Kernow Oils
Kernow Oils is a UK-based industrial lubricant distributor founded in 1989, serving manufacturing, commercial vehicle, aviation, marine, food-grade, and EV sectors with branded products (Castrol, TotalEnergies) and CoolantCare fluid management services from its Hayle, Cornwall headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersHayle, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kernow Oils does
Kernow Oils is a UK-based industrial lubricant distributor founded in 1989 in Hayle, Cornwall by David Adkins, operating as Kernow Oils Ltd, a privately held family-run company with 11–50 employees. The company distributes branded lubricants and associated fluid-handling equipment under official partnerships with Castrol (Official UK Partner for industrial and commercial vehicle sectors), TotalEnergies, BP, Elf, and Lubric8UK, alongside related storage, handling, and spill-containment product lines from partners including Samoa, Ecospill, Fentex, Harlequin, and TopBlue. Its product catalogue spans industrial oils (hydraulic, gear, turbine, metalworking, compressor, refrigeration, slideway, quenching, drawing and forming, food-approved, gas engine, and data centre/electronic cooling), commercial vehicle oils, automotive and EV fluids, marine lubricants, and aviation/aeronautical oils. Customers are concentrated in industrial manufacturing, commercial vehicle fleets, aviation and aerospace, marine, food and pharmaceutical processing, CNC machining, and emerging EV fluid applications across the UK with international export capability.
The company's service layer differentiates it from pure product resellers. The CoolantCare fluid management programme combines on-site sampling, dip-slide microbiology, concentration and pH checks, laboratory analysis, and remedial work delivered through recurring scheduled engagements. Bespoke lubricant formulation and fluid testing/oil recycling services extend professional services revenue and embed technical consultation into customer relationships. Go-to-market is sales-led: direct quote/phone/email ordering, a product catalogue website (with online ordering currently disabled due to volatile oil pricing), content marketing via a technical blog, an email newsletter segmented by sector, paid display remarketing, and industry association channels (WEAF, MAA, NWAA) for aviation positioning.
Revenue is generated through product markup on distributed branded lubricants (one-time transactional sales), recurring CoolantCare service contracts, bespoke formulation engagements, fluid testing/recycling services, and hardware sales of storage/handling and spill-containment equipment. Pricing is per-unit ex-VAT with tiered UK mainland delivery (free above 800L), £10 local Cornwall delivery, and bespoke quoting for most orders. The business holds ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications and serves a long-tail mix of SMB precision engineering and enterprise manufacturing customers, with named case studies in CNC machining and aerospace-adjacent manufacturing.
Kernow Oils firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kernow Oils
- Legal name
- Kernow Oils Ltd
- Website
- https://kernow-oils.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kernow Oils is a UK-based industrial lubricant distributor founded in 1989, serving manufacturing, commercial vehicle, aviation, marine, food-grade, and EV sectors with branded products (Castrol, TotalEnergies) and CoolantCare fluid management services from its Hayle, Cornwall headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kernow Oils industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Lubricants
- NAICS
- Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), All Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (324199)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Lubricants (Hydraulics, Gear, Compressor, Turbine, Metalworking) (EUALAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Automotive Lubricants (PCMO, HDMO, ATF, Gear Oils, Coolants) (EUALAJAH), Marine & Offshore Lubricants (Cylinder Oils, System Oils, EALs) (EUALAJAI), Greases & Specialty Lubricants (Greases, Pastes, Chain Oils, Silicone/Fluoro) (EUALAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Kernow Oils is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hayle
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kernow Oils business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Industrial Lubricant Sales: Distribution of industrial lubricants including hydraulic oils, gear oils, turbine oils, metalworking fluids, compressor oils, and specialty fluids. Revenue generated through product markup on branded lubricants from Castrol, TotalEnergies, BP, and other manufacturers.
- CoolantCare Fluid Management Services: Ongoing fluid monitoring and management services including on-site sampling, laboratory testing, interpretation, reporting, remedial action, and scheduled monitoring. Typically structured as recurring service contracts with monthly, quarterly, or bespoke scheduling.
- Bespoke Lubricant Solutions: Custom fluid development and formulation services for customers with specific requirements. Engineers work with customers to create tailored lubrication solutions for unique machine and application needs.
- Fluid Testing and Oil Recycling: Oil analysis and testing services that provide detailed lab reports on oil condition, detecting contamination and assessing performance to help extend oil life and plan maintenance.
- Storage and Handling Equipment: Supply of fluid storage, handling, and dispensing equipment including drum stacking systems, IBC storage, pump equipment, hose reels, and spill containment products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TotalEnergies MULTIS FIL EP 2 Multipurpose Grease - £92.16 ex VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TotalEnergies MULTIS EP 2 Spray - £68.02 ex VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TotalEnergies COPAL OGL 0 - £1,850.40 ex VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TotalEnergies Quartz Ineo ECS 5W-30 - £86.16 to £4,550.00 ex VAT |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kernow Oils product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kernow Oils distributes industrial lubricants and associated fluid management products from major brands including Castrol, TotalEnergies, BP, Elf, and Lubric8UK. The company supplies industrial oils, commercial vehicle fluids, marine lubricants, aviation oils, food-grade lubricants, plus storage, handling, and spill containment equipment. It also delivers value-added services such as the CoolantCare fluid management programme, fluid testing and oil recycling, and bespoke lubricant formulation.
