Rhenus Lub – the company at a glance

Tradition and innovation – it’s the combination of the two that makes Rhenus Lub stand out from the crowd. By thinking and acting with a long-term view, we act as an innovation leader in the field of industrial lubricants.

Founded in 1882, Rhenus Lub is a successful and independent, privately run company with international subsidiaries and distributors.

This is what we stand for

As a premium partner to industry, we’re familiar with and understand our customers’ fluid management. You can place your trust in Rhenus Lub as a highly innovative, reliable specialist with in-depth expertise!

USP

Development partner

Detailed development expertise for special greases in all industries.

USP

Versatile

Extensive product range and expertise in the application of metalworking fluids in all industries.

USP

International

We’re on hand with qualified personnel and state-of-the-art technology at locations around the world.

USP

Flexible

As a medium-sized company with clear structures, we can respond to new requirements quickly.

Gebäude Rhenus Lub

Metalworking fluids and high-performance greases made in Germany

At our headquarters in Mönchengladbach, Germany, we develop and produce high-performance greases, special lubricants and metalworking fluids to meet individual specifications.

As a system provider, we focus on solving complex technical problems – with sound advice and tailor-made products.

The arrangement of all divisions at a central location ensures consistently high quality, fast decision making and safe processes.

26600

t of production per year

270

Members of staff

100

% green electricity use at the site

117

million € turnover (2022)

History

Preloader
  • 1882


    1882

    Wilhelm Schlafhorst founds the company Wilhelm Schlafhorst – Agentur und Commissionsgeschäft in Mönchengladbach-Rheindahlen.

  • 1910


    1910

    The company is taken over by the Reiners family.

  • 1920

    1920

    To avoid confusion with the Schlafhorst company in Hamburg, the oil and grease production facility in Mönchengladbach is renamed “Chemische Fabrik Rhenus Wilhelm Reiners”.

  • 1960


    1960

    The internationalisation of Rhenus Lub is promoted within the framework of the International Marketing and Manufacturing (IMI) Group in Oklahoma, USA.

  • 1989


    1989

    Dr. Max Reiners is appointed as the managing director. Since then, the company has been managed directly by the family that owns it.

  • 1990


    1990

    The “rhenus” brand is registered and built up at  international level. All previous products and brand names are brought together under the new umbrella brand.

  • 1993


    1993

    A subsidiary is founded in Spain for the purposes of expanding within the Southern European market.

    Rhenus Lub is also a pioneer in terms of environmental protection and becomes the world’s first producer of amine and boric acid-free metalworking fluids.

  • 1999


    1999

    A subsidiary is founded in France.

  • 2001

    2001

    The focus on innovation and special products is further expanded. A second laboratory complex is built at the main location in the Rheindahlen area of Mönchengladbach. The number of staff working in research and development rises to 40.

  • 2003

    2003

    Subsidiaries are founded in the Netherlands and Belgium.

  • 2005

    2005

    Rhenus Lub builds upon the successful worldwide trend towards innovation and growth. The traditional location at Rheindahlen undergoes further expansion and becomes home to one of the most advanced grease factories in Europe.

  • 2007

    2007

    As it marks its 125th anniversary, Rhenus Lub finds itself in great shape: with excellent business figures, a rapidly expanding portfolio of customers and products, and a strong innovation department, the company is well equipped for the future.

  • 2009

    2009

    Investments pay off. The company’s rapid growth calls for further expansion – and a state-of-the-art new logistics centre is built.

  • 2011

    2011

    Rhenus Lub stays true to its tradition as a responsible company. This commitment is underpinned by its joining the UN Global Compact initiative, a pact between companies and the UN that aims to make globalisation socially and environmentally sustainable.

  • 2012

    2012

    Rhenus Lub is delighted about the rising international demand. In an effort to provide our customers with optimum support and advice wherever they are, we expand upon our strategic partnerships in core international markets.

    We also strengthen our historic location with significant further investments in laboratories for research and development.

  • 2015

    2015

    Digitalisation and Industry 4.0 are part of everyday life at Rhenus Lub. With the launch of our smart factory, we apply cutting-edge technology in order to generate further advantages for our customers.

