The Challenge
Before it became a global chemical company with more than 100 manufacturing, sales, and technical sites and more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Lubrizol was founded in 1928 in a Cleveland garage. Nearly a century later, the company invents and makes advanced materials, additives, and science-based ingredients used in everyday products and industrial applications.
Much of this work still happens in Northeast Ohio. In addition to its long-time manufacturing sites in Avon Lake and Painesville, Lubrizol has more than 1,000 personnel assigned across two local campuses: its world headquarters in Wickliffe and a second site in Brecksville.
Understanding the value of in-person, real-time collaboration across teams, and with the company approaching its 100th anniversary in 2028, Lubrizol sought to combine the operations of its Wickliffe and Brecksville site to build an even more connected and agile organization and solidify its next century of innovation and impact.
The Solution
The company found a solution in its own backyard. In January 2026, Lubrizol announced a multi-million-dollar investment in its Wickliffe headquarters, integrating Brecksville’s employees and capabilities. (Lubrizol will keep its Painesville and Avon Lake operations running as-is.) The investment enables state-of-the-art labs, a new Lubrizol experience center, renovated cafeterias, interactive workspaces, and a multipurpose space built for meetings and events, with construction rolling out in phases through 2028.
Key Factors in Choosing Ohio:
A century of operational history in Northeast Ohio
Room to physically merge two existing campuses of 1,000+ scientists, engineers, and business and functional teams without significant relocation
Partnerships with local officials and community leaders who prioritize business retention
The Results
Economic Impact: Lubrizol is the largest employer in Lake County. The decision to combine sites rather than relocate keeps more than 1,000 jobs in Ohio — including the paychecks, local spending, and civic involvement that come with them. County officials have called it the largest economic development project in Lake County since JobsOhio and Team NEO were founded more than 12 years ago.
Strategic Advantage: With its 100th anniversary in 2028, Lubrizol is making this investment in the same county where it was founded, rather than treating the milestone as a reason to look elsewhere. Putting more than 1,000 employees under one roof is a bet that proximity will accelerate innovation and impact.
Lubrizol’s innovation legacy began in a Cleveland garage when Lubrizol invented its first automotive solutions to lubricate leaf springs on early automobiles. Nearly a century and thousands of patents later, our extraordinary Northeast Ohio talent continues to innovate breakthrough solutions, enabled by Lubrizol science. By uniting our teams under one roof, we’re building an even more connected and agile organization to drive lasting impact and enhance countless products that consumers across the world use every day.
— Rebecca Liebert, President and CEO, Lubrizol
