CarboTech
CarboTech Gruppe is a privately held German full-service provider of powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon products, plus carbon molecular sieves, serving industrial and municipal customers in air/gas purification, water and wastewater treatment, food processing, hydrogen, and gold recovery across global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersEssen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CarboTech does
CarboTech Gruppe, headquartered in Essen in the Ruhr region of Germany, is a privately held full-service provider of activated carbon products and related lifecycle services, operating through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, CarboTech AC GmbH and CarboTech Production GmbH. Founded in 1956, the company manufactures and supplies powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbons alongside carbon molecular sieves (CMS) used in pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generation. Core technical capabilities span activation, thermal reactivation, impregnation, and contract grinding (Lohnvermahlung) of activated carbons, supported by in-house laboratory and R&D services that enable application-specific tailoring for air/gas purification, water and wastewater treatment (including PFAS removal), food and beverage processing, hydrogen purification, and gold recovery (CIP/CIL).
The company's commercial model is a 360° service bundle that monetizes activated carbon across its full lifecycle: one-time product sales, recurring mobile adsorber rentals (Plug & Clean), professional services (reactivation, grinding, consulting, training, laboratory analysis), and certified waste disposal under Entsorgungsfachbetrieb status. Go-to-market is enterprise B2B with consulting-led direct sales, supplemented by a digital self-serve configurator, presence at industry trade shows (Pollutec, IFAT, FILTECH), and partnership co-marketing (notably with Heraeus Precious Metals for antimicrobial AgXX-functionalized carbons). Customer base is industrial and municipal across six primary application segments, with a global distribution footprint anchored in Germany and Europe. Leadership is provided by Managing Director Daniel Böke; ownership is private with no disclosed parent, PE, or VC sponsor.
CarboTech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CarboTech
- Legal name
- CarboTech Gruppe
- Website
- https://carbotech.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CarboTech Gruppe is a privately held German full-service provider of powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon products, plus carbon molecular sieves, serving industrial and municipal customers in air/gas purification, water and wastewater treatment, food processing, hydrogen, and gold recovery across global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CarboTech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Activated Carbon and Adsorbents
- NAICS
- Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (335991)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Activated Carbon & Carbon Adsorbents (IMAEAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Treatment Adsorbents (GAC/PAC/Media) (IMAEAIAK), Adsorption & Taste/Odor Control (GAC/PAC, Air Stripping) (EUANABAF), Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM)
Keywords
Where CarboTech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CarboTech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Activated Carbon Product Sales: Sale of powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon in various forms for industrial adsorption applications.
- Reactivation Services: Thermal reactivation of spent/used activated carbon to restore performance, enabling customers to reduce operational costs and support circular economy.
- Mobile Adsorber Rental (Plug & Clean): Rental of mobile adsorption filter systems on a contract basis, providing flexible on-site air and gas purification without capital purchase.
- Material Grinding Services (Lohnvermahlung): Contract grinding services for processing activated carbon to customer-specified particle sizes.
- Consulting and Laboratory Services: Technical consulting, training, and laboratory analysis services supporting activated carbon selection, application optimization, and testing.
- Waste Disposal Services: Certified waste disposal of spent activated carbon, including hazardous waste, under Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certification.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CarboTech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CarboTech manufactures and supplies powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon products along with carbon molecular sieves (CMS) for industrial adsorption applications. The company offers a 360° full-service portfolio that spans activation, thermal reactivation, impregnation, contract grinding, mobile filter rentals (Plug & Clean), laboratory testing, consulting, logistics, and certified waste disposal of spent activated carbon. Customers are industrial enterprises in air and gas purification, water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage processing, hydrogen purification, and gold recovery.
Product overview
CarboTech Gruppe is a leading Full-Service provider of activated carbon products and solutions headquartered in the Ruhr area of Germany. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon products, complemented by extensive service offerings including activation, reactivation (with own thermal reactivation facilities), impregnation, and material grinding services. The product range includes Carbon Molecular Sieves (CMS) for nitrogen generation and specialized solutions for biogas, drinking water, PFAS removal, gold recovery, and food industry applications. The 360-degree service concept encompasses exchange service, consulting, training, laboratory services, material grinding, Plug & Clean mobile filter systems, logistics, technical equipment, and certified disposal services. An online Activated Carbon Configurator helps customers select appropriate products for specific applications. The company operates through subsidiaries CarboTech AC GmbH and CarboTech Production GmbH, both certified as waste disposal facilities (Entsorgungsfachbetriebe). Recent developments include a partnership with Heraeus Precious Metals for antimicrobial functionalization of activated carbons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aktivkohle (Activated Carbon)
- Aktivierung (Activation Services) Service activating carbon materials to develop tailored adsorption properties for specific industrial applications, performed in-house by CarboTech.
- Reaktivierung (Thermal Reactivation Services) Thermal reactivation of spent activated carbon to restore adsorption capacity for reuse, supporting a circular economy and reducing customer operating costs.
- Imprägnierung (Impregnation Services) Chemical impregnation of activated carbons to enhance performance for specific adsorption targets and tailor products to customer requirements.
- Materialvermahlung / Lohnvermahlung (Contract Grinding Services) Contract grinding of activated carbon to customer-specified particle sizes, producing highly efficient and easily separable powdered activated carbon.
- Plug & Clean (Mobile Adsorption Filter Systems) Rental of mobile adsorption filter units providing flexible, on-site air and gas purification for industrial customers without requiring capital investment.
