LAEMMLE Chemicals AG

What LAEMMLE Chemicals AG does

LAEMMLE Chemicals AG is a third-generation, family-owned Swiss specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Madetswil, Canton Zürich, founded in 1949 as PANOLIN AG and rebranded under its current name in December 2022 following the divestiture of its bio-lubricants business to Shell. The company develops and manufactures sustainable lubricants and cleaning chemistry built on oil-, water-, and alcohol-based formulations. Its core lubricant platform, marketed under the ROXOR brand (with the ROXOR TERRA sub-line for circular-economy products), encompasses hydraulic oils, motor oils, gear oils, greases, and specialty fluids. Notable technical differentiators include the ROXOR TERRA CIRCULAR HV 46 — positioned as the first mineral hydraulic oil with 100% base oils from used-oil recycling, delivering at least 45% CO2 reduction from hour one and up to 4x longer drain intervals — plus bio-hydraulic and bio-turbine oils, and a biodegradable H1-registered grease.

The business serves four primary verticals: Automotive, Fleet & Transport (workshops, dealerships, municipal fleets, rail, mountain railways, ships, construction equipment); Construction & Civil Engineering; Industrial Manufacturing (machine and plant OEMs, metalworking, die casting, heat treatment, paper, hydropower); and Cleaning & Maintenance (food/pharma hygiene, allergen-free cleaning, vehicle care). Distribution combines an own field-sales force covering Switzerland, the myChemicals B2B portal, the oilshop.ch e-commerce storefront, retail/DIY channels (Polyston in OBI), and a German subsidiary (LAEMMLE Chemicals GmbH in Oberndorf am Neckar). Revenue is generated transactionally on standard 30-day payment terms through direct product sales of lubricants, greases, sprays, and cleaning chemistry; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The group structure comprises LAEMMLE Chemicals AG as the parent operating company, with two wholly-owned subsidiaries: FRIPOO Produkte AG (vehicle-care, disinfection, and allergen-free cleaning brands Polyston, Fiesta, Allerno) and Amstutz Produkte AG (industrial cleaning and wastewater treatment, acquired November 2023). The company also distributes Petrofer specialty products in die casting, paper, and heat treatment (acquired May 2023). Technical-service offerings — the in-house LTC LAEMMLE Tec Center oil-analysis laboratory and the ROXOR Oil Finder digital lubricant selector — sit alongside the commercial portfolio. LAEMMLE has been CO2-neutral in production and delivery since mid-2023 (via KMU Clima reforestation in Uruguay) and is currently commissioning a new 11,600 m² consolidated production site in Mönchaltorf, Canton Zürich — the largest investment in company history — with operations ramping from 2026.

Name

LAEMMLE Chemicals AG

Legal name

LAEMMLE Chemicals AG

Website

https://laemmle-chemicals.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swiss family-owned manufacturer of sustainable lubricants and cleaning chemistry, operating the ROXOR brand across automotive, construction, industrial manufacturing, and cleaning verticals in Switzerland and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lubricants

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Lubricants (Hydraulics, Gear, Compressor, Turbine, Metalworking) (EUALAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Greases & Specialty Lubricants (Greases, Pastes, Chain Oils, Silicone/Fluoro) (EUALAJAJ), Gear Oils & Transmission Fluids (IMAEAMAE), Used Oil Collection, Re-refining & Circularity (Waste Oil, Recycled Base Oils) (EUALAJAK), Bio-based Lubricants, Functional Fluids & Industrial Additives (EUAAAIAF), Industrial & Heavy-Duty Lubricants (IMAEAMAB)

Keywords

• Industrial lubricants
• Cleaning chemistry
• Hydraulic fluids
• Lubricating greases
• Circular economy oils

Headquarters

HQ city

Madetswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lubricant and Chemical Product Sales: LAEMMLE Chemicals generates revenue primarily through the sale of lubricants (oils, greases, sprays), cleaning and care products, and specialty chemistry. Products are sold through own sales force, online shop (oilshop.ch), and via distribution partners. Revenue is generated on a transactional basis with standard payment terms of 30 days.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LAEMMLE Chemicals AG develops and manufactures sustainable oil-, water-, and alcohol-based lubricants (engine oils, hydraulic oils, gear oils, greases) and cleaning chemistry under the ROXOR, Amstutz, Polyston, Fiesta, and Allerno brands. The company offers circular-economy and bio-based lubricants, an in-house oil analysis service (LTC LAEMMLE Tec Center), and a digital lubricant selection tool (ROXOR Oil Finder), serving workshops, fleets, and industrial operators across Switzerland and Germany.

