Lubrication Engineers Expands Portfolio with SWEPCO Acquisition

In a strategic move to enhance its high-performance lubricant offerings, Lubrication Engineers (LE) has officially acquired Southwestern Petroleum Lubricants (SWEPCO). This acquisition, announced on July 10, 2025, marks a significant milestone for LE as it continues to expand its presence in the industrial lubricants market. With SWEPCO now part of the family, LE is set to broaden its product range and accelerate innovation in lubrication solutions.

Founded in 1933, SWEPCO has established itself as a prominent developer and manufacturer of specialized greases and lubricating oils tailored for various industrial applications. Their portfolio includes an impressive selection of branded and private label gear oils, engine oils, and specialty greases. SWEPCO is well-respected for its proprietary additives and its commitment to producing high-quality lubricants that meet the demands of its diverse clientele across the globe.

The acquisition adds substantial value to Lubrication Engineers, which has built a strong reputation since its establishment in 1951. Known for developing and marketing premium lubricants, LE has created solutions aimed at extending machinery life and reducing maintenance costs. According to Eric Borland, CEO of Lubrication Engineers, the integration of SWEPCO’s high-engineered solutions and advanced manufacturing capabilities will create more robust offerings in the industrial lubricants market. He remarked, “SWEPCO's highly engineered solutions, technological expertise, and leading manufacturing capabilities are highly complementary additions to LE.”

The strategic alignment between the two companies is not only beneficial for their product lines but also applies to their shared values around innovation and commitment to reliability. SWEPCO and LE both benefit from a legacy spanning over 70 years, focused on chemical innovation designed to enhance asset reliability in various industrial sectors. With SWEPCO in tow, LE can now manufacture calcium sulfonate grease in-house, delivering enhanced product capabilities and further expanding its global reach.

Craig Foster, CEO of SWEPCO, expressed excitement over the partnership, emphasizing that “this partnership is a clear win for LE, SWEPCO, and our respective end users, distribution partners, and suppliers.” By leveraging LE's longstanding leadership in industrial lubrication, they aim to build upon SWEPCO’s foundation to drive further product innovation and improve customer experiences.

This acquisition comes on the heels of LE’s aggressive growth strategy backed by Aurora Capital Partners, a private equity firm that has been instrumental in aiding LE’s expansion. The firm, which manages $6 billion in assets, focuses on investing in companies that exhibit strong market positions and have promising growth potential. In less than a year, LE has made notable strides in enhancing its lubrication expertise through a broader array of sustainable and synthetic products.

SWEPCO’s impressive reputation is attributed to its unwavering commitment to engineering top-quality lubrication solutions. The company has developed over 100 unique formulations that include greases, engine oils, gear oils, and hydraulic fluids, engineered with proprietary additive technologies. This wide range offers users exceptional performance, particularly in extreme conditions, allowing SWEPCO to serve over 1,000 clients in 80 countries worldwide.

With this acquisition, Lubrication Engineers not only strengthens its product lineup but also enhances its mission to provide high-performance lubrication solutions that extend the life of equipment and decrease energy consumption. The future is promising as LE continues to consolidate its position in the lubrication industry, driven by innovation and a customer-centric approach.

As the industry evolves, readers can anticipate exciting developments from the collaboration between Lubrication Engineers and SWEPCO, which promises to offer enhanced reliability and cutting-edge solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of their clients in various sectors.