National Lubricating Grease Institute

The NLGI was incorporated by a small number of U.S. companies in 1933 to create a code for the National Recovery Act.

The name was changed in 1937 as the industry recognized the need for a joint development and standards association and membership grew.

[1] The NLGI is a not-for-profit corporation whose membership includes grease manufacturers and sales organizations, associated equipment manufacturers, industry suppliers, service organizations, research and educational groups.

[2] The NLGI retains jurisdiction over the designation and definition of the categories, which it publishes in its “chassis and wheel bearing service classification system”.

The NLGI consistency number is used in several standards: ASTM D4950, SAE J310 and ISO 6743-9 “lubricants, industrial oils and related products (class L) — classification — part 9: family X (greases)”.