The company

Zeller+Gmelin is an independent, medium-sized family business that was founded in Eislingen in 1866. Over the decades, Zeller+Gmelin has developed into an international partner for high-quality lubricants, printing inks and chemical products.

With around 1000 employees worldwide and 17 subsidiaries, Zeller+Gmelin delivers to more than 80 countries around the world and has several  foreign production sites in addition to Eislingen. The high-quality products occupy a leading position on the international market. We value individual and holistic solutions and offer research, development and production – all from a single source – from experts.

The conscientious use of resources and responsibility towards future generations are central components of our corporate philosophy. We have been working successfully for years to reduce our ecological footprint and in January 2020 we became the first chemical company in Baden-Württemberg to be able to call ourselves a “climate-neutral site”. Through energy saving projects and technical measures, we have significantly reduced our CO₂ emissions. The remaining emissions in 2024 -2,448 tons of CO₂- were offset by climate protection certificates. Our research and development departments are constantly working on innovative solutions that reduce the burden on the environment and improve our customers’ processes.

We see innovation as a core competence. At our headquarters in Eislingen alone, around 20% of employees work in research and development. We are constantly striving to further develop and permanently optimize our products – and to bring new innovations to the market.

We have been understanding + solving for more than 150 years. Because we understand our customers and develop solutions – reliable, flexible and customized. We owe this to the quality of our work and, of course, the experience, expertise and passion of our employees.

We combine all of this in our brand promise:

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

More Information
Unblock content Accept required service and unblock content

Our products in everyday life

Zeller+Gmelin Lubricants, printing inks and chemical products are encountered in many places in everyday life - and surprisingly often. Our products are present in many unexpected places - whether during the morning routine, on the way to work or at a cozy dinner for two.

Let our animation "A day with Z+G" surprise you with the applications in which Zeller+Gmelin is represented with its products.

Facts + figures

Overview of the 2022 financial year

~ 0
Employees worldwide
~ 0 M
Turnover in euros
0
Branches
~ 0
Countries supplied

Consistently high quality

Zeller+Gmelin has created a global production and service network to provide business partners with what they need most: consistently high quality!

The management

Together + Together

Siegfried Müller

Managing Director Marketing & Sales

alexandra scaglione

Managing Director Finance, Controlling & Human Resources

thomas alpers

Managing Director Technology

Success stories: The history of Zeller+Gmelin

Since 1866, Zeller+Gmelin has been developing and producing product and process solutions that set standards in terms of performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness. While our initial focus was on the production of illuminating oil, today we offer corporations and SMEs an enormous variety of high-quality lubricants, printing inks and chemical products for countless applications.

1856

Ernst Gustav Zeller and Theodor Zeller found the company Zeller, Haltiner & Co. with partners in Groß-Eislingen to produce shale oil.

1858

Zeller, Haltiner & Co. ceases operations. The utilization of shale oil has proven to be uneconomical.

1863

Albert Zeller, Theodor's younger brother, resumes shale oil extraction.

1866

Albert Zeller and Paul Gmelin found Zeller+Gmelin. The company's products are primarily lubricating oils for industrial applications.

1898

Zeller+Gmelin relocates its headquarters to Schlossstrasse in Eislingen and builds a refinery for the production of gasoline, among other things.

1913

The Eislingen-based mineral oil company operates around 30 trading branches, including in Antwerp, Gdansk and Basel.

1926

The manufacture of products for road construction begins.

1930

Zeller+Gmelin starts production of cleaning agents.

1932

Zeller+Gmelin expands its portfolio once again with the production of printing inks.

1945

A few weeks after the end of the war, the occupation of the Eislingen factory site by US troops ends. There was hardly any destruction.

1953

Zeller+Gmelin builds up a network of filling stations in southern Germany.

1983

On March 18, a new production center for technical oils, lubricating and drawing greases, drawing powders and care products is inaugurated.

1984

With the founding of Zeller+Gmelin of America in Richmond, Virginia, the first non-European subsidiary is established on August 31 (later renamed Zeller+Gmelin Corporation).

1987

Zeller+Gmelin acquires the majority of shares in Intercolor Limited in the UK (1998 acquisition of all shares; later renamed Zeller+Gmelin UK Limited).

1989

Zeller+Gemlin B.V., Netherlands, is founded together with a minority shareholder.

1996

Zeller+Gmelin changes strategy and repositions itself as a manufacturer of specialty products in the areas of lubricants, printing inks and chemicals. In the course of this, numerous shareholdings and subsidiaries are sold.

1997

Following the closure of the Danish printing ink distributor, Zeller+Gmelin founds its own company in Denmark, Zeller+Gmelin A/S.

2000

The construction of a new building will significantly expand research and development capacities in the areas of mineral oil, chemicals and analytical services.

2002

On July 22, Zeller+Gmelin is the first lubricant manufacturer to receive the Bosch Supplier Award.

2003

Zeller+Gmelin further expands its global presence and founds Zeller+Gmelin s.r.o., Czech Republic and Zeller+Gmelin S.A.R.L., France.

2004

Zeller+Gmelin Sp. z o.o., Poland is founded. The long-established Eislingen-based company is honored with the TOP 100 Award as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany. Three more TOP 100 awards will follow by 2009.

2005

ZG Fluidmanagement CZ s.r.o., Czech Republic, is founded.

2006

Zeller+Gmelin ventures further afield and founds Zeller+Gmelin (Suzhou) Co Ltd, China; Zeller+Gmelin ULC, Canada (2008) and Zeller+Gmelin Ltd Sti, Turkey (2006).

2011

Zeller+Gmelin de Mexico is founded as a subsidiary of Zeller+Gmelin Corporation.

2016

Zeller+Gmelin celebrates its 150th anniversary.

2018

Zeller+Gmelin invests in the expansion of lubricant and grease production

2019

The Digital Printing business unit is established

2020

Establishment of the e-mobility business unit and construction of the new QC laboratory. Zeller+Gmelin is the first chemical company from southern Germany to produce climate-neutrally at its Eislingen/Fils site.

2021

Establishment of a new production site in China and foundation of Zeller+Gmelin Italy

2022

Acquisition of the printing ink manufacturer LUXUL in the United Arab Emirates

Subsidiaries in Eislingen

Among other things, our subsidiary Südöl recycles used machine and engine oils and processes them into new base oils and fuels.
In this way, they are reintroduced into the production cycle instead of being disposed of at great expense.
As an expert in fluid management, ZG Fluidmanagement GmbH supports you in three core areas
  • In the Chemical Management division, all process materials used in the metalworking industry are monitored, maintained and documented in accordance with applicable guidelines.
  • The Automotive Lubricants division focuses on the construction, assembly and provision of equipment and systems for the supply and disposal of lubricants in workshops, petrol stations, depots and vehicle fleets.
  • The Systems Engineering division comprises application systems for the targeted application of lubricants before production processes in the metalworking industry.