NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute)

What NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) does

NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) is a not-for-profit trade association incorporated in 1933 and headquartered in Liberty, Missouri, serving the global lubricating grease industry through standardized certification, professional education, technical publishing, and member networking. Its core commercial assets are the GC-LB, GC, and LB certification marks issued under ASTM D4950 for automotive wheel bearing and chassis lubrication, and the proprietary High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) grease certification adopted in 2020 with optional enhancement tags (WR, CR, LT, HL). NLGI monetizes through six revenue streams: tiered company-level membership dues ($735–$1,942/year across Manufacturer, Supplier, Marketer/Distributor, Technical, Consumer, and Associate categories), per-product certification mark licensing, Annual Meeting and education course registrations, advertising in The NLGI Spokesman and NLGI Grease World E-Newsletter, sales of the 7th-edition Lubricating Grease Guide and Grease Production Survey, and CLGS individual certification exam fees with triennial renewals at $150 USD.

The organization operates a globally distributed go-to-market motion: a digital storefront and iMIS-based member portal handle membership, certification, and event transactions; the Annual Meeting and regional one-day courses (Mexico City, Dubai) drive in-person engagement; webinars (e.g., WIGIN Leadership Series) extend reach into the 260+ member companies across 33 countries and 5 continents. NLGI supports five primary customer segments — Grease Manufacturers (primary), Suppliers, Marketers/Distributors, Technical/Research, and Consumer/End Users — with deep partnerships alongside ELGI, API, ASTM International, STLE, ILMA, and CLGI for co-developed standards and education. Technical resources include a 1,500+ article library spanning 1941 to present, a Sustainability Series launched in 2022, and an emerging High Temperature Test Rig Consortium with SwRI, Falex, and Koehler.

Governance is exercised through a Board of Directors composed of member-company representatives (current officers include President Chad Chichester of Molykote by DuPont, Vice President David Cardy of Italmatch Chemicals, Secretary Tyler Jark of AOCUSA, and Treasurer Joshua Sheffield of Rio Tinto), supported by a small operational team of five. There are no external investors, parent entities, subsidiaries, or acquisition activity disclosed. The company's leadership is stable, with Crystal O'Halloran (MBA, CAE) serving as Executive Director; a March 2023 board policy amendment formalized selection criteria via a point system.

Name

NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute)

Legal name

NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute)

Website

https://nlgi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NLGI is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1933 that serves the global lubricating grease industry through proprietary certification marks (HPM, GC-LB, GC, LB), professional education, technical publications, and networking for 260+ member companies across 33 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association (Lubricating Grease)

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Lubricant Testing, Certification & Technical Services (Labs, OEM approvals, QA/QC) (EUALAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Lubricating grease certification
• Industry trade association
• Grease education programs
• Product certification marks
• Technical publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Liberty

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees charged to companies in the lubricating grease industry. Tiered pricing: Manufacturer ($1,942/year), Supplier ($1,942/year), Marketer/Distributor (tiered), Technical ($735/year), Consumer, and Associate categories. Membership includes access to publications, directory, and member discounts.
2. Product Certification Marks: Fees for GC-LB, GC, LB, and HPM certifications. GC-LB/GC/LB: New Mark $2,300 (member) / $3,200 (non-member), Renewal $1,750/$2,450. HPM: New Product $2,900/$4,000, Renewal $2,200/$3,000. Combo pricing available for HPM + GC-LB/GC/LB at 25% discount. Enhancement tags $380/$530 new, $190/$260 renewal.
3. Annual Meeting and Events: Revenue from Annual Meeting registrations, educational course fees (Basic and Advanced Grease Courses, Hands-On Training), and optional event registrations. Registration fees provide 40% savings for members.
4. Advertising: Advertising revenue from The NLGI Spokesman (bi-monthly digital publication with 40,000+ impressions/year, 9+ min reading time, 40%+ email open rate), NLGI Grease World E-Newsletter, website placements, and event sponsorships. Members: 260+ companies; non-member advertising available.
5. Publications and Store: Sales of NLGI Lubricating Grease Guide (7th Edition), Grease Production Survey reports (free to members, $2,100 cost to non-members), and other technical resources through the NLGI store.
6. CLGS Certification: Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist exam fees and renewal fees ($150 USD for 3-year renewal). Certification indicates expertise in lubricating grease field.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NLGI is a not-for-profit trade association that provides lubricating grease product certification marks (HPM, GC-LB, GC, LB), professional education programs (Basic, Advanced, Hands-On, One-Day Courses), the Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist (CLGS) individual certification, industry publications (NLGI Spokesman, Grease World E-Newsletter, Lubricating Grease Guide), annual conferences, and a global member network for grease manufacturers, suppliers, marketers, and technical researchers.

