Spanjaard

What Spanjaard does

Spanjaard (Pty) Ltd is a South African specialty lubricant and allied chemical products manufacturer established in 1960, headquartered and producing at a facility in Wynberg, Sandton. The company manufactures more than 150 specialized products organized across eight product lines spanning automotive, motorcycle, marine, industrial/mining, household, food grade, outdoor and leisure, and non-flammable aerosols, sold in container formats ranging from 200ml aerosols through to 180kg bulk drums. Core technical competencies include extreme pressure grease formulations using lithium complex and calcium sulfonate complex thickener systems, molybdenum disulphide fortified lubricants, NSF-H1 food-grade certified chemistries, non-flammable aerosol delivery, ultra-high temperature anti-seize compounds (Nickel Compound rated to 1400°C and Copper Compound to 1100°C), and products engineered to conform with US Military Specification MIL-A-907E. The portfolio addresses use cases from automotive chassis and wheel bearing lubrication through to mining wire-rope dressings, food-processing equipment, and household maintenance.

The company operates a distributor-led go-to-market model with an established network across five continents and more than 40 countries, complemented by direct sales through its website and consumer brochures. Marketing combines international trade-show participation (Automechanica SA, Ciaace Beijing, Agrinet, Cymot Namibia Trade Show, ZITF Zimbabwe International Trade Fair), motorsport sponsorships — most prominently as Official Specialist Supplier & Technical Partner to Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa across Dakar Rally campaigns in 2019, 2022 and 2023 — and traditional television advertising (the Spark TV commercial aired on South African broadcaster eNCA from March 2019). The company's Food Grade range is NSF International certified, with the majority of the range additionally Halaal and Kosher certified, and it operates under ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification (valid through November 2027).

Spanjaard was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under ticker SPA from 1987 until its delisting in 2022, after which it reverted to private (Pty) Ltd status. It serves a diversified B2B and B2C customer base including food and beverage processors, mining and industrial operators, marine users, automotive workshops, and household consumers, with product positioning anchored to specialty applications rather than commodity lubricant volumes. The company employs 51-100 people and has no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, M&A activity or external funding rounds.

Name

Spanjaard

Legal name

Spanjaard (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://spanjaard.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Spanjaard (Pty) Ltd is a South African specialty lubricant and allied chemical products manufacturer founded in 1960, producing 150+ products across automotive, industrial, mining, marine, food-grade and consumer segments for distribution in 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Lubricants and Allied Chemicals Manufacturing

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4231)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Heavy-Duty Lubricants (IMAEAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fuel Additives & Lubricant Additives (IMAEAMAL), Gear Oils & Transmission Fluids (IMAEAMAE), Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Specialty lubricants manufacturing
• Industrial greases and chemicals
• Automotive maintenance products
• Food grade lubricants
• Aerosol chemical products

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandown

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Lubricant Products: Spanjaard manufactures and sells over 150 specialized lubricant and allied chemical products across multiple categories: automotive, motorcycle, marine, industrial/mining, household, food grade, outdoor & leisure, and non-flammable aerosols. Products include greases, cleaners, fuel additives, anti-seize compounds, surface coatings, and release agents sold in various packaging sizes from small aerosols to 180kg drums.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spanjaard manufactures and sells over 150 specialty lubricants and allied chemical products across eight product lines covering food grade, automotive, motorcycle, marine, industrial/mining, household, outdoor & leisure, and non-flammable aerosols. The range includes greases, engine and brake cleaners, fuel additives, anti-seize compounds, surface coatings, chain lubricants, wire rope dressings, corrosion protectors, and release agents packaged from small aerosols to 180kg drums. Products are sold globally to industrial buyers, professional mechanics, food processors, and end consumers through an international distributor network.