Product overview
Kernow Oils is an industrial lubricant specialist and official distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of lubrication products and fluid management services. The portfolio spans industrial oil lubricants (including turbine oils, aviation lubricants, hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids, and food-approved products), commercial vehicle oils, automotive lubricants, marine lubricants, and associated storage, handling, and spill containment equipment. The company distributes leading brands including Castrol and TotalEnergies, while also offering value-added services such as CoolantCare fluid management, bespoke lubricant formulation, and fluid testing/oil recycling. Core brands include Castrol Perfecto turbine oils, TotalEnergies Preslia and Quartz engine oils, and various specialty greases and hydraulic fluids.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Industrial Oil Lubricants Comprehensive range of industrial lubrication products including aviation oils, hydraulic oils, metalworking fluids, turbine engine oils, compressor oils, industrial gear oils, gas engine oils, refrigeration oils, slideway oils, circulation oils, corrosion preventatives, drawing and forming oils, food-approved oils, quenching fluids, industrial grease, high-performance lubricants, and data centre/electronic cooling fluids for manufacturing, engineering, food production, power generation, and general industrial customers.
- Commercial Vehicle Oils Lubricants and oils for commercial vehicles including construction equipment, plant machinery, agricultural vehicles, farming equipment, haulage trucks, coaches, and buses supplied from Castrol, TotalEnergies, Elf, Lubric8UK, and TopBlue brands.
- Automotive Lubricants Passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and electronic vehicle (EV) lubricants including Castrol, TotalEnergies, Elf, Lubric8UK, and TopBlue branded products for automotive aftermarket customers.
- Marine Lubricants Specialized marine engine oils, marine hydraulic oils, and marine transmission oils from BP, Castrol, and TotalEnergies for maritime vessel operators.
- Food-Approved Lubricants H1 food-grade lubricants, greases, and sprays from Castrol and TotalEnergies for food processing, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics manufacturing environments requiring hazardous-area-rated fluids.
- Storage & Handling Equipment Fluid storage, handling, and dispensing equipment including modular drum stacking systems, IBC storage and dispensing, AdBlue storage, pump equipment and kits, mobile pump units, grease pumps, dispensing valves, hose reels, waste oil equipment, and metering and control equipment from Samoa, Harlequin, Ecospill, and Fentex.
- Spill & Containment Products Oil containment and spill response equipment including drum spill trays, material absorbents, loose absorbents, ECO absorbents, drain protection, cleansing wipes, and spill kits from Ecospill and Fentex.
- CoolantCare Fluid Management Service A tailored fluid management programme combining on-site sampling, dip-slide microbiology, concentration and pH checks, laboratory analysis, and remedial work to monitor pH, concentration, total microbial load, tramp/free oil, conductivity, and particulates. Reduces downtime, extends coolant life, and lowers operational costs for CNC machining and industrial cooling customers.
- Bespoke Lubricant Solutions Custom lubricant development and tailored lubrication solutions designed to match exact requirements, maximize performance, reduce wear, and extend equipment life for customers with unique machine and application needs.
- Fluid Testing and Oil Recycling On-site oil sample collection with detailed lab reports assessing oil condition, detecting contamination, and identifying opportunities to extend oil life and plan maintenance for industrial lubricant users.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% reduction in coolant replacement costs over 12 months for CNC machining customers using CoolantCare service
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kernow Oils
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Kernow Oils technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Kernow Oils partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- CastrolflagshipOfficial Castrol UK Partner for both industrial and commercial vehicle lubricant sectors. Castrol's official partner status represents the highest tier of Kernow Oils' distribution network, enabling exclusive access to Castrol's industrial oils, hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids, turbine oils, and commercial vehicle products including Castrol Vecton range.
- TotalEnergiescoreOfficial distributor for TotalEnergies lubricant products spanning industrial oils, commercial vehicle products, and automotive lubricants. The partnership provides access to TotalEnergies range including Quartz engine oils, MULTIS greases, and Finavestan white oils.
- BPcoreAuthorized distributor for BP lubricant products, particularly in industrial and marine lubricant categories, complementing the core Castrol and TotalEnergies partnerships.
- ElfminorDistribution partner for Elf automotive and commercial vehicle lubricant products, offering an additional brand option within the automotive lubricants category alongside Castrol and TotalEnergies.
- Lubric8UKminorAuthorized distributor for Lubric8UK premium lubricant products, providing cost-competitive alternatives in the industrial and commercial vehicle lubricant segments.
- SamoaminorDistribution partner for Samoa fluid handling and lubrication equipment products including pumps, hose reels, and dispensing solutions for industrial applications.
- EcospillminorAuthorized distributor for Ecospill spill containment and absorbent products, supporting the company's oil containment and environmental safety product range.
