Quaker Houghton
Quaker Houghton is a global industrial chemical company that develops process fluids, lubricants, coatings, and related technical services for metal-processing and other heavy industries.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Quaker Houghton is the operating name of Quaker Chemical Corporation, an American industrial chemical company founded in 1918 and headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The company supplies process fluids and technical services used in manufacturing and materials-processing environments, particularly steel, aluminum, metalworking, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, and can-making operations. Its products are generally not consumer-facing goods; they are formulation-driven inputs used to control friction, heat, corrosion, wear, surface quality, cleanliness, and production efficiency within industrial processes. The business began as Quaker Oil Products Corporation, producing oil products primarily for lubrication and textile applications. During the 1930s it broadened into metalworking, and in 1947 it entered the steel industry. A 1962 corporate name change to Quaker Chemical Corporation reflected a wider scope that included process engineering, technical services, and industrial specialty chemicals. International expansion followed through subsidiaries, joint ventures, and local operating companies in Europe, Australia, Mexico, Japan, India, China, South America, and South Africa. Quaker developed a broad portfolio through both internal product development and acquisitions. Its offerings have included metalworking fluids, steel and aluminum-processing lubricants, die-casting lubricants, coatings, specialty greases, environmentally acceptable lubricants, aerospace coatings, and products for tin plating and other specialized applications. The QUINTOLUBRIC line, introduced in the mid-1970s, became an important family of polyol-ester fire-resistant fluids. Acquisitions such as AC Products, D.A. Stuart's aluminum hot-rolling business, G.W. Smith, Verkol, Binol, Lubricor, and other specialty businesses expanded the company's technical capabilities and geographic reach. Quaker became publicly traded through an initial public offering in 1972 and later listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KWR, with first trading recorded in 1996. In the 2000s and 2010s it invested in manufacturing, research and development, and regional operations, including a major facility and regional headquarters in Qingpu, Shanghai. It also developed digital tools such as CoolanTool, a mobile application designed to help customers monitor metalworking-fluid condition and organize process data. The defining corporate event in the company's recent history was its combination with Houghton International. Quaker Chemical and Houghton announced an agreement in 2017, and the transaction closed on August 1, 2019. Houghton had been associated with Gulf Oil, and the combined company adopted the Quaker Houghton name. The merger created a larger global supplier of industrial process fluids and related services, operating in 21 countries and 35 locations according to cited company history. Historically, more than half of net sales have come from outside the United States, reflecting the company's multinational customer base. Quaker Houghton's positioning centers on specialty chemistry, application engineering, process optimization, and close technical relationships with industrial manufacturers. It competes not primarily as a generic lubricant brand but as a supplier to customers whose product quality, equipment life, worker safety, environmental performance, and operating costs depend on carefully selected process fluids. Its current brand expression uses the tagline "Forward Together," emphasizing collaboration with customers and the integration of Quaker Chemical and Houghton capabilities.
History
Quaker Houghton traces its corporate history to November 11, 1918, when Quaker Oil Products Corporation was established in the United States. The early business manufactured and sold oil products, principally for lubrication and textile uses. In 1930 the company reorganized, adopted the name Quaker Chemical Products Corporation, and was incorporated in Pennsylvania. During this period it expanded into metalworking applications, establishing the industrial direction that would later define the business. The company entered the steel market in 1947. In 1962 it shortened its name to Quaker Chemical Corporation to reflect a broader portfolio that included process engineering, technical services, and the development, manufacture, and sale of industrial specialty chemicals. International development began in earnest during the 1960s. Quaker established a European subsidiary in the Netherlands in 1962, formed a United Kingdom subsidiary in 1963, and subsequently created or joined ventures in Australia, Mexico, and Japan. Quaker completed its initial public offering on May 3, 1972. During the middle of that decade it introduced the QUINTOLUBRIC family of polyol-ester fluids. In 1978 the company made a major United States acquisition by purchasing