Mannheim, Germany-based FUCHS PETROLUB announced last Wednesday that it has acquired the lubricants business of LUBRITENE and LUBRASA in South Africa and Australia.

According to FUCHS, the acquisition was primarily made to obtain access to product technology, customer base and personnel. The current production capacities of the LUBRITENE group will over time be integrated into FUCHS plants in Johannesburg and Melbourne.

The company stated that LUBRITENE product range complements the lubricants portfolio of FUCHS' mining business and that the LUBRASA activities will extend the FUCHS product portfolio for food grade applications in Southern Africa.

The transaction is subject to local competition authorities' approval.

The companies LUBRITENE and LUBRASA recorded combined sales of EUR 15 (US$20.5) million in their financial year 2013/2014.

LUBRASA, formerly named Lubrax, focuses on the development, manufacture and distribution of a wide range of greases, gear, hydraulic, compressor, machine, heat transfer and chain oils, fluids and compounds used in food and pharmaceutical processing equipment.

In 2013, the FUCHS PETROLUB Group accounted for EUR 1.8 billion sales. FUCHS LUBRICANTS (SOUTH AFRICA) made EUR 49 million sales, FUCHS LUBRICANTS (AUSTRALASIA) had EUR 135 million sales.