Company Profile

CARBOTECH: GERMANY´S LEADING SUPPLIER OF ACTIVATED CARBONS


The company is Germany‘s leading supplier of powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbons. In the very heart of the Ruhr industrial area, CarboTech operates integrated production plants for the manufacture, processing and packaging of customised activated carbons, activated cokes and Carbon Molecular Sievesfrom hard coal, coconut shell coke and charcoal.


CarboTech has it’s roots in the german mining industry and is the leading manufacturer of activated carbons in Germany today.

CarboTech’s strength is the development of tailor-made products, especially for complex applications. The characteristics of our activated carbons can be tailored exactly to the individual wishes of our cutomers.

In addition, 30 years of experience in the production and development of Carbon Molecular Sieves (CMS) make CarboTech worldwide the partner of choice in the area of PSA-based nitrogen generation.

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History

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1956


After world war 2, the Bergwerksverband GmbH (mining association) began setting up experimental facilities for the production of purest carbon and activated carbon. Thanks to many years of experimenting, it proved possible to produce very high quality activated carbon from hard coal. In 1955, a large-scale pilot plant was erected on the site of the former Queen Elisabeth coalmine in Essen and on February 29th, 1956, it was put into operation. This was the beginning of the company history of CarboTech AC GmbH.

Foundation

Foundation of the hard coal mining society  

Development of activated carbons

The development of activated carbons from hard coal began in the post-war years

Commissioning of a large-scale pilot plant

For the production of purest carbon and activated carbon on the site of the former Queen Elisabeth coalmine in Essen

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 Bergbau-Forschung

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

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

Beginning of activated carbon reactivation

According to the fluidised bed method developed by Bergbau-Forschung

DeSOx/DeNOx-procedure

Development of the dry DeSOx/DeNOx-procedure with activated carbon

Foundation of CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH

Production, further processing and sales of activated coke and activated carbon and thiocyanates

Spin-off of CarboTech Anlagenbau GmbH

Later renamed CarboTech Engineering GmbH (now owned by Viessman Group)

Expansion of the product range to include powdered activated carbons and impregnated activated carbons
Mobile Adsorber Rental Systems (MAMS) Beginning of the service business with Mobile Adsorber Rental Systems (MAMS)

Expansion of the product range

To include base materials that do not originate from coal (DGK types)

Switch to RÜTGERS Chemicals AG

CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH switches to RÜTGERS Chemicals AG

Merger of CarboTech Aktivkohlen GmbH with RÜTGERS Umwelt-Service GmbH

Renamed RÜTGERS CarboTech GmbH

Carbon Catalyst

Development of the Carbon Catalyst for NOx removal

International Chemical Investors Group

RÜTGERS CarboTech GmbH taken over by International Chemical Investors Group

Company name changed to CarboTech AC GmbH