Choosing Food-Grade (NSF H1) Lubricant, Grease & Cleaner Brands in Thailand: Bechem vs Interflon vs CRC vs Klüber vs Cassida

Many food and beverage plants start with a single food-grade brand, then hit the same procurement friction — stock checks, out-of-stock items, slow pricing — that stalls maintenance and oil changes. The fix isn't waiting on one brand; it's knowing several equally NSF-certified food-grade brands and choosing per application — because audits check the registration, not the brand.

This guide summarises five food-grade brands available in Thailand, with a model-by-model cross-reference. (For the fundamentals of NSF H1/H2/H3 and ISO 21469, see the Food-Grade NSF H1 / ISO 21469 guide.)

Each brand's strength

Interflon (Netherlands) — the most complete single brand: hydraulic/gear oils (Food Lube H32–H68, G100–G460), greases (Food Grease MP2/EP/LT2), dry-film sprays and cleaners (Metal Clean F, Foam Clean). Its MicPol® technology gives a dry, clean, dust-repelling film, and it is the first brand with NSF 537 (PFAS-free) across the full range — ideal for exporters answering chemical-safety audits.

CRC Food Grade (USA) — strongest in ready-to-use cleaners and sprays: Bio Degreaser (NSF A1, plant-based, biodegradable), Contact Cleaner 3102NZ, Silicone 03040, Chain Lube 03055. Off-the-shelf aerosols/gallons at a low entry price — covers cleaning and small-point lubrication where other cleaner lines are hard to get.

Bechem (Germany) — specialty NSF H1 greases and oils, strong on OEM-specified points.

Klüber Lubrication (Germany) — the widest catalogue (270+ NSF H1 products), strong in heavy-load polyglycol gear oils (Klübersynth UH1) — for OEM-approval matches and top-grade needs.

FUCHS Cassida (Germany) — a full range in one line (40+ products), including ester chain oils to +300°C and low-temp chain oil to -50°C for freezers.

The Japanese / Asian set — in-country stock, no import wait

Alongside the Western set above, we also supply Japanese food-grade brands on a buy-and-resell basis with stock held in-country — cutting lead time and the risk of cross-continent freight, for plants that want Japanese quality and product on hand.

SUMICO (Sumitomo Metal Mining group) — the core of the Asian set: a full food-grade line of oils + greases + sprays, 30+ NSF H1 products (some 3H for direct food contact), built on the Sumitomo group's heavy-load / high-temperature lubrication heritage.

Molykote (Dow Toray, Japanese JV) — high-performance fluorinated grease HP-300/HP-500 for critical points facing high chemical/temperature stress and long relubrication intervals, or where an OEM specifies Molykote.

NOK Klüber (Japanese JV — NOK × Klüber) — strong in the fluorinated high-temp grease barrierta and food-contact silicone grease (a different line from the German Klüber in the Western set).

Ichinen Chemicals / Suzuki Kikoh (Japan) — chemically stable food-contact silicone gel grease at an accessible price (Ichinen), plus ready-to-use H1-rated sprays and cartridge greases for the shop floor (Suzuki Kikoh).

⚠️ Know this before choosing the Asian set — most Japanese/Asian brands do not hold ISO 21469 (the standard that audits the lubricant maker's own production line every year), which all four Western brands do carry. NSF H1 audits the formula/label; ISO 21469 audits the plant — different layers. If your customer's audit (some BRC / FSSC 22000 programs) requires ISO 21469, choose the Western set; if it only requires NSF H1, the Asian set qualifies and wins on stock availability. Choose by the certification the audit actually requires, not by region — and our team confirms each proposed product's TDS/NSF before quoting.

Model-by-model cross-reference (using Bechem now → what to compare)

🔎 If the grade you run is not in this table, type it into the NSF H1 Food-Grade Lubricant Cross-Reference tool — it returns the equivalent we can supply and flags where the spec is not an exact match, which matters more than the matches.

¹ SIHAF 2 contains PTFE; Interflon's current H1 line is PFAS-free (no PTFE) — flag if the customer requires PTFE. ² Interflon's is a dry film (non-tacky) vs a tacky adhesive spray — check whether the job needs tack or dry.

Matches are based on spec (ISO VG / NLGI / NSF) and application, not a manufacturer endorsement — always confirm suitability for the actual point of use before switching.

How to choose

1. Start from the point of use — incidental food contact (chains/belts/gears above the line) → NSF H1; direct contact → 3H; cleaners → A1.
2. Match the spec — oils by ISO VG; greases by NLGI grade, temperature range and load (EP).
3. Budget & urgency — need off-the-shelf/spray now → CRC; need a full range or high spec → Interflon/Klüber/Cassida.
4. Keep certificates — every new model, obtain the NSF/ISO 21469 certificate for your chemical register.

Sahawatthanakit (1988) supplies several food-grade brands on one quote — send your point of use or the model you currently run to request a quote or call 02-096-2118. We cross-reference the spec, propose the right option, and provide certificates.