- FentexminorDistribution partner for Fentex spill kits, absorbents, and emergency spill response products serving the industrial, automotive, and commercial sectors.
- HarlequinminorAuthorized distributor for Harlequin fluid storage products, particularly AdBlue storage tanks and handling equipment for commercial vehicle and agricultural applications.
- TopBlueminorDistribution partner for TopBlue AdBlue products, providing DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) storage and dispensing solutions alongside commercial vehicle lubricant offerings.
- WEAF (Women's Engineering Society)coreActive membership in WEAF providing aviation industry networking, visibility among aerospace engineering professionals, and engagement with the women's engineering community for recruitment and industry representation.
- MAA (Manufacturing Engineers)coreActive membership in the MAA (Manufacturing Engineers association) providing industry credibility, networking opportunities, and visibility among manufacturing engineering professionals in the aerospace and industrial sectors.
- NWAA (National Women in Engineering)coreActive membership in NWAA supporting diversity in engineering while building industry relationships and credibility within the aviation and aerospace manufacturing community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kernow Oils competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fuchs Petrolub: Large Germany-headquartered global lubricants group offering industrial, automotive, and specialty lubricants. Comparable as a broader incumbent player operating across all of Kernow Oils' core segments but at significantly larger scale and with proprietary brands.
- Shell Lubricants: Global lubricants major offering industrial, commercial vehicle, marine, and aviation lubricants. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in all of Kernow Oils' core segments with proprietary brands and direct enterprise sales capability.
- TotalEnergies Lubricants: Global lubricants division of TotalEnergies and Kernow Oils' second core distribution partner. Comparable as a broader incumbent whose Quartz, Preslia, and MULTIS ranges span all of Kernow Oils' industrial and commercial segments.
- Castrol (BP): Global lubricant brand owned by BP and Kernow Oils' flagship distribution partner. Comparable as a broader incumbent whose industrial, commercial vehicle, and aviation lubricant products form a substantial portion of Kernow Oils' distributed portfolio.
Direct peers
- Aztec Oils: UK-based independent lubricant blender and distributor serving industrial, automotive, and commercial vehicle markets. Comparable as a UK specialist lubricant company with multi-sector distribution and branded product offerings.
- Crown Oil: UK-based independent lubricant distributor offering industrial, automotive, and commercial vehicle oils from multiple brands. Directly comparable as a UK multi-brand industrial lubricant distributor serving similar B2B customer segments with similar value-added fluid services.
- Rock Oil: UK-based lubricant blender and distributor serving industrial, motorcycle, automotive, and commercial sectors. Comparable independent UK lubricant specialist with branded product portfolio and similar distribution model.
- Morris Lubricants: Shrewsbury-based UK lubricant manufacturer and distributor of industrial, automotive, and marine lubricants. Comparable as a long-established UK-based independent lubricant specialist with multi-sector reach and branded product portfolio.
- Comma Oil & Chemicals: UK-headquartered lubricant specialist focused on automotive, commercial vehicle, and industrial oils. Comparable product portfolio, similar B2B distribution model across UK, and overlapping customer segments in fleet, motor trade, and industrial.
Emerging players
- Oil Safe Systems: Specialist provider of lubrication storage, handling, and fluid management solutions for industrial customers. Comparable as an emerging player in the fluid management and contamination-control niche that intersects with Kernow Oils' CoolantCare and storage/handling offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kernow Oils social profiles
Digital presenceKernow Oils compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kernow Oils financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kernow Oils leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kernow Oils funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kernow Oils M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kernow Oils
What does Kernow Oils do?
Kernow Oils distributes industrial lubricants and associated fluid management products from major brands including Castrol, TotalEnergies, BP, Elf, and Lubric8UK. The company supplies industrial oils, commercial vehicle fluids, marine lubricants, aviation oils, food-grade lubricants, plus storage, handling, and spill containment equipment. It also delivers value-added services such as the CoolantCare fluid management programme, fluid testing and oil recycling, and bespoke lubricant formulation.
Is Kernow Oils a public or private company?
Kernow Oils is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kernow Oils founded?
Kernow Oils was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kernow Oils based?
Kernow Oils is headquartered in Hayle, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kernow Oils make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Industrial Lubricant Sales are the primary driver. The others are coolantCare Fluid Management Services, bespoke Lubricant Solutions, fluid Testing and Oil Recycling and storage and Handling Equipment.
Who are Kernow Oils's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fuchs Petrolub, Shell Lubricants, TotalEnergies Lubricants and Castrol (BP). Direct peers are Aztec Oils, Crown Oil, Rock Oil, Morris Lubricants and Comma Oil & Chemicals. Oil Safe Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kernow Oils have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kernow Oils.
What industry is Kernow Oils in?
Kernow Oils's product category is Industrial Lubricants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALAJAG, Industrial Lubricants (Hydraulics, Gear, Compressor, Turbine, Metalworking), with a secondary code of EUALAJAH, Automotive Lubricants (PCMO, HDMO, ATF, Gear Oils, Coolants). Its NAICS code is 324191 and its SIC code is 5172.