F.W.Klever GmbH

In 1874 Friedrich Wilhelm Klever, a lawyer interested in the field of economy, founded the F.W. Klever Chemical Plant in Cologne, Germany. He began producing oils and fats on the basis of coal. To be independent of the delivery of raw materials, he even bought a coal mine.

Around the turn of the 20th century the German army was in need of a universal oil, which was not only suitable for maintaining the metal parts of guns but also for the upkeep and preservation of wooden stocks and leather gear. Simultaneously, it had to serve the soldiers as a wound oil for minor injuries, lacerations and bruises.

It was Dr. Helmut Klever, then lecturer for chemistry at the Technical University of Karlsruhe and the founder's son, who succeeded in finding the formula for a special oil. He coined the name BALLISTOL by combining the technical term ballistics and the Latin word for oil.

Nowadays the company seat is located in Bavaria and the F.W.Klever GmbH is registered as a chemical and pharmazeutical enterprise and offers besides the BALLISTOL core product series a selection of over 50 products ranging from gun and universal oils, through medical products for body care to even fertilizers.