FUCHS opens expanded plant in South Africa to meet growing demand

Mannheim/Germany, February 26, 2025 – The FUCHS Group, which operates globally in the lubricants industry, has officially inaugurated the expansion of its production facility in Isando, Johannesburg, South Africa. With an investment of EUR 26 million, this expansion strengthens the position of FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA in key industries such as automotive, mining, OEM, industrial and specialty. The official opening ceremony took place on February 26, 2025.
 

Strategic investments for growth
FUCHS' commitment to growth in South Africa began with the opening of a state-of-the-art grease plant in 2018. Continuing this investment strategy, the company acquired a neighboring 3.2-hectare site in mid-2020. Phase 1 of the expansion saw the construction of a new warehouse and head office, both completed at the end of 2022. The new warehouse, which is 4.5 times larger than the previous facility, has significantly reduced congestion and improved storage capacity for raw materials, packaging, and finished products.

Plant expansion
Phase 2 of the expansion included a new blending plant for oil lubricants, increasing production capacity by over 40% with additional mixing, base oil, and additive tanks. Storage capacity was significantly increased, and three state-of-the-art filling lines were installed to improve efficiency. Additionally, the grease plant’s capacity can increase by 25% with the introduction of an extra shift, ensuring the company is well-prepared to meet growing market demand. “The expansion enhances our production capacity, efficiency, flexibility, and ability to deliver high-quality products to our customers,” says Paul Deppe, Managing Director of FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA and Regional Vice President for Sub Saharan Africa. “By leveraging advanced automation and quality control, we are strengthening our commitment to deliver performance at all times.”

Positioned for the future
“This is a major milestone for FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA”, states Dr. Ralph Rheinboldt, Member of the Executive Board and responsible for the EMEA region. “With this expanded capacity, we are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of African customers and drive future growth while reinforcing our technological leadership in the lubricants industry.”

The FUCHS Group has operated in South Africa since 1992 and employs just under 450 people. In 2024, FUCHS generated sales of EUR 125 million in South Africa.

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About FUCHS
Founded in 1931 as a family business in Mannheim, FUCHS is now the world's largest independent supplier of innovative lubrication solutions, covering almost every industry and application. Today, the company's 6,200 employees in over 50 countries still share the same goal: to keep the world moving both sustainably and efficiently. To live up to this claim, we think in terms of perfection, not merely standards. When developing individual solutions, we enter into an intensive customer dialogue – acting as an experienced consultant, innovative problem solver and reliable team partner. In 2023, the high-tech company generated revenue of EUR 3.5 billion with 33 production sites and 55 operating companies.