The Institute of Materials (IOM) was founded in 1984 in Midland, Michigan U.S.A. to provide reliable and unbiased data on the physical, chemical, and performance-associated characteristics of automotive engine oil obtained from the worldwide marketplace. 

Subsequently, the Institute of Materials (IOM) was formed and began collecting engine oils from the North American market, carefully analyzing their properties and performance with standardized bench tests. The information was then offered to the automotive and petroleum industries. Since then, IOM has grown to expand its collection of engine oils to over 19,000 oils in the IOM database.

With collections from around the world, including North & South America, Europe, Asia, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa, IOM offers the largest and most extensive publicly available source of independently obtained, accurate and comprehensive data on the physical, chemical and performance-associated characteristics of automotive engine oils in the industry. In total, IOM has collected and evaluated over 19,000 oils.

In a strategic shift during 2020, IOM ceased its routine practice of gathering over 600 engine oil samples annually from the marketplace, instead opting for a tailored custom collection approach specific to client needs and going beyond the collection of passenger vehicle engine lubricants. Now collections can include recreational, marine, and industrial lubricants and more.

Responding to client needs, in 2021, IOM continued routine collection efforts, albeit on a smaller scale -- approximately 300 oils collected each year over a broad geographical area with a more concise test matrix.

IOM is a privately held company. Sister companies include King Refrigeration, Tannas Co., Savant Labs, and Excell Manufacturing all of which are members of the Savant Group of companies. All Savant Group companies are ISO 9001:2015 certified and actively participate in industry organizations involved with the advancement and quality control of lubrication such as the ASTM, ALMU, ATIEL,  SAE, ILSAC,  STLE, ILMA, EI and CEC.