Klüber Lubrication celebrates 75th anniversary

Klüber Lubrication München KG celebrates its 75^th anniversary with a big party for all employees and an open day.

Since its foundation as a retailer for mineral oil products in 1929, Klüber Lubrication has developed to become the worldwide leading manufacturer of special lubricants. In 2003, more than 1,500 employees achieved a turnover of 270 million Euro. Today, roughly 2,500 different speciality lubricants for diverse applications are being marketed worldwide. Mostly unseen, oils, greases, pastes and dry lubricants made by Klüber can be found in industrial installations as well as everyday products: whether it’s James Bond's cutting-edge snowmobile or computer components, Munich's television tower or automobiles. Klüber provides special lubricants for all of these specific and high performance requirements.

An important prerequisite for the development of lubricants is Klüber's comprehensive range of testing equipment. There are over 100 test rigs, some of them standardised, others made to Klüber's own specifications, on which products and applications are tested around the clock. They provide the data needed to optimise products and help customers to choose the right lubricants for their applications.

With 27 subsidiaries, 14 of which with their own production plants, Klüber is represented around the globe. In 1958 the company founder Theodor Klüber expanded abroad for the first time by setting up Klüber Belgium and Klüber Austria followed three years later. More recent examples of steadily growing international activities are the newly built plant in Mexico, the extension to the New Hampshire site in the USA and the new sales office in Thailand. In 2003, Klüber's activities abroad already amounted to 79 percent of the total turnover.

The company has had its headquarters in Geisenhausenerstraße in Munich’s Obersendling since 1941. "As a company operating worldwide, Munich is an excellent location. We are currently expanding the headquarters’ central functions such as research and development in order to create the structures needed for further growth. In 2004 alone, 25 new employees will start here, or commence their apprenticeships," comments Hanno D. Wentzler, President on the Management Board of Klüber Lubrication as well as of the management company Freudenberg Chemical Specialities.

Klüber expects solid growth this year. Although the total market for special lubricants is decreasing, Klüber is expanding its market share thanks to innovative products and close cooperation with customers. Along with the expansion of the Munich site, Klüber is planning further investment in growth regions around the world.

Klüber has been a member of the Freudenberg Group since 1966. At the start of 2004, Freudenberg set up the new business group Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, which now comprises Klüber as well as the newly acquired companies Chem-Trend and OKS. "The new business group shows that Freudenberg is considerably strenghtening its area of specialities. This opens up new horizons for Klüber, which it could not have pursued on its own, for example the focus on our core business of special lubricants and the associated niche markets," says Wentzler. Freudenberg is a diversified family company with special emphasis on the automotive supply and textile sectors. It also supplies consumer markets with the Vileda^® and Nora^® rubber floors brands. In 2003, the Freudenberg Group employed 28,000 people in 43 countries, attaining a turnover of around four billion Euro.



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						September 2004 Klüber Lubrication celebrates 75^th anniversary Munich company is leading the world market in speciality lubricants Strong emphasis on training and apprenticeships

						Klüber Lubrication München KG celebrates its 75^th anniversary with a big party for all employees and an open day. Since its foundation as a retailer for mineral oil products in 1929, Klüber Lubrication has developed to become the worldwide leading manufacturer of special lubricants. In 2003, more than 1,500 employees achieved a turnover of 270 million Euro. Today, roughly 2,500 different speciality lubricants for diverse applications are being marketed worldwide. Mostly unseen, oils, greases, pastes and dry lubricants made by Klüber can be found in industrial installations as well as everyday products: whether it’s James Bond's cutting-edge snowmobile or computer components, Munich's television tower or automobiles. Klüber provides special lubricants for all of these specific and high performance requirements. An important prerequisite for the development of lubricants is Klüber's comprehensive range of testing equipment. There are over 100 test rigs, some of them standardised, others made to Klüber's own specifications, on which products and applications are tested around the clock. They provide the data needed to optimise products and help customers to choose the right lubricants for their applications. With 27 subsidiaries, 14 of which with their own production plants, Klüber is represented around the globe. In 1958 the company founder Theodor Klüber expanded abroad for the first time by setting up Klüber Belgium and Klüber Austria followed three years later. More recent examples of steadily growing international activities are the newly built plant in Mexico, the extension to the New Hampshire site in the USA and the new sales office in Thailand. In 2003, Klüber's activities abroad already amounted to 79 percent of the total turnover. The company has had its headquarters in Geisenhausenerstraße in Munich’s Obersendling since 1941. "As a company operating worldwide, Munich is an excellent location. We are currently expanding the headquarters’ central functions such as research and development in order to create the structures needed for further growth. In 2004 alone, 25 new employees will start here, or commence their apprenticeships," comments Hanno D. Wentzler, President on the Management Board of Klüber Lubrication as well as of the management company Freudenberg Chemical Specialities. Klüber expects solid growth this year. Although the total market for special lubricants is decreasing, Klüber is expanding its market share thanks to innovative products and close cooperation with customers. Along with the expansion of the Munich site, Klüber is planning further investment in growth regions around the world. Klüber has been a member of the Freudenberg Group since 1966. At the start of 2004, Freudenberg set up the new business group Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, which now comprises Klüber as well as the newly acquired companies Chem-Trend and OKS. "The new business group shows that Freudenberg is considerably strenghtening its area of specialities. This opens up new horizons for Klüber, which it could not have pursued on its own, for example the focus on our core business of special lubricants and the associated niche markets," says Wentzler. Freudenberg is a diversified family company with special emphasis on the automotive supply and textile sectors. It also supplies consumer markets with the Vileda^® and Nora^® rubber floors brands. In 2003, the Freudenberg Group employed 28,000 people in 43 countries, attaining a turnover of around four billion Euro.

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