First choice in customised greases

FIRST CHOICE IN

CUSTOMISED GREASES

Axel Christiernsson used to be a small local grease producer in Scandinavia; now it is the leading supplier of lubricating greases on the European B2B market and is reaching out into even more widespread geographical markets.

Over the past years, the Axel Christiernsson Group has expanded dramatically to become one of the leading producers and suppliers of lubricating greases in Europe. This is partly due to the acquisition of Christol Grease in Niort, France in the summer of 2006, but also due to substantial organic growth in an otherwise ever diminishing market. In a general restructuring of the market mechanisms, outsourcing production to Axel has proven to be an extremely attractive and economic option for many former grease manufacturers who now put their trust and good name in its hands. Axel’s commitment to the “Customised LabelTM” concept means that it has no brands of our own, so it does not compete with any of its customers.

Today Axel Christiernsson has three state-of-the-art production sites in Europe – in Nol, Sweden, in Heijningen, the Netherlands, and in Niort, France. These production sites are among the most modern in the business with an annual output well over 20.000 mt and growing. The company produces lubricating greases based on more than 200 different product formulations. It has invested heavily in its production facilities in order to expand capacity and meet the increase in continental European orders and customer outsourcing contracts.

Group management is located in Nol, Sweden with operational management spread out on the three sites with a European agenda. AXEL is part of the Fairford Group and is as such an independent operator in the lubricating industry.

Sharing knowledge

Grease is one of the oldest lubricants known to man but it is, in fact, only recently that significant breakthroughs in the understanding of lubricant mechanisms have been able

GR Produkter AB

Axel’s main supplier of grease cartridges in Sweden GR Produkter AB have supplied Axel since 1992 with the high quality grease cartridge named Hugo with a delivery on time rate of over 99%

to turn grease technology from a black art into a modern science, a paradigm shift from know-how to “know-why”.

AXEL has worked hard to stay at the forefront of these advances in lubrication technology and believes that it is imperative to keep an open mind and share knowledge with is customers and other members of the grease community. “LubrisenseTM” - is its term for this applied knowledge about lubricating grease. The “LubrisenseTM White Papers” are one way of spreading information. These are intended to describe the basics of lubricating greases and to highlight specific topics which the company believes to be of common interest. Another important component of this knowledge sharing exercise is its new “Grease GeniusTM” concept where it offers a comprehensive education and training programme specifically tailored to lubricating greases.

AXEL’s customer offering combines two streams; - AXEL Products and AXEL PremiumTM services. Lubricating grease products from AXEL are defined by a Customised LabelTM strategy, which means that every product leaving its plants is customised to the needs of customers and labelled in their name.

Axel operates a flexible production system with pressurised and open kettles as well as Stratco contactors in addition to

other specialised equipment. In this way it is able to manage almost any kind of manufacturing technology.

Global expansion

By 2010 AXEL had become the biggest manufacturer of lubricating greases in the European market; it therefore started to fulfil its intention to follow international customers on a global scale. So, in 2011, Axel Christiernsson purchased the majority of the assets of the US company Jesco Resources Inc. This business now operates as Axel Americas LLC, continuing the proud tradition of Jesco as being one of the leading suppliers of lubricating greases on the US market.

Jesco Resources, with facilities in Kansas City, Mo and Rosedale, Ms has 41 employees. Since 1929, Jesco has provided superior products and customer support to its clients. As they have evolved, so has Jesco-expanding both its technical capabilities, as well as production, to meet their requirements.

AXEL Americas LLC brings together strengths from both companies to grow the business in order to serve both international and domestic US clients. Johan Stureson, CEO of the AXEL Group has assumed the position of President of the company while Richard Howell, previous owner and President of Jesco remains as Executive Vice President.

Johan Stureson says: “Being the leading lubricant grease manufacturer in Europe, we are thrilled and proud to establish a platform for growth in North America. Jesco represent an excellent acquisition for AXEL with a reputation for remarkable products and resourceful people” n