CarboTech

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.

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

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

• Activated carbon products
• Air gas purification
• Water treatment solutions
• Carbon reactivation services
• Industrial adsorption media

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Activated Carbon Product Sales: Sale of powdered, granulated, and extruded activated carbon in various forms for industrial adsorption applications.
2. Reactivation Services: Thermal reactivation of spent/used activated carbon to restore performance, enabling customers to reduce operational costs and support circular economy.
3. 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.
4. Material Grinding Services (Lohnvermahlung): Contract grinding services for processing activated carbon to customer-specified particle sizes.
5. Consulting and Laboratory Services: Technical consulting, training, and laboratory analysis services supporting activated carbon selection, application optimization, and testing.
6. 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

Core 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.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EOS (Energy Optimal Solutions)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026CarboTech 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 GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025CarboTech 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 MetalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Heraeus 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CarboTechGruppe-1956
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carbotech-gruppe

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CarboTech