Selby, Battersby & Co., whose products included flooring systems and marine decking materials. In 1987 Quaker entered the aerospace coating market through the acquisition of AC Products in California. The 1990s brought further geographic expansion into France, China, and Brazil. Quaker also established a joint venture in India and pursued a New York Stock Exchange listing for its common shares. The first NYSE trade under the symbol KWR occurred on August 23, 1996. In the following decade the company continued to broaden its product and service platform through acquisitions involving specialty chemicals, lubricants, greases, and regional operations. A new worldwide headquarters opened in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, in 2002. The company also acquired or formed businesses including Q2 Technologies, United Lubricants, Epmar, and Quaker Chemical South Africa. In 2006 Quaker expanded its manufacturing and research presence in China with a facility and regional headquarters in Qingpu, Shanghai. In 2010 it entered a motorsports development partnership with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing to work on IndyCar greases intended to reduce mechanical energy loss and extend bearing life. That year it also acquired D.A. Stuart's aluminum hot-rolling business and Summit Lubricants. G.W. Smith was acquired in 2011, strengthening Quaker's position in die-casting lubricants. The company added NP Coil Dexter in 2012, a tin-plating business in 2013, and ECLI Products and Binol AB in 2014. Verkol of Spain was acquired in 2015, followed by Lubricor of Canada in 2016. Quaker's most consequential strategic transaction began in 2017, when Quaker Chemical and Houghton International agreed to combine. Houghton was associated with Gulf Oil, and the transaction linked Quaker's specialty process-chemical platform with Houghton's industrial-fluid operations. The combination closed on August 1, 2019, after which the business operated as Quaker Houghton. The company describes its global presence as covering 21 countries and 35 locations, with more than half of net sales generated outside the United States. Its operating footprint includes North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. Today, Quaker Houghton serves industrial customers whose manufacturing processes require tightly controlled lubrication, cooling, corrosion protection, cleaning, coating, and surface treatment. Its business model combines formulated chemical products with field technical support and process engineering. The company's brand identity after the 2019 combination uses the tagline "Forward Together," reflecting an emphasis on collaboration, integrated capabilities, and continued development of industrial solutions.
- 2019
Quaker Houghton is formed
[1]The Quaker Chemical-Houghton combination closes on August 1, creating the Quaker Houghton operating brand.
- 2017
Combination agreement with Houghton International
[1]Quaker Chemical and Houghton International execute an agreement to combine their businesses.
- 2014
CoolanTool launched
[1]Quaker introduces a mobile tool for monitoring metalworking-fluid processes and organizing results.
- 2012
Brand identity and integrated marketing campaign introduced
[1]Quaker debuts a refreshed identity and the campaign line "It's what’s inside that counts."
- 2006
China manufacturing and research expansion
[1]The company opens a manufacturing and research facility and regional headquarters in Qingpu, Shanghai.
- 2002
New worldwide headquarters opens
[1]Quaker opens its corporate worldwide headquarters in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
- 1996
First New York Stock Exchange trade
[1]The company's common shares begin trading on the NYSE under the symbol KWR on August 23.
- 1975
QUINTOLUBRIC line introduced
[1]Quaker launches its QUINTOLUBRIC polyol-ester family of process fluids.
- 1972
Initial public offering
[1]Quaker completes its initial public offering on May 3.
- 1962
Name changes to Quaker Chemical Corporation
[1]The new name reflects the company's expansion into process engineering, services, and industrial specialty chemicals.
Products and positioning
A technically oriented global supplier of specialty process fluids, industrial lubricants, coatings, and application services for demanding manufacturing and materials-processing industries.
Industrial process fluids
Metalworking fluids
Quaker Houghton supplies fluids used in machining, forming, grinding, and other metalworking operations. Depending on the application, these formulations can provide cooling, lubrication, corrosion protection, cleanliness, and control of surface finish. They are supported by monitoring and technical services intended to help manufacturers manage fluid condition and process performance.
Fire-resistant process fluids · 1975
QUINTOLUBRIC
QUINTOLUBRIC is a family of polyol-ester fluids introduced in the mid-1970s. The line is associated with fire-resistant lubrication and hydraulic applications where industrial users require a balance of fluid performance, equipment protection, and reduced fire risk compared with conventional mineral-oil products.
