About IRMCO
IRMCO, now part of the FUCHS Group, is a global innovator in oil-free metal-forming and tube-bending lubricant technologies. With over a century of expertise and continuous innovation, IRMCO has set the standard for sustainable, high-performance lubrication solutions used in the most demanding industrial applications.
Founded in 1914 and headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, IRMCO has built a strong reputation as a family-owned company committed to advancing manufacturing performance while reducing environmental impact.
This acquisition further strengthens FUCHS’ commitment to providing environmentally responsible, high-efficiency lubrication technologies to customers around the world. By integrating IRMCO’s advanced, oil-free products into the FUCHS metal processing portfolio, we are enhancing our ability to deliver sustainable, high-value lubrication solutions—now available directly through FUCHS for a seamless customer experience.
Industry-Leading Products
IRMCO’s portfolio features a variety of innovative lubricants engineered for superior performance, process efficiency, and sustainability:
Stamping Lubricants
IRMCO FLUIDS are high-performance, oil-free metal-forming lubricants that replace traditional oil-, fat-, and chlorinated paraffin-based products in even the most demanding stamping and forming applications. Easily blended with water and compatible with automated applicator systems, they deliver consistent performance, cleaner operations, and superior protection for parts and tooling.
Tube Bending Lubricants
IRMCO GEL and IRMCO EXTREME are fully synthetic, oil-free tube-bending lubricants that set a new industry standard for clean, efficient, and safe mandrel bending by eliminating the mess and hazards of traditional oils and greases. These minimally applied, clean-running lubricants support precise bending, allow clean-through welding without residue or porosity.
Evaporating Lubricants
IRMCO’s evaporating lubricants are water-dilutable, mineral-oil- and solvent-free formulations engineered for clean, efficient metal forming on aluminum, coated steels, and light-gauge stainless. These eco-friendly lubricants eliminate part cleaning and drying steps while improving workplace safety, air quality, and compliance with ISO 14001 environmental standards.
Serving Multiple Industries
Together, IRMCO and FUCHS bring extensive expertise and proven performance to a wide range of industrial markets. With a shared focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, we deliver lubrication technologies that enhance reliability, productivity, and profitability for our customers.
Automotive
IRMCO offers oil-free, water-dilutable lubricants for the automotive industry, ideal for cross members, control arms, seating frames, shock towers, side rails, and reinforcement brackets. Their FLUIDS series works on mild, galvanized, galvannealed steels, and aluminum, providing improved cleanliness, lower-temperature pretreatment compatibility, excellent e-coat performance, enhanced biodegradability, and superior environmental and safety profiles.
Appliance & Power Equipment
IRMCO offers water-dilutable, oil-free lubricants for the appliance industry, ideal for inner cooking panels and other stamped components made from UNIVIT enameling steel. Their FLUIDS 313C series replaces high-VOC, solvent-based products, improving safety while reducing chemical use, eliminating scrap and cracking, lowering tool temperatures, and enabling parts to go directly to assembly.
Construction & HVAC
IRMCO offers water-dilutable, oil-free lubricants, delivering cleaner, safer, and more efficient manufacturing. Their FLUIDS series reduces VOC emissions, lowers tooling temperatures, and supports carbon-reduction and ISO 14001 initiatives, while providing excellent biodegradability — ideal for body panels, louvers, heat exchanger components, hanger brackets, steel studs, and door hardware.
Tube Bending & Fabrication
IRMCO provides water-dilutable, oil-free lubricants, ideal for fuel inlets, exhaust tubes, automotive grill guards, exercise equipment, aerospace tubing, and recreational vehicle frames made from mild steel, aluminum, stainless steels, titanium, and Inconel. Their FLUIDS and GEL series minimize waste, leave minimal residues, reduce or eliminate cleaning requirements, and are compatible with conventional and aqueous cleaning methods for efficient, high-quality production
Customized Solutions
FUCHS offers a comprehensive portfolio of metal working fluids formulated to accommodate a range of metal substrates. Our experts can assist you in selecting the right lubricant for your operations. Our team combines IRMCO’s century of innovation with FUCHS’ global technical expertise to help you solve your engineering challenges and achieve optimal performance.
We’re here to help you get the solutions you need—efficiently, sustainably, and reliably.
Product | Description |
The 460 Series IRMCO EXTREME products are formulated for tube bending operations on ferrous, aluminum, stainless and aluminized ferrous substrates. The 460 Series IRMCO EXTREME products are stable dispersions comprised of non-petroleum synthetic polymers. | |
The 080 Series IRMCO FLUIDS are high solids oil-free products that are used primarily in drawing and forming applications. Most of the products are high performance, high viscosity stamping lubricants for deep drawing parts such as oil pans, and pressure cylinders. In certain application-specific instances, the products have been used for bending, blanking and punching at higher dilutions. The products in the 080 Series impart exceptional corrosion protection on ferrous metals but, in general, are not well suited for use with brass, copper, or zinc. They also may have a tendency for high foaming. | |
The 090 Series IRMCO FLUIDS are high solid oil-free products that are used primarily in drawing and forming applications. Most of the products are high performance, high viscosity stamping lubricants for deep drawing parts such as oil pans, and pressure cylinders. In certain application-specific instances, the products have been used for bending, blanking and punching at higher dilutions. The products in the 090 Series impart good corrosion protection on ferrous metals but, in general, are not well suited for use with brass, copper, or zinc. They also may have a tendency for high foaming. | |
The 146 Series IRMCO FLUIDS are comprised of the highest performing range of oil-free products for metal stamping. They are used for blanking, drawing, forming, and piercing. Many products are designed for use in specific applications and/or with specific metals. They have been used to manufacture parts such as automotive frames, brake backing plates, catalytic converters, heat shields, inner door panels, lawn mower decks, and wheel centers. | |
The 300 Series IRMCO FLUIDS are used primarily in drawing and forming applications. Most of the products are suitable for high dilution while still maintaining excellent wetting over mill oil. | |
Products from the IRMCO GEL 980 Series are designed for tube bending applications where it is critical that the lubricant remains on the surface where it is applied. These mandrel tube bending gel lubricants have a consistency between NLGI 0 and 00. Eliminates housekeeping issues associated with bending oils. Light amber in color and clear. For use on carbon and some stainless steel. Typical applications include bending automotive exhaust systems. |