Kano Laboratories Acquires Synco Chemical Corporation (Including Super Lube Brand)

Nashville, Tenn. (January 22, 2024) – Kano Laboratories, maker of the iconic Kroil® brand of lubricating penetrants, announced today the acquisition of Synco Chemical Corporation and its line of premium synthetic, food grade lubricants designed for industrial applications. Synco is nationally known for its best-selling Super Lube® line of premium synthetic lubricants.

“Kano produces Kroil, the best penetrant on the market,” said Kano President Mark Klein. “Bringing Synco’s Super Lube line of greases and penetrants for industrial and food grade applications into our family of innovative industrial products is an exciting prospect for growth.”

“We strive to provide full solutions while fulfilling the evolving needs and unique challenges of our customers, and Synco helps us accomplish that goal,” said Klein. “The combination of our two companies will strengthen our product portfolio and drive significant value for our customers.”

Natalia Diaz, President of Synco, said, “We are very excited to partner with Kano and look forward to creating the most diverse product line of premium lubricating penetrants, greases and food grade lubricants available.”

Kano is owned by Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm.

About Kano Laboratories:
Founded in 1939 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Kano is a leading producer of iconic, Kroil®-branded penetrating oils and lubricants for industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), and professional specialty trade markets. Kano has built a passionately loyal customer base around Kroil products, which are used by professionals and DIYers to loosen rusted, corroded, and frozen mechanical parts. For more information, visit https://www.kroil.com/

About Gryphon Investors
Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon’s highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time, Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance, and accounting expertise.

Gryphon’s three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage, and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to $350 million per portfolio company. The Junior Capital strategy targets investments in junior securities of credit facilities, arranged by leading middlemarket lenders, in both Gryphon-controlled companies, as well as in other private equity-backed companies operating in Gryphon’s targeted investment sectors.

About Kano Laboratories

Founded in 1939 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Kano is a leading producer of iconic, Kroil branded penetrating oils and lubricants for industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), and professional specialty trade markets. Kano has built a passionately loyal customer base around Kroil products, which are used by professionals and DIYers to loosen rusted, corroded, and frozen mechanical parts.

In January 2024, Kano acquired Synco Chemical Corporation and its line of premium synthetic, food-grade lubricants designed for industrial applications, including its best-selling Super Lube line of premium synthetic lubricants. For more information, visit https://www.kanolabs.com/.

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Media Contact:
Joan Duvall, VP of Marketing
(615) 430-2451
jduvall@kanolabs.com