By Lukeron Lubricants · Last updated
Quick answer
Private label grease means a manufacturer makes the grease and you sell it under your own brand. To start, pick three to five greases that sell daily (a multipurpose lithium or calcium grease, an NLGI 3 chassis grease, an EP grease), choose the thickener for heat and water and the NLGI grade for stiffness, test free samples, then agree grade, pack and quantity. You supply the brand name and label artwork. The manufacturer blends, fills and packs.
Which thickener for which duty
| Thickener | Strength | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | Water resistance, low cost | Chassis points and wheel bearings at moderate temperature |
| Lithium | Multipurpose, wider temperature range | Wheel bearings, chassis and general workshop use |
| Lithium complex | Higher heat resistance | Hot bearings and longer service |
| Calcium sulfonate | Very high load and water resistance | Marine, mining and heavy construction |
Typical uses only. Follow the machine maker's manual. Greases in our range are made in NLGI grades 0 to 3.
You can start your own grease brand in India without building a plant. A private label manufacturer blends, fills and packs the grease, and you sell it under your name. The work for you is choosing a small range, agreeing the grade and pack sizes, and preparing the label. This guide explains how it works, which greases to start with, what to ask the manufacturer, and what you must supply.
What is private label grease?
Private label grease means the manufacturer makes the grease and you sell it under your own brand name, on your own label. Your customers see your brand. The manufacturer stays in the background, handles blending, filling and packing, and keeps your brand and range confidential. It suits workshop chains, spare-parts dealers, distributors, bearing and industrial suppliers, and exporters who want a brand of their own.
Which greases should a new brand start with?
A new brand should not launch ten greases. Start with three to five that sell every day, then add more once they move. A sensible first range:
- A multipurpose automotive grease, lithium or calcium, for wheel bearings and chassis points. This is the grease workshops use most.
- A chassis grease, NLGI 3, for trucks, buses and heavy vehicles that need daily greasing.
- An EP (extreme pressure) grease for industrial bearings, gear housings and heavy-load joints.
- A high-temperature grease for furnace, oven and kiln bearings, if you sell to industry.
- A lithium complex or calcium sulfonate grease, if you want a premium product for demanding duty.
Match the range to what your customers actually buy. A workshop-focused brand needs different greases from an industrial supplier.
Choosing the thickener and the NLGI grade
Two choices define a grease. The thickener (soap) decides heat and water resistance. The NLGI number decides how stiff it is.
- Calcium: good water resistance, low cost, for general chassis and wheel use at moderate temperatures.
- Lithium: the common multipurpose choice, a wider temperature range than calcium.
- Lithium complex: higher heat resistance, for hot bearings and longer service.
- Calcium sulfonate: very high load and water resistance, for marine, mining and heavy construction.
NLGI 2 is the usual general-purpose grade, NLGI 3 is firmer for chassis, high-speed or hot bearings, and NLGI 0 and 1 are softer for centralized systems. Read our NLGI guide for the full chart. The grade in the machine maker's manual always comes first.
How private label grease works, step by step
- Tell the manufacturer your market, the greases you want and the pack sizes.
- Get free samples and test them in the equipment your customers use.
- Agree the grade, pack sizes and order quantity. Minimum orders are agreed with each buyer.
- Send your brand name and label artwork, and agree who is responsible for the label text before printing.
- The manufacturer blends, fills, labels and packs. You receive the finished stock under your brand.
Pack sizes for a grease brand
Grease sells in many packs. Small tubs and cartridges suit retail and workshops, pails suit plants and fleets, and drums suit bulk buyers. Lukeron fills greases from 100 g packs to 180 kg drums, and industrial greases are mainly in 18 kg pails and 180 kg drums. Choose two or three packs per grease to begin with, so your stock stays simple.
What you need to supply
- Your brand name and logo.
- Label artwork, or ask the manufacturer to help with the design.
- Any registrations or marks your market requires.
- The grades and pack sizes you want, with an expected monthly volume.
Questions to ask any grease manufacturer
- Can I test samples before I order?
- Which NLGI grades and thickeners do you make?
- How do you test each batch, and what is checked?
- What certificates does the company hold, and in whose name?
- What is the minimum order for my greases and my packs?
- Who else do you make for, and how do you keep my brand confidential?
Our guide to choosing a private label lubricant manufacturer goes through these questions in more detail.
Quick summary
- Start with three to five greases that sell daily, then add more.
- Choose the thickener for heat and water, and the NLGI grade for stiffness.
- Test samples in real equipment before you order.
- Agree grade, pack, quantity and label text in writing.
Private label grease from Lukeron
Lukeron makes 24 automotive and industrial greases at its own plant in Anandpar, Jamnagar, Gujarat: calcium, lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, sodium, high-temperature non-melt, moly and graphite greases, in NLGI grades 0 to 3. More than 10 brands already sell oils and greases made by Lukeron. We send free samples first. Tell us your market and the greases you want, and our team will reply with a plan.