Product overview

Spanjaard is a proudly South African manufacturer of special lubricants and allied chemical products established in 1960. The company offers a portfolio of over 150 specialized products across eight distinct product lines: Food Grade (NSF-H1 certified lubricants for food processing), Automotive (lubricants, greases, and cleaners), Motorcycle (chain and air filter products), Marine (corrosion protection and chain lubes), Industrial/Mining (anti-seize compounds, open gear lubes, wire rope dressings), Household (cleaners and multi-purpose products), Outdoor & Leisure, and Non-Flammable Aerosols (for industrial safety applications). Key products include wheel bearing greases, CV joint greases, Moly Grease, Lithium General Purpose Grease, Silicone Grease, EP2 Grease, Anti-Scuff Paste, Nickel and Copper Compounds, Chain Oils, Brake Cleaners, Engine Cleaners, and specialized surface coatings. The company serves automotive, industrial, marine, mining, food processing, and consumer markets across 40+ countries on five continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Grade Lubricants NSF-H1 certified lubricants and allied chemical products for the food and beverage processing industry, also suitable for pharmaceutical production facilities and cleanroom environments.
• Automotive Lubricants & Chemicals Special lubricants, greases, cleaners, and chemical products for automotive applications including wheel bearings, CV joints, chassis points, and engine maintenance.
• Motorcycle Products Specialty lubricants and chemical products designed for motorcycle applications including chain maintenance and air filtration.
• Marine Products Special lubricants and allied chemical products for marine applications including corrosion protection, chain lubes, and surface coatings.
• Industrial/Mining Products Specialty lubricants, anti-seize compounds, open gear lubes, wire rope dressings, and surface coatings for industrial and mining applications.
• Household Products Consumer-oriented cleaning and maintenance products for home use including degreasers, hand cleaners, and multi-purpose lubricants.
• Outdoor & Leisure Products Specialty products for outdoor recreational use including fishing tackle protection and leisure equipment maintenance.
• Non-Flammable (NF) Aerosols Non-flammable aerosol products for industrial use where fire safety is critical, including non-flammable air duster and Lectro Kleen.
• Moly Grease Premium multi-purpose extreme pressure (EP) grease based on lithium complex soap thickener fortified with 5% molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) for low-friction, durable boundary film under high loads and shock.
• Wheel Bearing & Axle Grease Premium high-performance EP wheel bearing grease formulated with advanced calcium sulfonate complex thickener, providing extended service life, reduced wear, and protection in wet, dusty, high-temperature conditions.
• Silicone Grease Silicone oil thickened with inorganic gelling agent forming a non-melting stable paste, highly water resistant with excellent insulating properties and release agent capabilities.
• EP2 Grease High quality all-purpose lithium-based grease suitable for plain, needle, ball and roller bearings in automotive, industrial and mining equipment, fortified with rust and oxidation inhibitors.
• Air Duster High pressure gas for cleaning dust and contaminants from inaccessible areas of electronic and electrical equipment; safe on plastics.
• Rat Repellent Spray Non-toxic rodent deterrent spray formulated with a blend of strong smelling essential oils that mask pheromone trails and confuse rodent sense of smell, safe for indoor and outdoor use in 200ml aerosols.
• Tool Joint Lubricant Non-melt extreme pressure thread lubricant containing high percentages of graphite and molybdenum disulphide, designed specifically to prevent seizing and galling and facilitate breakout of drill rods.
• Nickel Compound Ultra high temperature anti-seize, anti-corrosion compound preventing seizing, galling and corrosion up to 1400°C; conforms to US Military Specification MIL-A-907E.
• Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Cleaner Regeneration catalyst for blocked diesel particulate filters that significantly lowers soot burn off temperatures, reducing soot build-up on sensors without dismantling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa won Dakar Rally in 2019, 2022, and 2023 (consecutive wins in 2022 and 2023), demonstrating product performance in the world's most demanding motorsport conditions.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stiaan Kriel RacingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 June 2024Spanjaard is the title sponsor of motorsport privateer/race driver Stiaan Kriel, who has been leading the Comsol VW Challenge Class A Championship Series. The sponsorship provides brand visibility in the South African motorsport community.
• Toyota Gazoo Racing South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanjaard is the Official Specialist Supplier & Technical Partner for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, providing specialized lubricants for Dakar Rally competition vehicles. The partnership spans multiple years and multiple Dakar Rally championships (2019, 2022, 2023), with the lubricants proving performance in the world's most demanding rally conditions. This partnership serves as a key brand credibility anchor.
• Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-LyleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanjaard has supported Guy Botterill and co-driver Simon Vacy-Lyle as product sponsor for many years. The team competes in the South African National Rally Championship (class R2N) with 5 consecutive championships and over 50 rallies as part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa team. Spanjaard brand visibility is increased across South African and African borders through their international rally competitions.
• Blane De MeillonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanjaard provides product sponsorship to professional racing driver Blane De Meillon, who has been using Spanjaard products since the 1980s. Blane competes in National Formula Vee, Formula Libre, and Historic Racing Tours, providing long-term brand ambassadors in motorsport.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Molykote (DuPont): Molykote is DuPont's specialty lubricants brand offering MoS2-based and synthetic lubricants for industrial, automotive, and aerospace applications. Comparable to Spanjaard's MoS2-fortified greases and industrial specialty lubricant portfolio, though backed by DuPont's larger corporate R&D and distribution resources.
• Shell Lubricants: Shell Lubricants is a global leader in lubricants and greases across automotive, industrial, marine, and mining sectors. Operates as a broad incumbent competitor to Spanjaard across virtually all product categories, with significantly larger R&D budgets and global brand recognition.
• TotalEnergies Lubricants: TotalEnergies Lubricants is a major global lubricant manufacturer offering automotive, industrial, marine, and food-grade products. Functions as a broad incumbent competitor to Spanjaard with extensive global distribution and significant R&D resources, particularly in food-grade and industrial specialty segments.