Metals-processing chemicals · 1947
Steel-processing fluids
These products support steelmaking and steel-finishing operations, including rolling and related process stages. They are designed to manage friction, heat, wear, surface quality, and equipment conditions in demanding high-throughput environments. The portfolio reflects Quaker Houghton's long-standing presence in the steel market since 1947.
Metals-processing lubricants · 2010
Aluminum hot-rolling fluids
Quaker Houghton develops lubricants and process fluids for aluminum hot rolling and related applications. These products help manufacturers control rolling behavior, heat, surface condition, and production efficiency. The company's aluminum capabilities were expanded through the acquisition of D.A. Stuart's aluminum hot-rolling business.
Casting-process chemicals · 2011
Die-casting lubricants
Die-casting lubricants are formulated to assist the release and production of cast metal components while helping manage heat, die condition, surface quality, and cycle performance. Quaker strengthened this area through the acquisition of G.W. Smith in 2011.
Industrial lubricants · 2010
Specialty greases
The company's specialty grease activities serve industrial equipment and component applications requiring targeted control of friction, wear, temperature, and service life. Quaker expanded its grease capabilities through acquisitions including Summit Lubricants and ECLI Products, as well as through motorsports-related development work.
Industrial coatings · 1987
Aerospace coatings
Quaker entered aerospace coatings through the 1987 acquisition of AC Products in California. These materials form part of the company's specialized coatings and surface-treatment capabilities for demanding industrial and aerospace environments.
Digital process-management tool · 2014
CoolanTool
CoolanTool is a mobile application launched in 2014 to facilitate monitoring of metalworking fluids and organization of process-test results. It represents Quaker's effort to complement chemical products with digital tools that help customers manage industrial-fluid programs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Forward Together
International
After the combination of Quaker Chemical and Houghton International, the company refreshed its logo and brand expression and adopted the "Forward Together" tagline.
Outcome. The tagline became the principal expression of the combined Quaker Houghton brand.
- 2012It's what’s inside that counts
International
Quaker introduced an integrated marketing campaign alongside an updated brand identity, logo, and tagline. The message emphasized the technical substance and performance of the company's industrial products rather than consumer-style brand visibility.
Outcome. The campaign accompanied a broader refresh of Quaker's corporate presentation.
Brand decisions
2019
Adoption of the Quaker Houghton brandStrategyBackground
The completion of the Quaker Chemical and Houghton International combination required a unified corporate and market identity.
Action taken
The business adopted Quaker Houghton as its operating brand and used the "Forward Together" tagline.
Aftermath
The company presented itself as a global supplier with operations in 21 countries and 35 locations.
2017
Agreement to combine with Houghton InternationalM&ABackground
Quaker Chemical and Houghton International were both established suppliers of industrial process fluids and were headquartered in the Philadelphia area. Combining them offered a way to broaden product capabilities, customer coverage, and geographic scale.
Action taken
The companies executed an agreement in 2017 to combine their businesses.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on August 1, 2019, and the combined company operated under the Quaker Houghton name.
2014
Launch of CoolanToolProduct launchBackground
Industrial users need to monitor metalworking-fluid conditions and retain process data to maintain quality and efficiency.
Action taken
Quaker launched the CoolanTool mobile application for fluid monitoring and data organization.
Aftermath
The launch expanded Quaker's offering beyond formulated chemicals into digital process support.
Recent events
- 2019
Quaker Houghton combination completed[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The combination of Quaker Chemical and Houghton International was completed on August 1, 2019, and the combined business adopted the Quaker Houghton name.
- 2019
Quaker Houghton adopts the "Forward Together" tagline[1]
Campaign · Other
Following the combination with Houghton International, the company refreshed its logo and brand presentation and used "Forward Together" as its current tagline.
- 2017
Quaker Chemical and Houghton International agree to combine[1]
M&A
Quaker Chemical and Houghton International executed an agreement to combine their businesses, bringing together two Philadelphia-area industrial process-fluid companies.
- 2014
Quaker Chemical introduces the CoolanTool mobile application[1]
Product launch
Quaker launched CoolanTool to support monitoring of metalworking fluids and organization of related process data.
- 2012
Quaker Chemical updates its brand identity[1]
Campaign
Quaker introduced an integrated marketing campaign, updated visual identity, and the tagline "It's what’s inside that counts."
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