Product overview

LAEMMLE Chemicals AG is a Swiss family-owned chemical company that develops and manufactures sustainable oil-, water-, and alcohol-based products. The company operates under the ROXOR brand for lubricants (oils, greases, sprays for engines, transmissions, hydraulics and pneumatics), the Amstutz and Polyston brands for cleaning and care products, Fiesta for disinfectants, and Allerno for anti-allergic cleaning products. Digital services include the ROXOR Oil Finder (lubricant selection tool), myChemicals customer portal, and LTC LAEMMLE Tec Center (oil analysis laboratory). The company also distributes Petrofer products for die casting, paper and heat treatment industries following acquisition of distribution rights. Products are available through online shops (Oilshop.ch), retailers, and direct sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ROXOR: Lubricant brand for vehicles, machines, and industrial applications including engine oils, hydraulic oils, gear oils, and greases
• Amstutz
• Polyston
• Fiesta
• Allerno

Products and services

• ROXOR TERRA CIRCULAR HV 46 Mineral hydraulic oil formulated with 100% base oils from recycled used oil for industrial hydraulics, achieving ~45% CO2 reduction and up to 4x longer drain intervals.
• ROXOR TERRA PRIME SYNTH 46 Bio-hydraulic oil based on biomass base, achieving approximately 25% CO2 reduction from first operating hour for industrial hydraulic systems.
• ROXOR TERRA TENSIO SYNTH Biological turbine oils designed for hydropower plants, combining high performance with sustainability requirements.
• ROXOR AMBIS MARVIS GREASE 2 Biodegradable universal lubricating grease with H1 food-grade registration for applications with environmental and incidental food contact requirements.
• ROXOR ATF DEX 6 CVT Synthetic universal automatic transmission fluid developed for modern automatic transmissions and stepless CVT systems.
• Polyston PRO APC Multi Cleaner 05 3-in-1 strongly alkaline workshop cleaner that removes greases, oils and mineral-containing dirt from engines, chassis and workshop floors, with biodegradable surfactants per OECD 302 B and NTA-free formulation.
• AMSTUTZ CarWash S-Serie Vehicle wash chemistry line with stronger fragrance, increased cleaning power, and improved customer perception, distributed by LAEMMLE Chemicals.
• LTC LAEMMLE Tec Center (Oil Analysis Service) Paid oil analysis service providing used oil analysis, ISO 4406 cleanliness class measurement, viscosity testing, and oil condition monitoring to support extended oil drain intervals for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 reduction of ~25% from first operating hour for ROXOR TERRA PRIME SYNTH 46
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Swiss Power-to-X Collaborative Innovation Network (SPIN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026LAEMMLE Chemicals AG joined SPIN, a Swiss collaborative innovation network focused on Power-to-X technologies. The partnership aims to support economically and ecologically successful Swiss energy transition through collaborative innovation.
• ALDI SUISSE AGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 October 2024Co-sponsorship with ROXOR brand supporting Livio Hiltbrand in the 2024/2025 ski season alongside ALDI SUISSE AG.
• Amstutz Produkte AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023LAEMMLE Chemicals AG acquired Amstutz Produkte AG (based in Eschenbach, Canton Lucerne) as part of a succession arrangement. Amstutz develops and manufactures chemical-technical cleaning products and equipment for trade and industry. Daniel Zimmermann became managing director from November 1, 2023. All employees were taken over. The acquisition complements LAEMMLE's lubricant program and FRIPOO's cleaning portfolio.
• Swiss Ice Hockey FederationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2023LAEMMLE Chemicals AG became an official partner of the Swiss Ice Hockey A-Nationalteams (men's and women's) with ROXOR branding. The partnership includes a 11-meter ROXOR arena band visible at international matches. Part of brand-building campaign for the young ROXOR brand.
• KMU Clima FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2023CO2 compensation partnership through reforestation of forest areas in Uruguay. KMU Clima foundation (based in Winterthur) manages stiftungseigene (foundation-owned) land for reforestation with native tree species and biodiversity focus. LAEMMLE compensates all emissions from office, production, lab, and delivery logistics. The partnership creates jobs for local population and contributes to social projects in Uruguay.
• Livio HiltbrandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 May 2023Junior world champion skier (downhill and Super-G) and ROXOR brand ambassador. Partnership includes helmet branding, 'IN MOTION' campaign, and 'Kopf-Sponsoring' (head sponsorship) for two years. Supported by LAEMMLE as brand ambassador representing precision and performance values of the ROXOR brand.