Product overview

NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) is a not-for-profit trade association serving the global lubricating grease industry since 1933. Rather than a single software product, NLGI offers a portfolio of member services organized around four strategic pillars: Education & Networking, Membership Value, Global Outreach, and Technical Leadership. The core offerings include professional education programs (Basic and Advanced Lubricating Grease Courses, Hands-On Training, One-Day Grease Education Courses in multiple languages), publications (NLGI Spokesman journal, Grease World E-Newsletter, Lubricating Grease Guide 7th Edition), product certifications (HPM, GC-LB, GC, LB certifications), technical resources (1,500+ article library, Grease Production Survey), and professional networking initiatives (WIGIN, Leadership Summit, Annual Meeting). The HPM Grease Certification, adopted in 2020, represents the organization's modern high-performance multiuse grease certification with optional enhancement tags for water resistance, corrosion resistance, low temperature, and high load performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HPM (High-Performance Multiuse) Grease Certification: NLGI's high-performance multiuse grease certification program for broader industrial applications, with optional enhancement tags for WR, CR, HL, and LT.
• GC-LB Certification
• Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist (CLGS)
• Women in Grease Interest Network (WIGIN)
• NLGI Sustainability Series

Products and services

• NLGI Membership Company-level annual membership in the global lubricating grease trade association, with tiered categories (Manufacturer, Supplier, Marketer/Distributor, Technical, Consumer, Associate) priced between $735 and $1,942 per year. Includes access to NLGI Spokesman, technical articles, member directory, and member discounts on certifications and events.
• High-Performance Multiuse (HPM) Grease Certification Licensing and product certification program for high-performance multiuse lubricating greases. HPM Core plus optional enhancement tags (WR, CR, LT, HL) validate grease performance for global buyers. Pricing: new product member $2,900 / non-member $4,000; renewal member $2,200 / non-member $3,000; enhancement tags member $380 new, $190 renewal.
• GC-LB Grease Certification Automotive wheel bearing (GC) and chassis (LB) certification per ASTM D4950, identifying greases meeting the highest performance standards for both categories. Pricing: new mark member $2,300 / non-member $3,200; renewal member $1,750 / non-member $2,450.
• GC Grease Certification Automotive wheel bearing certification per ASTM D4950, identifying greases suitable for wheel bearing applications. Priced at the same new/renewal tiers as GC-LB.
• LB Grease Certification Automotive chassis lubrication certification per ASTM D4950, identifying greases suitable for chassis point applications. Priced at the same new/renewal tiers as GC-LB.
• Certified Lubricating Grease Specialist (CLGS) Certification Professional certification exam offered annually at the NLGI Annual Meeting. A two-hour, 120-question exam covering lubrication fundamentals, grease types, selection, manufacturing, applications, maintenance, and testing. Renewal: $150 USD every 3 years.
• Basic Lubricating Grease Course Foundational training class for the global grease industry with 1,200+ alumni. Covers grease types, thickeners, base oils, additives, manufacturing methods, testing methodology, and industrial/automotive applications.
• Advanced Lubricating Grease Course Advanced instruction covering specific grease types and chemistry with focus on high-value specialty greases, including soap manufacturing, polyurea greases, calcium sulfonate greases, silicone greases, and synthetic lubricant base stocks.
• Hands-On Training Course Technical and practical training combining classroom learning with laboratory instruction, covering grease types, thickeners, base oils, additives, manufacturing methods, testing methodology, and applications in bearings and industrial/automotive environments.
• One-Day Grease Education Course Fast-paced, fundamentals-to-applications grease course offered at international locations (e.g., Mexico City and Dubai at $249 USD). Designed for formulators, application engineers, reliability and maintenance teams, and technical sales professionals.
• NLGI Annual Meeting Flagship annual conference featuring technical sessions, education courses, networking opportunities, awards ceremonies, and committee meetings. 2026 meeting scheduled for June 8-11 in Palm Springs, CA with the theme 'Greasing in the Extreme'. Future meetings planned for Miami (2027), Scottsdale (2028), and Orlando (2029).
• NLGI Leadership Summit Annual leadership training and strategic planning event for committee members featuring interactive training sessions, DiSC profile analysis, and networking opportunities.
• NLGI Lubricating Grease Guide (7th Edition) Comprehensive reference covering broad topics related to the grease industry for both newcomers and industry veterans. Available in digital chapters, full digital, hard copy, and Spanish edition formats.
• Grease Production Survey Annual voluntary initiative gathering data on global grease production. Free to members; available to non-members for $2,100.
• Women in Grease Interest Network (WIGIN) Program committed to educating, promoting, advancing, and sustaining industry experts in the lubricating grease industry while emphasizing diversity in management and leadership. Includes mentorship programs, leadership series webinars, and networking events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% member retention rate in 2024, over 90% for past 6 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ELGI (European Lubricating Grease Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint working groups on Bio-Based lubricants and Food Grade lubricants. ELGI STC (Sustainability Technology Consortium) collaboration on sustainability initiatives including carbon footprinting, life cycle analysis, and universal global initiatives. Both organizations are not-for-profit technical institutes facilitating exchange of information on design, manufacture, and use of lubricating grease.
• API (American Petroleum Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Lubricants Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting methodology and best practices. Working with API on universal, global initiatives related to sustainability in the lubricants industry.
• ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability CommitteemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint sustainability committee providing guidance on defining, developing, and measuring sustainability in the European lubricants industry. Part of broader industry effort to establish standardized sustainability metrics.
• STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for tribology and lubrication engineering expertise sharing. Collaboration on standards development and professional education in the lubricants field.
• ASTM InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on grease test method development and standardization. ASTM involvement defines bearing quality specifications and test method protocols for NLGI certifications. Working group collaboration on specifications including D1743 test method issues.
• CLGI (Chinese Lubricating Grease Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal ambassador partnership for representing NLGI interests and fostering connections with industry organizations and chapters around the world, specifically in the Asian market.
• ILMA (Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for lubricant manufacturing advocacy, standards development, and professional networking in the North American market.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTesting partner for High Temperature Bearing Test Rig Consortium project. SwRI will receive NLGI's test rig and carry out testing on behalf of NLGI during the project. Plans for potential donation of test rig to academic institution afterward.
• Falex CorporationmajorTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer partner for developing high temperature bearing test rig machines as part of the consortium. One of two equipment manufacturers building test rigs meeting identical functional specifications.
• Koehler Instrument CompanymajorTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer partner for developing high temperature bearing test rig machines as part of the consortium. One of two equipment manufacturers building test rigs meeting identical functional specifications.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ELGI (European Lubricating Grease Institute): European counterpart to NLGI serving the same lubricating grease industry with similar membership, education, and technical programs. NLGI and ELGI jointly run working groups on bio-based and food-grade lubricants and collaborate on sustainability.
• STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers): Major industry society covering tribology and lubrication engineering with parallel education, certification, and conference offerings. STLE's individual certifications and technical committees overlap directly with NLGI's CLGS and education programs.

