ANNUAL
NLGI AWARDS
Recognizing Excellence in the Grease Industry
The NLGI Awards celebrate exceptional contributions and achievements across the lubricating grease industry. These prestigious awards honor individuals and companies that advance our field through innovation, excellence and dedication of NLGI’s mission.
Complete form nominate an industry colleague for a 2025 award. Nominations are due to [email protected] by January 31, 2025.
Learn More About Awards Below.
Clarence E. Earle Memorial Award
“For an outstanding contribution to the technical literature relating to lubricating greases during the year.”
Guidelines: Does not have to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Can be a paper, an article, editorial contribution to a reference book, etc.
NLGI Achievement Award
“The Institute’s highest award, it honors the achievement of those who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and development of the Institute”.
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Has made exceptional and lasting contributions to the Institute
- Has accumulated a significant “body of work” within the grease industry
NLGI Author Award – Development
“For the best paper presented at our Annual Meeting that focuses on testing, selection, application or use of greases.”
Guidelines: Must be written or presented.
NLGI Fellows Award
“Acknowledges valuable work within the Institute, in the technical development of greases, grease tests, or the promotion of grease usage.”
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Significant work and continuing work in development of new grease technology (thickener chemistry, advancements in mixing technology, new additive chemistry, etc.)
- Significant work and continuing work toward development and acceptance of new tests within the grease industry
- Significant work and continuing work toward development of tools or literature promoting understanding of grease usage by those not directly connected to it (OEMs, end-users)
- Typical award winners would
- Have 10 or more years of significant contributions to the grease industry through authoring of papers, educational work, etc.
- Have been awarded one or more of the following:
- Author award winner
- John A. Bellanti award winner
- Educational Excellence award winner
Volunteer Award
“Awarded to an individual who has been a significant contributor to NLGI and the industry via NLGI committees, Task Forces, Ad Hoc’s or Working Groups.”
- This award will be chosen by the NLGI Board of Directors.
- Recipient must be actively involved in one or more committees for a minimum of one-year.
NLGI Honorary Membership
“Entitles lifetime honorary membership to those who, over a period of years, have served the Institute in some outstanding capacity and are not now with a member company.”
Guidelines: For persons who have retired from active employment in the grease industry, and previously received one or more awards or served as an officer while active.
Golden Grease Gun Award
“This award acknowledges valuable work within the Grease Industry in the development of grease technology, manufacturing, testing, applications and better understanding of grease behavior or the promotion of grease usage.”
John A. Bellanti Memorial Meritorious Award
“Acknowledges meritorious service on the NLGI Board, or on Technical Committee projects or to the industry.”
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- 3 years of active service on the NLGI board
- Several years active service in a lead role on a Technical committee
- Significant contributions toward progress in a Working Group
- Significant contributions to the NLGI Education Courses
NLGI Author Award – Application
“For the best paper presented at our Annual Meeting that focuses on testing, selection, application or use of greases.”
Guidelines: Must be written or presented.
Leadership in Sustainability Award
“Awarded to an individual or company who is dedicated to a more sustainable industry.”
Guidelines:
- Participated on sustainability‐focused committees (API 571, ELGI Consortium, etc.)
- Publicly share company initiatives around sustainability
- Participate as panelist or content provider on sustainability topics
- Incorporates sustainable development to develop the industry into a more sustainable industry (product, manufacturing processes, etc.)
- Other awards received for being a sustainability champion
Educational Excellence
“For outstanding instruction as exemplified by subject knowledge and presentation skills in NLGI educational courses.”
Guidelines: Needs to be knowledgeable and good presenter. Minimum 5 years work as educator for NLGI.
NLGI Founders Award
In recognition of the three NLGI founding Companies, the Founders Award, is presented to a company that has had a positive impact on the NLGI in the tradition established by its founding fathers.
Guidelines:
- Reserved for a Company and not an individual.
- Company should have longevity with NLGI continuous membership
- The company needs to be involved in a positive manner for the betterment and growth of the NLGI
Ralph Beard Memorial Academic Award
“Acknowledges valuable work within Academia, in the technical development of greases, grease tests, or the promotion of grease usage.”
Guidelines: Guidelines (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Significant and continuing work in research or development of new grease technology (formulation, thickener chemistry, advancements in mixing technology, new additive chemistry, etc.)
- Significant and continuing work in research or development and acceptance of new tests within the grease industry
- Typical award winner would have 5 or more years, while in academia, of significant contributions to the grease industry through research, publication, educational work, etc.
Why These Awards Matter
The NLGI Awards inspire progress by spotlighting excellence and innovation. Each honoree reflects the spirit of our mission: to push boundaries, foster collaboration, and enhance technologies that drive sustainability and industry growth.
Celebrate with Us
The award ceremony takes place at the NLGI Annual Meeting, where we come together to honor these achievements and share insights for the future. Through this celebration, NLGI strengthens the community and encourages new breakthroughs that benefit us all.
Join us in celebrating the people and ideas shaping the future of grease.
