| Type | Aktiengesellschaft |
|---|---|
| Traded as | FWB: FPE |
| Industry | Chemicals |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Founder(s) | Rudolf Fuchs |
| Headquarters | Mannheim, Germany |
| Number of locations | main manufacturing locations include: Mannheim, Germany, Belper, England |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Jürgen Strube (Chairman of the supervisory board), Stefan Fuchs (CEO) |
| Products | Lubricants, speciality automotive chemicals |
| Revenue | €1.459 billion (2010)[1] |
| Operating income | €250.1 million (2010)[1] |
| Profit | €170.7 million (2010)[1] |
| Total assets | €894.2 million (end 2010)[1] |
| Total equity | €545.9 million (end 2010)[1] |
| Employees | 3,580 (end 2010)[1] |
| Website | www.fuchs-oil.com |
Fuchs Petrolub AG is the world's largest independent manufacturer of lubricants, and related speciality products.[2] The company's headquarters are at Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, where the company was founded in 1931.
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Fuchs produces a wide range of products, which include automotive lubricants (engine motor oils and transmission, for motor cars, motorcycles, agricultural, plant and stationary engines), metalworking lubricants, industrial, civil engineering, and hydraulic products. Fuchs also produces the Planto range of biodegradable products.
Fuchs Lubritech is a division that specializes in specialty lubricants, coatings and services for all industrial applications, especially mining, and other types of processing and manufacturing plants.
The Silkolene brand name has a long history, with the company originating in England. Initially, it was called Dalton and Company, being named after its founder, and sold Silkolene products. However, recognising the strength of the Silkolene brand, in the early 1980s, the company was renamed Silkolene Lubricants. In 1989, Silkolene Lubricants was acquired by the German Fuchs group, and the products were subsequently renamed Fuchs Silkolene.
The products themselves gained a high international regard. The Silkolene company developed specialist lubricants for aviation, including oils for the Merlin engine, as used in the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, to name a few. Silkolene dedicated many years on technical cooperation with the US Air Force, and was also involved with the supersonic passenger aircraft, Concorde. The company amassed expertise with synthetic lubricant technology, and Silkolene became a recognised world leader in the field of synthetic lubricants, including esters.
Synthetic lubricant technology continued, and in the early '90s, developments continued to include Aerospace engineering, along with motorsports, including rallying and motorcycle racing. An early partnership was with Honda UK Motorcycle Race Team. With positive market exposure, coupled with a very high degree of research and development (R&D), and success in competition, Silkolene products became the market leader in the UK.
Presently, Silkolene products continue to be manufactured at Belper in England. They are now also made in Germany, the US, and SE Asia.
Fuchs, like many of their competitor brands of lubricants, have a strong worldwide presence in motorsports, particularly in Europe and the USA.
In the 2-wheel automotive segment, the Fuchs Silkolene brand sponsors many different classes of motorcycle racing, including prototype based racing: MotoGP, and production based "SuperBike" and "SuperSports" racing: World SuperBikes, World SuperSports, British SuperBikes. The brand has also been involved with Motorcross, and Speedway. Fuchs have a current long term partnership with Kawasaki motorcycles, although they also sponsor Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. Silkolene have also participated in the Isle of Man TT races, arguably, the toughest test in the world for any motorcycle.