Direct peers

• CRC Industries: CRC Industries is a US-based manufacturer of specialty chemical products including lubricants, cleaners, degreasers, and corrosion protection aerosols. Highly comparable to Spanjaard due to its broad specialty chemical product portfolio, aerosol delivery systems, and multi-vertical industrial/automotive customer base.
• Jet-Lube: Jet-Lube is a US manufacturer of specialty industrial lubricants including thread compounds, anti-seize compounds, and extreme pressure greases for oil & gas, mining, and industrial applications. Direct competitor to Spanjaard's industrial/mining range, including MoS2-fortified and heavy-duty thread lubricants.
• Liqui Moly: Liqui Moly is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer with a broad product range including motor oils, additives, greases, and car care products. Comparable to Spanjaard for its specialty lubricant focus, motorsport marketing emphasis, and multi-vertical industrial/automotive positioning.
• LPS Laboratories: LPS Laboratories is a US manufacturer of specialty maintenance chemicals including lubricants, penetrants, corrosion inhibitors, and cleaners widely used in industrial and MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) settings. Directly comparable to Spanjaard's industrial, automotive, and household product lines.
• Amsoil: Amsoil is a US-based specialty synthetic lubricant manufacturer with strong direct-to-consumer and distributor-driven sales across automotive, motorcycle, and industrial segments. Comparable to Spanjaard for its specialty synthetic formulation focus and reliance on distributor networks for geographic expansion.
• Bel-Ray: Bel-Ray is a US-based specialty lubricant manufacturer serving motorcycle, automotive, industrial, and mining markets. Comparable to Spanjaard due to its specialty grease and oil formulations, multi-vertical segmentation, and international distribution through motorcycle and industrial channels.
• Klüber Lubrication: Klüber Lubrication (Freudenberg Group) is a German specialty lubricant manufacturer focused on industrial, automotive, and food-grade applications. Highly comparable to Spanjaard due to its specialty formulation approach, food-grade certifications, and global distribution across industrial and mining segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpanjaardLtd/?ref=profile_intro_card
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spanjaard

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Spanjaard