cleaning while providing excellent EPDM compatibility and corrosion protection. Co-developed with Krones AG.
• LFC 92100 Poly-alpha-olefin Oil H1 High-performance poly-alpha-olefin based oil with H1 certification. Features high viscosity index, excellent aging resistance at higher temperatures, and very good lubrication properties. Used for robot gears, wave gears, power tools, drive technology, and bearing applications. Available in LFC 92100 and LFC 921000 viscosity grades.
• LFC 1068 Circulating Oil Electrostatically optimised high-performance mineral oil for offset printing machines. Features 5-10x improved electrical conductivity compared to standard oils. Prevents paper smearing caused by electrostatic discharge during repumping operations.
• Spray Products (FLC Series) Comprehensive range of spray lubricants including oil sprays, grease sprays, chain sprays, and cleaning sprays. Available in various sizes (150 ml to 500 ml) and formulations including H1-certified options for food industry applications.
• FLC 745 Silicone Spray H1 Medium-viscosity silicone-based lubricant spray (approximately 260 mm²/s at 40°C) with NSF-H1 certification. Odourless and transparent lubricating film protects metallic surfaces from corrosion. Designed for improving sliding properties of films and plastics in food industry, suitable for paper, cardboard, rubber, and wood.
• Corrosion Protection Agents (MBF Series) Range of corrosion protection agents including MBF 360 liquid corrosion inhibitor, MBF 370 aerosol and liquid forms. Used externally on components and as additives in gear and circulating oils for enhanced corrosion protection.
• MCP 100 One-Handed Grease Gun with 100 ml Cartridge Proprietary one-handed grease gun accepting 100 ml ELKALUB cartridges. Enables single-hand operation for lubricating hard-to-reach applications. Compatible with standard 1/8 inch grease gun accessories.
• ELKALUB Brush Can (Pinseldose) Utility model-protected propellant-free 200 ml brush container for assembly lubrication applications. Allows single-hand precise application without waste. Thread compatible with standard silicone cartridge nozzles. Features stable container during emptying and rotation-locked head.
• Private Label Lubricants Full Private Label offering: ELKALUB specialty greases, oils, and sprays available in customer branding/design. Products produced individually on request under customer branding.

Quantifiable outcome

• LFC 1068 electrostatic-optimized circulating oil provides 5-10x improved electrical conductivity vs conventional oils, eliminating spontaneous discharges and paper smearing in offset printing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Krones AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-development partnership with Krones AG, world-leading plant engineer for process, filling, and packaging technology in food and beverage. Together developed ELKALUB GLS 867 no-residue mounting grease specifically for EPDM gaskets in food processing equipment. Krones serves millions of bottles/cans through their facilities daily in beer, beverages, food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
• Festo AG & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic partnership to make Festo ELGA-TB-RF linear axis 'fit for food'. ELKALUB provided three H1-certified lubricants (GLS 382/N2 for ball bearings, VP 874 for roller bearings, VP 916 for roller tracks) enabling Festo to enter the food-processing linear motion market. Festo switched all ELGA-TB-RF axes to ELKALUB H1 lubricants.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFirst-fill OEM supplier of H1-certified ELKALUB lubricants for Heidelberg offset printing presses. One of four major offset machine manufacturers using ELKALUB lubricants at DRUPA 2016. Heidelberg's packaging printing machines designed with ELKALUB H1 lubricants.
• Koenig & Bauer AGcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFirst-fill OEM supplier of ELKALUB lubricants for Koenig & Bauer offset printing machines, presented at DRUPA 2016.
• Komori CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFirst-fill OEM using ELKALUB H1-certified lubricants. Komori Lithrone GX40 with ELKALUB special lubricants was the first European installation for printing of food packaging, marking significant industry first.
• manroland sheetfedcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFirst-fill OEM supplier of ELKALUB lubricants for manroland sheet-fed offset printing machines, presented at DRUPA 2016.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Molykote (DuPont specialty): Molykote is a DuPont brand of specialty industrial lubricants including pastes, greases, oils, and dispersions for high-load and extreme-condition applications. Direct peer: comparable specialty lubricant brand with strong OEM relationships and focus on solving complex tribological problems in industrial applications.
• OKS Spezialschmierstoffe GmbH: OKS is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer offering pastes, oils, greases, sprays, and corrosion protection for industrial maintenance and production. Direct peer: similar German specialty lubricant positioning serving comparable OEM and industrial customer base with overlapping product categories.
• Carl Bechem GmbH: Carl Bechem is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer founded in 1834, offering high-performance oils and greases for industrial applications including rolling bearings, gears, and food-grade applications. Direct peer: German Mittelstand specialty lubricant company with overlapping product portfolio and similar focus on OEM relationships and custom formulations.
• Setral Chemie GmbH: Setral Chemie is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer focused on high-temperature and specialty industrial lubricants. Direct peer: similarly-sized German specialty lubricant competitor serving overlapping industrial customer segments with comparable customization capabilities.
• Klüber Lubrication: Klüber Lubrication is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer (Freudenberg Group) offering high-performance industrial oils, greases, and pastes. Direct peer: similar German Mittelstand specialty lubricant positioning with focus on customized tribological solutions and OEM partnerships across food, pharma, and industrial verticals.
• CONDAT Lubrifiants: CONDAT is a French specialty lubricant manufacturer offering industrial oils, greases, and metalworking fluids. Direct peer: similar European Mittelstand specialty lubricant positioning with comparable focus on customized tribological solutions and industrial OEM relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Shell Lubricants: Shell Lubricants is one of the world's largest lubricant manufacturers offering a comprehensive portfolio including food-grade (Cassida) lubricants for industrial applications. Broad incumbent: vast scale advantage with overlapping food-grade and industrial lubricant offerings, but operates primarily as a commodity and broad-line supplier.
• TotalEnergies Lubricants: TotalEnergies Lubricants offers industrial and specialty lubricants including food-grade (Nevastane) products for food processing applications. Broad incumbent: large multinational with overlapping specialty food-grade industrial lubricant portfolio, competing primarily on global distribution and broad-line capabilities.
• Castrol Industrial: Castrol is a global lubricant manufacturer offering industrial and automotive lubricants including food-grade products. Broad incumbent: global scale with overlapping industrial and food-grade lubricant portfolio, primarily competing through distribution and broad-line offerings rather than specialty customization.
• FUCHS PETROLUB SE: FUCHS is the largest German-independent lubricant manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of automotive and industrial lubricants including specialty food-grade (CASSIDA) and industrial lines. Broad incumbent: vastly larger competitor with overlapping specialty food-grade product lines but offering a much broader portfolio including commodity lubricants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Elkalub-Racing-Team-100063901479694
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elkalub-lubricants

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chemie-Technik