ANNUAL
NLGI AWARDS
Recognizing Excellence in the Grease Industry
The NLGI Awards celebrate exceptional contributions and achievements across the lubricating grease industry. These prestigious awards honor individuals and companies that advance our field through innovation, excellence and dedication of NLGI’s mission.
Complete form nominate an industry colleague for a 2025 award. Nominations are due to [email protected] by January 31, 2025.
Learn More About Awards Below.
Clarence E. Earle Memorial Award
“For an outstanding contribution to the technical literature relating to lubricating greases during the year.”
Guidelines: Does not have to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Can be a paper, an article, editorial contribution to a reference book, etc.
NLGI Achievement Award
“The Institute’s highest award, it honors the achievement of those who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and development of the Institute”.
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Has made exceptional and lasting contributions to the Institute
- Has accumulated a significant “body of work” within the grease industry
NLGI Author Award – Development
“For the best paper presented at our Annual Meeting that focuses on testing, selection, application or use of greases.”
Guidelines: Must be written or presented.
NLGI Fellows Award
“Acknowledges valuable work within the Institute, in the technical development of greases, grease tests, or the promotion of grease usage.”
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Significant work and continuing work in development of new grease technology (thickener chemistry, advancements in mixing technology, new additive chemistry, etc.)
- Significant work and continuing work toward development and acceptance of new tests within the grease industry
- Significant work and continuing work toward development of tools or literature promoting understanding of grease usage by those not directly connected to it (OEMs, end-users)
- Typical award winners would
- Have 10 or more years of significant contributions to the grease industry through authoring of papers, educational work, etc.
- Have been awarded one or more of the following:
- Author award winner
- John A. Bellanti award winner
- Educational Excellence award winner
Volunteer Award
“Awarded to an individual who has been a significant contributor to NLGI and the industry via NLGI committees, Task Forces, Ad Hoc’s or Working Groups.”
- This award will be chosen by the NLGI Board of Directors.
- Recipient must be actively involved in one or more committees for a minimum of one-year.
NLGI Honorary Membership
“Entitles lifetime honorary membership to those who, over a period of years, have served the Institute in some outstanding capacity and are not now with a member company.”
Guidelines: For persons who have retired from active employment in the grease industry, and previously received one or more awards or served as an officer while active.
Golden Grease Gun Award
“This award acknowledges valuable work within the Grease Industry in the development of grease technology, manufacturing, testing, applications and better understanding of grease behavior or the promotion of grease usage.”
John A. Bellanti Memorial Meritorious Award
“Acknowledges meritorious service on the NLGI Board, or on Technical Committee projects or to the industry.”
Guidelines: (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- 3 years of active service on the NLGI board
- Several years active service in a lead role on a Technical committee
- Significant contributions toward progress in a Working Group
- Significant contributions to the NLGI Education Courses
NLGI Author Award – Application
“For the best paper presented at our Annual Meeting that focuses on testing, selection, application or use of greases.”
Guidelines: Must be written or presented.
Leadership in Sustainability Award
“Awarded to an individual or company who is dedicated to a more sustainable industry.”
Guidelines:
- Participated on sustainability‐focused committees (API 571, ELGI Consortium, etc.)
- Publicly share company initiatives around sustainability
- Participate as panelist or content provider on sustainability topics
- Incorporates sustainable development to develop the industry into a more sustainable industry (product, manufacturing processes, etc.)
- Other awards received for being a sustainability champion
Educational Excellence
“For outstanding instruction as exemplified by subject knowledge and presentation skills in NLGI educational courses.”
Guidelines: Needs to be knowledgeable and good presenter. Minimum 5 years work as educator for NLGI.
NLGI Founders Award
In recognition of the three NLGI founding Companies, the Founders Award, is presented to a company that has had a positive impact on the NLGI in the tradition established by its founding fathers.
Guidelines:
- Reserved for a Company and not an individual.
- Company should have longevity with NLGI continuous membership
- The company needs to be involved in a positive manner for the betterment and growth of the NLGI
Ralph Beard Memorial Academic Award
“Acknowledges valuable work within Academia, in the technical development of greases, grease tests, or the promotion of grease usage.”
Guidelines: Guidelines (award winners should have one or more of the following accomplishments):
- Significant and continuing work in research or development of new grease technology (formulation, thickener chemistry, advancements in mixing technology, new additive chemistry, etc.)
- Significant and continuing work in research or development and acceptance of new tests within the grease industry
- Typical award winner would have 5 or more years, while in academia, of significant contributions to the grease industry through research, publication, educational work, etc.
Why These Awards Matter
The NLGI Awards inspire progress by spotlighting excellence and innovation. Each honoree reflects the spirit of our mission: to push boundaries, foster collaboration, and enhance technologies that drive sustainability and industry growth.
Celebrate with Us
The award ceremony takes place at the NLGI Annual Meeting, where we come together to honor these achievements and share insights for the future. Through this celebration, NLGI strengthens the community and encourages new breakthroughs that benefit us all.
Join us in celebrating the people and ideas shaping the future of grease.