The member companies of UNITI Bundesverband EnergieMittelstand e.V. and Verband der Schmierstoff-Industrie e.V. (VSI) have voted unanimously in favour of a fusion of the two associations at their respective general assembly meetings. In future, the merger will represent around 95 per cent of the lubricants market in Germany and a large part of the European market. This paves the way for a future-oriented alliance that combines the technological expertise of the lubricants industry with the market competence of the fuels, combustibles and lubricants trade.
Two strong roots – one common future
UNITI and VSI can look back on long, successful histories. UNITI was founded in 1927. Its approximately 1,000 member companies from the energy SME sector currently account for around 8,600 petrol stations in Germany, around 62 percent of the petrol station market, of which around 3,700 are independent petrol stations. In the heating market, UNITI members supply around 20 million people with heat. In the lubricants market, the market share of its member companies is currently around 50 per cent. The merger with the VSI will increase the share of members represented in the lubricants market in Germany up to around 95 per cent. The VSI was initially founded in 1947 as a supply association for grease manufacturers and has developed into the leading technical association of the German lubricants industry, with highly specialised, medium-sized companies and multinational companies as members.
The agreed merger will combine the technical and regulatory expertise of both associations, which will increase the political clout for representing the interests of member companies nationally and internationally and also help them to meet the growing, transformative demands placed on companies, for example in terms of technology, sustainability and standardisation aspects.
Voices on the fusion:
‘This fusion is a historic milestone for our industry,’ emphasises Dr Peter Seifried, Chairman of the VSI. ‘Together, we are pooling our expertise, networks and influence to tackle the challenges of transformation in the lubricants, energy and mobility industries with determination.’
Christine Keslar-Thunder, Chairwoman of UNITI, emphasises: “Pooling the expertise of both associations and the associated synergies will directly benefit our member companies, as we will be able to support them even more comprehensively than before in overcoming the many challenges they currently face. Above all, however, the merger will also further strengthen our regulatory and political influence potential, for which the highest possible market coverage and an efficient organisational structure of an association are crucial.”
The merger to form UNITI Bundesverband EnergieMittelstand e.V. is expected to be formally completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. Both organisations are already working intensively on the structural merger in order to promote the interests of companies in the lubricants industry even more strongly in the future.