- Kohlenstoffmolekularsiebe (Carbon Molecular Sieves / CMS) Carbon molecular sieves used as key components in PSA plants for on-site, cost-effective nitrogen generation and air separation in industrial operations.
- Labor- und Beratungsleistungen (Laboratory and Consulting Services) Technical consulting, training, and in-house laboratory analysis to support customers in selecting, applying, and testing activated carbon solutions.
- Entsorgung (Certified Waste Disposal of Spent Activated Carbon) Certified waste disposal of spent activated carbon, including hazardous waste, under Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certification with full legal compliance documentation.
- Logistik und Wechselservice (Logistics and Exchange Service) Logistics and exchange service covering delivery of fresh activated carbon and replacement of spent carbon as part of the 360° full-service portfolio.
Companies that use CarboTech
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CarboTech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
CarboTech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EOS (Energy Optimal Solutions)coreCarboTech and EOS (Energy Optimal Solutions) participated together at IFAT Munich 2026 under the tagline 'Adsorption in Excellence.' The partnership focuses on presenting combined adsorption solutions for excellence in environmental and industrial filtration applications.
- Wessel-Umwelttechnik GmbHminorCarboTech Gruppe and Wessel-Umwelttechnik GmbH exhibited together at Pollutec 2025 (October 7–10, 2025) in Lyon, France, a leading environmental trade fair. The joint presence promoted combined solutions for environmental technology applications.
- Heraeus Precious MetalscoreHeraeus Precious Metals and CarboTech Gruppe announced a strategic cooperation for the antimicrobial functionalization of activated carbons using AgXX (silver-based) technology. This partnership enables the development of specialty activated carbons with antimicrobial properties for filtration applications, combining Heraeus's precious metal expertise with CarboTech's activated carbon capabilities. Joint presentations at FILTECH 2026 showcase the combined solution.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CarboTech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Donau Carbon: German-headquartered manufacturer of activated carbon and supplier of reactivation services, directly competing with CarboTech across powdered, granular, and extruded carbon grades for water and air treatment.
- Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH: German activated carbon producer offering powdered and granulated carbons plus reactivation services, competing head-to-head with CarboTech in European industrial and water treatment markets.
- Desotec: European activated carbon specialist offering mobile filter solutions, reactivation services, and tailored carbons for air and water applications — directly comparable to CarboTech's 360° service model.
- Carbon Activated Corporation: US-based activated carbon manufacturer and reactivation service provider for air, water, and industrial applications — comparable in product-service integration to CarboTech but serving primarily North American customers.
Broad incumbents
- Jacobi Carbons (Nippon Steel subsidiary): One of the world's largest activated carbon producers with a broad portfolio spanning water, air, and industrial applications — directly comparable product line but materially larger global scale than CarboTech.
- Cabot Corporation (Norit Activated Carbon): Global specialty chemicals company owning the Norit activated carbon brand; competes with CarboTech in air, gas, and water purification and reactivation services at a significantly larger scale.
- Calgon Carbon (Kuraray): Major US-based activated carbon manufacturer owned by Kuraray, serving water treatment, air purification, and industrial process applications — a global incumbent with comparable product breadth to CarboTech.
- Haycarb PLC: Sri Lankan coconut-shell-based activated carbon producer with global reach across water, air, food, and industrial applications, comparable in product mix though regionally distinct from CarboTech.
- Veolia Water Technologies (Sidem/HPD): Global water-treatment major with activated carbon adsorption offerings for municipal and industrial customers; competes with CarboTech in the water and wastewater segment at larger project scale.
- Evoqua Water Technologies (Xylem): Major water-treatment solutions provider with carbon filtration products and services serving municipal and industrial customers — adjacent competitor in CarboTech's water segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CarboTech social profiles
Digital presenceCarboTech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
CarboTech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CarboTech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CarboTech subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CarboTech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CarboTech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CarboTech
What does CarboTech do?
CarboTech manufactures and supplies powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon products along with carbon molecular sieves (CMS) for industrial adsorption applications. The company offers a 360° full-service portfolio that spans activation, thermal reactivation, impregnation, contract grinding, mobile filter rentals (Plug & Clean), laboratory testing, consulting, logistics, and certified waste disposal of spent activated carbon. Customers are industrial enterprises in air and gas purification, water and wastewater treatment, food and beverage processing, hydrogen purification, and gold recovery.
Is CarboTech a public or private company?
CarboTech is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CarboTech founded?
CarboTech was founded in 1956. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CarboTech based?
CarboTech is headquartered in Essen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CarboTech make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Activated Carbon Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are reactivation Services, mobile Adsorber Rental (Plug & Clean), material Grinding Services (Lohnvermahlung), consulting and Laboratory Services and waste Disposal Services.
Who are CarboTech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Donau Carbon, Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH, Desotec and Carbon Activated Corporation. Broad incumbents are Jacobi Carbons (Nippon Steel subsidiary), Cabot Corporation (Norit Activated Carbon), Calgon Carbon (Kuraray), Haycarb PLC, Veolia Water Technologies (Sidem/HPD) and Evoqua Water Technologies (Xylem).
Does CarboTech have an API?
No public API is recorded for CarboTech.
What industry is CarboTech in?
CarboTech's product category is Industrial Activated Carbon and Adsorbents. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAIAF, Activated Carbon & Carbon Adsorbents, with a secondary code of IMAEAIAK, Water Treatment Adsorbents (GAC/PAC/Media). Its NAICS code is 335991 and its SIC code is 2860.