Metalworking fluids and high-performance greases made in Germany

The Rhenus Lubricant Song is awarded Gold at the Employer Branding Award „Best Employer Brand 2026“ in the DACH region – out of 234 submissions.

With the grease song, we are setting new standards in communication around lubricants – modern, creative, and authentic. A format previously unique in the lubricant industry.

Rhenus Lub develops the innovative and sustainable metalworking fluid rhenus XT 85 GREEN with more than 85% biogenic carbon. Additionally, the new high-performance biolubricant rhenus LAE 2 is certified with the EU Ecolabel (EEL).

Rhenus Lub publishes its first sustainability report. We take responsibility for our environment – by adopting specific measures aimed at achieving comprehensive sustainability.

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.

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”.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Subsidiaries are founded in the Netherlands and Belgium.

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.

A subsidiary is founded in France.

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.

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.

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

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

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

The company is taken over by the Reiners family.

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