    Once again, the importance placed on research and innovation pays off: with rhenus FU 800, Rhenus Lub sets new standards for the next generation of state-of-the-art metalworking fluids. Our new product brings together the benefits of maximum productivity with increasing standards of environmental protection and health and safety.

  • 2016

    2016

    Rhenus Lub develops a new metalworking fluid for processing carbon components and other fibre composite materials in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

  • 2018

    2018

    We’re especially proud of achieving aviation approval and we now operate in all major industrial regions. With our new distribution partner in Canada, our special lubricants are now sold in 40 countries.

  • 2019

    2019

    Rhenus Lub is certified according to DIN EN ISO 21469:2006. This means that our management system meets the requirements of the standard on the “Safety of machinery – Lubricants with incidental product contact – Hygiene requirements”.

  • 2021

    2021

    All of Dr Max Reiners’ children – Isabella Kleeschulte, Désirée Reiners, Caroline Reiners and Christopher Reiners – have been partners in the family-owned company since 21 January 2021.

  • 2022

    2022

    Rhenus Lub has been a climate-neutral company since January 2022. This is achieved by investing in internationally recognised climate protection projects. When it comes to reducing CO2 emissions, Rhenus Lub pursues a clear strategy: Avoid. Reduce. Offset. By doing so, we reinforce our outstanding reputation as an expert partner for special solutions in all areas of industry.

Management

Dr. Max Reiners

Dr. oec. Max Reiners, lic. oec. HSG

CEO

Since 1989

Frank Hentrich

Dr. rer. nat. Frank Hentrich, Dipl.-Chem.

Managing director for R&D, quality control, production, logistics, maintenance, QHSE and human resources

Since 2011

Meinhard Kiehl

Meinhard Kiehl, Dipl.-Ing.

Managing director for procurement, marketing, sales and product management

Since 2020

Certificates

Environmental Management System

conform to ISO 14001:2015

Occupational Health and Safety Management System

conform to ISO 45001:2018

Quality Management System

conform to  IATF 16949:2016

Quality Management System

conform to  ISO 9001:2015

Development, manufacturing and Sales Management

conform to ISO 21469:2006

Climate Neutral Company

conform to ISO 21469:2006

Documents

Terms and Conditions of Sale

General Terms and Conditions of Sale

Sustainability Report 2021

Code of Conduct

Public information

Sustainability

Working together to boost value creation

No matter how different industries may be, they are united by high standards of quality and process safety

USP

Lubricants as a design element

 

The timely selection of a suitable lubricant provides advantages when it comes to new designs.

Read about a specific application here and learn more about special greases as a design element.

Go to solution
USP

Grease helps to reduce noise

 

Optimisations during the current series are a real challenge – particularly in the automotive industry.

Find out how Rhenus Lub overcomes challenges with its development expertise and in-house laboratory capacity.

Go to solution
USP

Partner for long-term field testing

 

It goes without saying that the largest machine in the world needs the right lubricant in order to withstand wind and weather.

Find out how Rhenus Lub acts as a development partner, handling the full range of tasks – from experimental design to analysis and evaluation.

Go to solution
USP

Customer-specific innovation

 

Environmentally friendly lubricants are becoming an increasingly important factor in every industry.

Rhenus Lub develops a completely new lubricant – according to specific customer requirements, environmentally friendly, and customised.

Go to solution

Locations and representative partners abroad

Production, research & development:

  • Mönchengladbach-Rheindahlen
  • Rhenus Lub S.A., Spain (since 1993)
  • Rhenus Lub S.A.S., France (since 1999)
  • Rhenus Lub B.V., Netherlands (since 2003)

Rhenus Lub is represented by distributors and customer advisers in the following countries:

Contact us if you have any further queries!

We’re here to help! Contact us to arrange a free, personal consultation – we’re also happy to come to you.

Do you need help with product selection?

Use our product finder!

Personal service

More information about our services:

Become a Rhenus Lub sales partner

Our philosophy centres around achieving local customer proximity – and this aim is pursued not only by our own subsidiaries but also, above all, by our effective sales partners across numerous countries.

In order to further develop our international presence, we’re looking for new sales partners for strategically selected countries. If you’re interested, contact us now and become part of the rhenus family.

Your safety is our promise

This strategy is based on mutual trust and allows us to maintain sustainable growth, which is not only advantageous to our joint customers but also benefits you as a sales partner.