• Petrofer (Schweiz) AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2023LAEMMLE Chemicals AG took over distribution of Petrofer (Schweiz) AG products effective May 1, 2023, due to the retirement of long-time managing director Hans Bänziger and the German parent company's decision to close the Swiss location. The acquisition expanded LAEMMLE's product portfolio in die casting, paper, and heat treatment industries.
• Shell plc (Shell (Schweiz) AG, Shell U.K. Limited, Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, Shell Aviation Sweden AB)majorOthers · 2 November 2022Shell acquired the Bio-Schmierstoffe / Environmentally Considerate Lubricants (ECL) business unit of PANOLIN Group, including the PANOLIN brand, ECL product formulations, intellectual property, technical know-how, international customer base, and product portfolio for hydraulic, gear, tractor, engine oils, turbine oils, chain saw oils, and greases. Tim Lämmle transitioned to Shell as General Manager for ECL business. LAEMMLE retained conventional and food-grade lubricants business, production facilities, and 85%+ of Madetswil workforce.
• FRIPOO Produkte AGcoreOthersSubsidiary of LAEMMLE Group specializing in water- and alcohol-based chemical products for vehicle and machine care. Markets Polyston (vehicle care), Fiesta (disinfection/cleaning for food service), and Allerno (allergen-free cleaning) brands. Based in Grüningen, Switzerland.
• Ace Cafe LuzernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive lubricant partnership with Ace Cafe Luzern, a classic car and motorcycle café/event venue. Reported in AUTOINSIDE November 2024 as an exclusive lubricant partnership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fuchs Petrolub SE: Germany-headquartered global specialty lubricant manufacturer offering industrial oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, and metalworking lubricants across automotive and industrial segments. Closely comparable to LAEMMLE in product mix (hydraulics, gear, greases, metalworking fluids) and target verticals, but at vastly larger global scale.
• Motul: French specialty lubricants manufacturer with strong presence in automotive engine oils, transmission fluids (ATF/CVT), greases, and industrial lubricants. Comparable to LAEMMLE's ROXOR automotive and ROXOR ATF DEX 6 CVT product positioning, though globally distributed versus LAEMMLE's DACH focus.
• Liqui Moly: German specialty lubricant and additive manufacturer serving automotive workshops, fleets, and industrial customers with motor oils, gear oils, hydraulic fluids, greases, and cleaning chemistry. Closely comparable to LAEMMLE's ROXOR product portfolio, DACH geographic focus, and workshop/fleet channel strategy.
• Klüber Lubrication: Specialty industrial lubricant manufacturer (part of Freudenberg Group) focused on high-performance greases, gear oils, hydraulic fluids, and compressor/turbine oils. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to LAEMMLE's ROXOR industrial and ROXOR TERRA TENSIO SYNTH lines, with strong presence in European industrial accounts.
• ADDINOL Lube Oil: German specialty lubricant manufacturer producing industrial oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, greases, and metalworking fluids for automotive, construction, and industrial customers. Comparable mid-sized specialty lubricants peer with similar European/DACH geographic orientation as LAEMMLE.
• Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb (RAVENOL): German independent lubricants manufacturer offering motor oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, transmission fluids, greases, and cleaning products for automotive, commercial vehicle, and industrial applications. Closely comparable in product breadth, family/private ownership profile, and DACH market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Castrol (BP): Global lubricant major offering engine oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, greases, and industrial lubricants under the Castrol brand. Overlaps with LAEMMLE across virtually every product line but competes from a much broader global portfolio rather than specialty focus.
• Würth Industrie / Würth Group: German-headquartered industrial supplier with a substantial lubricants, chemicals, and workshop consumables division serving automotive, industrial, and construction customers in the DACH region. Adjacent overlap with LAEMMLE's direct-sales model to workshops, fleets, and industrial operators, though Würth operates a much broader industrial-supplies portfolio.
• Shell Lubricants: Global lubricants major offering the full spectrum of automotive, industrial, and bio-based lubricants under Shell, Rimula, and now the former PANOLIN ECL brands acquired from PANOLIN in 2022. Competes with LAEMMLE across hydraulic, gear, and turbine oils and now controls the PANOLIN bio-lubricants IP.
• TotalEnergies Lubrifiants: Global lubricants division of TotalEnergies offering automotive and industrial lubricants, hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids, and greases across Europe. Direct competitive overlap with LAEMMLE in industrial and automotive lubricants, especially in DACH-region accounts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 LAEMMLE Chemicals AG