Regional players

• ATIEL (Association Technique de l'Industrie Européenne des Lubrifiants): European lubricants industry technical association co-leading a joint sustainability committee with NLGI, ELGI, and UEIL. Operates in an adjacent technical-standards and sustainability space.
• UEIL (Union of the European Lubricants Industry): European lubricants industry trade body participating alongside NLGI in the ATIEL/UEIL joint sustainability committee, addressing industry-wide sustainability standards and metrics.
• CLGI (Chinese Lubricating Grease Institute): Regional Chinese institute for the lubricating grease industry, partnered with NLGI as a global ambassador to represent NLGI interests and connect with Chinese grease industry organizations.

Others

• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE): International professional engineering institution offering continuing education and tribology-related resources that overlap thematically with NLGI's education portfolio, though operating on a much broader mechanical-engineering canvas.
• SAE International: Global standards and professional society for mobility and aerospace engineering. SAE's automotive and lubricant-related standards overlap thematically with NLGI's automotive grease certifications.
• ASTM International: Global standards organization whose ASTM D4950 underpins NLGI's GC, LB, and GC-LB certifications and whose test method committees (including D1743) NLGI partners with. Standards setter rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• API (American Petroleum Institute): Major U.S. oil and gas industry standards body collaborating with NLGI on lubricants life cycle assessment and carbon footprinting methodology. API's standards work overlaps with NLGI's certification testing framework.
• ILMA (Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association): North American trade association representing lubricant manufacturers, including grease makers. ILMA is a NLGI partner on advocacy and standards and serves an overlapping but broader lubricant manufacturer constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nlgi

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute)