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About us
Company profile
CarboTech is one of the world’s leading suppliers of powdered, granulated and extruded activated carbons in Germany. Directly in the centre of the Ruhr area, we operate integrated production facilities for the manufacture, refinement and packaging of customised activated carbons, activated cokes and carbon molecular sieves from hard coal, coconut coke as well as charcoal.
CarboTech is a child of German mining research and the coal industry. We see ourselves in the tradition of all those who continually draw new insights from science and technology in order to use them in an economically sensible way for the benefit of people and their environment. Every day and in many places around the world. That is why we conduct research, that is why we develop solutions to reduce environmental pollution and health hazards.
CarboTech combines experience from production, application and process engineering. Strategically, we are focused on classical requirements as well as innovative applications and services. The commitment of our experts, who know the challenges of practice very well, is highly appreciated by our customers.
As the successor to CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH, CarboTech presents itself today as a modern, medium-sized company and training company. Since we consistently work in a customer-oriented manner, it is necessary to constantly optimise our operational services. High demands on product and service quality are a matter of course for us.
The use of activated carbon specialities from CarboTech makes solutions possible that are permanently reliable and economical. Achieving this, especially with complex and demanding tasks, is the daily challenge of our experienced specialists.
Exchange and cooperation within the industry for common goals
In order to represent common goals and interests, good contact with administrations and political representatives with regard to legal changes, such as new pollutant limits or increasing challenges for the industry in terms of increased environmental pollution, makes the organization of industry representatives in interest groups indispensable.
At the same time, we consider an industry-internal exchange in association networks between our experts and other members of the associations to be valuable in order to exchange the latest research and development results so that we can always offer our customers the best possible advice based on the latest specialist knowledge.
The CarboTech Group is part of associations that focus on the following topics:
- Activated carbon (ACAP – CEFIC – Activated Carbon Interest Group)
- Biogas (Biogas e.V.)
- Sustainability and environmental management (VNU – Association for Sustainability and Environmental Management)
- Water, wastewater and waste (DWA – German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste)
- Economic development (Business Metropole Ruhr – GreenTech/ Kuer NRW)
As a member of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, we are part of an Indo-German community consisting of over 4,000 member companies of different sizes and from various sectors across the industry spectrum. We benefit from numerous member advantages such as low-cost services, helpful information and contacts that are committed to our interests.
Link to AHK IndiaThe Association for Sustainability and Environmental Management e. V. is an independent community of experts and users of environmental and sustainability management systems. As part of the association, we proactively shape management systems through committee work, practical implementation in companies and networking with other members and stakeholders at conferences and regional meetings.
We also obtain up-to-date knowledge through specialist events and workshops and use the opportunity to contribute our expertise to the association’s departmental and committee work.
Link to VNUWe are part of the Activated Carbons Producers Association (ACPA). A specialist group within Cefic, one of the leading European trade associations, based in Brussels.
Link to ACAP
It is a non-profit organization representing the most important producers of activated carbon in Europe with the aim of pursuing common interests or exchanging expert knowledge.The GFA acts as a service company for the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and publishes, for example, journals on the DWA’s fields of activity – water and waste management – and supports the DWA at trade fairs.
Link to GFA NewsCompanies and representatives from a wide range of sectors from NRW come together here to promote the development and support of young, high-growth companies in the environmental industry. Specially accredited KUER coaches, mentors, specialists, industry experts and angel investors, for example from CarboTech, accompany those interested in founding a company through all phases of the start-up process – from brainstorming and drawing up the business plan to founding the company and launching it on the market.
Link to Kuer NRWAs a full-service provider in the field of activated carbon, CarboTech is of course also a member of the DWA – the network of experts for water, wastewater and waste.
As a politically and economically independent association, the DWA is committed to sustainable water management and the promotion of research and development. The association also provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions and supports politics by providing advice.
Link to DWAThe Fachverband Biogas e.V. unites operators, manufacturers and planners of biogas plants, representatives from science and research throughout Germany. The Fachverband Biogas e.V. promotes the increased use of biogas technology through intensive political lobbying at federal and state level. In addition, the association promotes the exchange of experience and information in the biogas sector.
As activated carbon is indispensable in biogas production for removing unwanted pollutants, CarboTech is of course also represented here as a full-service provider.
Link to Fachverband BiogasOur history
CARBOTECH - EXPERTS IN ACTIVATED CARBON SINCE 1956
After the war, Bergwerksverband GmbH began to set up experimental facilities for the production of high-purity coal and activated carbon. Through years of trials, it was possible to produce a very high quality activated carbon from hard coal. In 1955, a large-scale test plant was set up on the site of the former Königin-Elisabeth colliery in Essen, which went into operation on 29 February 1956. Thus begins the company history of CarboTech AC GmbH.Foundation
Foundation of the Steinkohlenbergbauverein
1938
Development of activated carbons
In the post-war years, the development of activated carbons from hard coal began.
1945
Commissioning of a large-scale test facility
Commissioning of a large-scale test plant for the production of high-purity carbon and activated carbon on the site of the former Königin Elisabeth colliery in Essen.
1956
Foundation of Bergbau-Forschung GmbH
As the research institute of the hard coal mining society for the development of new technologies for extracting, refining and utilisation of carbon. Until 1988 the activated carbon manufacturer Bergwerks-verband was a 100 % subsidiary of the Bergau-Forschung
1958
Development of carbon molecular sieves
During the years thereafter, the development of carbon molecular sieves (CMS-N2 and CMS-H2) enabled the production of up to 99.999 % pure nitrogen and hydrogen by Bergbau-Forschung GmbH
1970
Patents for Pressure Swing Adsorption Systems (PSA)
During the years between 1972 and 1980 Bergbau-Forschung received various patents for PSA plants for nitrogen production and hydrogen purification
1971
Beginning of activated carbon reactivation
According to the fluidised bed method developed by Bergbau-Forschung
1974
DeSOx/DeNOx-procedure
Development of the dry DeSOx/DeNOx-procedure with activated carbon
1980
Foundation of CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH
Production, further processing and sales of activated coke and activated carbon and thiocyanates
1989
Spin-off of CarboTech Anlagenbau GmbH
Later renamed CarboTech Engineering GmbH (now owned by Viessmann Group)
1993
Expansion of the product range to include powdered activated carbons and impregnated activated carbons
Plug & Clean-Systems Beginning of the service business with Plug & Clean-Systems
1993
Expansion of the product range
To include base materials that do not originate from coal (DGK types)
1998
Switch to RÜTGERS Chemicals AG
CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH switches to RÜTGERS Chemicals AG
2001
Merger of CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH with RÜTGERS Umwelt-Service GmbH
Renamed RÜTGERS CarboTech GmbH
2002
Carbon Catalyst
Development of the Carbon Catalyst for NOx removal
2004
International Chemical Investors Group
RÜTGERS CarboTech GmbH taken over by International Chemical Investors Group
2005
Company name chamged to CarboTech AC GmbH
2006
First social plan in the history of CarboTech
2012
Strategic realignment of the shareholders
2015
Expansion and commissioning of heat recovery for activation and reactivation
2016
Planning and implementation of logistics concept for the expansion of the Essen site, upgrading of the rotary kiln for reclamation
2017
Expansion of handling area for the Plug & Clean systems
2018
Strategic realignment of the Group
Renovation of the company premises and building, development of marketing and sales, generation of new sales partners
2020
Further development of strategic approaches
Market entry in the beverage, food, cement and automotive industries, expansion of the logistics concept at the Essen site, acquisition of the company premises from the lease, sale of the company property at the old production site in Castrop-Rauxel
2021
Investments in the location
Investments of EUR 6.5 million in logistics, infrastructure and production to increase productivity and maximize production capacity utilization
2022
Milestone in the strategic orientation
Expansion into a full service provider with a changeover service (including silo and multi-chamber vehicles), cooperation in plant construction, plug & clean systems, grinding and packaging systems as well as training and consulting centers.
2023
- Sustainability