Kold-Ban International

What Kold-Ban International does

Kold-Ban International, Ltd. (KBi) is a privately held US manufacturer of specialized engine starting equipment founded in 1969 and headquartered at 8390 Pingree Road, Lake In The Hills, Illinois. The firm operates two complementary product families. First, the KAPower supercapacitor line includes the KSM (KAPower Starting Module) for larger marine and industrial engines, the KSM Kompact for smaller vehicles and boats, the BoatStartPlus marine rebrand introduced in 2025, and the KrankingKART line of portable supercapacitor jump starters (JR and Mini HD). Second, the DIESELMATIC ether starting fluid line includes the DIESELMATIC II and the ECM-compatible DIESELMATIC NVT, supported by consumable ether cylinders, valve assemblies, BLOCKOR vaporizing fittings, metering orifices, and other replacement parts. KBi holds multiple granted US patents and pending applications covering its technology and is ISO 9001:2015 certified, with products designed and manufactured in the USA.

The core technology rests on supercapacitor-based energy storage rated for over 1,000,000 charge/discharge cycles across an operating range of -40°F to 149°F, paired with patented ether injection systems that deliver precise cold-weather starting assistance using approximately one-quarter the ether of measured-shot systems. KBi targets diesel and gasoline engine operators across marine (recreational, charter, OEM boatbuilders), mass transit and paratransit, trucking and motorcoach, heavy equipment and construction, military, locomotive, utility generators, and snow removal segments. Notable reference customers include Midnight Express Powerboats (OEM installation on boats 43 feet and larger), Caesars Entertainment (standby generators), MarineMax Lake of the Ozarks, Dometic, Gregory Poole CAT, and TowBoatU.S. Cape May.

The business model is direct hardware sales with a recurring aftermarket tail. Products are priced publicly per unit, with most SKUs under $5,000 (ether cylinders ~$42-$46 each; KSM Kompact and BoatStartPlus ~$1,579; KrankingKART Mini HD ~$1,498 list; full-size KSM modules $2,900-$4,116). Distribution combines a company-owned e-commerce storefront with six regional channel partners covering the Eastern US and Caribbean (ComMar Sales), Western US and Canada (TCM Sales), US transit (Bus Stuf), Australia and New Zealand (Marxgold), India (Hasi Industries), and Japan (Ioxus Japan). Marketing relies on content (blog, email newsletter), industry events (SAE Create the Future Design Contest finalist), and PR (KFAR Radio interview). The firm has remained privately held throughout its 56-year history with no parent company, no external funding, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Kold-Ban International

Legal name

Kold-Ban International, Ltd.

Website

https://koldban.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kold-Ban International (KBi) manufactures supercapacitor-based engine starting modules (KSM/KAPower) and patented ether starting fluid systems (DIESELMATIC) for marine, transit, heavy equipment, and industrial diesel engine operators. Founded 1969 in Illinois, the private firm sells online and through regional distributors across six countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engine Starting Systems

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Aftermarket Fluids, Lubricants & Chemical Products Manufacturing (Oils/Coolants/Additives/Cleaners) (IMACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Engine starting systems
• Supercapacitor starting modules
• Ether starting fluid injection
• Marine engine starters
• Portable jump starters

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake In The Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Supercapacitor Engine Starting Hardware: One-time sale of KSM supercapacitor modules, KSM Kompact, BoatStartPlus, and KrankingKART portable jump starters. Products are sold directly through the company's e-commerce storefront and through distributor networks. Replacement parts and accessories are also sold.
2. Ether Starting Fluid Systems: One-time and repeat sale of DIESELMATIC ether starting fluid systems, including DIESELMATIC II and DIESELMATIC NVT models. Consumable ether cylinder refills and replacement parts (valve assemblies, metering orifices, BLOCKOR fittings) are sold as repeat-purchase items.
3. Replacement Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement and maintenance parts for ether systems: valve assemblies, ether cylinders, metering orifices, atomizer tubing, injector nozzles, thermo-guards, engine temperature sensors, and BLOCKOR fittings. Consumable ether cylinders are regularly repurchased.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kold-Ban International (KBi) designs, manufactures, and sells two complementary lines of engine starting solutions: (1) KAPower supercapacitor-based starting modules (KSM, KSM Kompact, BoatStartPlus) and portable jump starters (KrankingKART JR and Mini HD), and (2) patented DIESELMATIC ether starting fluid injection systems for cold-weather diesel engine starting. Products are sold for marine, transit, trucking, construction, agricultural, military, and utility applications.

Product overview

Kold-Ban International (KBi) offers two main product lines for engine starting solutions: supercapacitor-based KAPower® starting modules and ether starting fluid systems. The supercapacitor line includes the KSM™ (for larger vessels and equipment), KSM Kompact™ (for smaller boats and RVs), BoatStartPlus™ (for recreational boats), and KrankingKART® portable jump starters (JR and Mini HD). The ether systems include DIESELMATIC NVT™ (ECM-controlled) and DIESELMATIC II products, along with replacement parts including ether cylinders, valve assemblies, metering orifices, and BLOCKOR fittings. All products are designed for diesel and gasoline engines in marine, transportation, construction, and agricultural applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KBi: Registered trademark and acronym for Kold-Ban International, used across all product lines including supercapacitors and ether starting systems.
• DIESELMATIC
• KrankingKART
• KAPower
• BLOCKOR
• KSM
• BoatStartPlus
• KSM Kompact

Products and services

• KSM Supercapacitor KAPower Starting Module Onboard engine starting module that stores energy electrostatically in supercapacitors and delivers high-power cranking bursts to start internal combustion engines even with dead or rundown batteries. Rated for over 1,000,000 cycles and operates in temperatures from -40°F to 149°F. Available in 12V and 24V configurations with 6-cell to 12-cell options for engines from 8L to 32L displacement.
• KBi KSM Kompact Compact supercapacitor auxiliary power source designed for recreational boats, Class B and C RVs, paratransit buses, and smaller vehicles. Works alongside traditional cranking batteries or supplements lithium battery limitations during engine cranking. Fully recharges in approximately 30 seconds from any 12-volt DC source.
• KBi BoatStartPlus Marine-focused permanent onboard engine starting power source utilizing KAPower supercapacitor technology. Delivers quick, powerful bursts to crank recreational boat engines even if the main battery cannot. Recharges in approximately 30 seconds from a 12-volt DC source.
• KrankingKART JR

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 DIESELMATIC ether systems operating globally
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ComMar Sales, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine industry sales representative covering Eastern US states and Caribbean islands. Located at 1445 Main Road, PO Box 273, Tiverton, Rhode Island 02878. Handles sales of KBi marine products in their territory.
• TCM Sales, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine industry sales representative covering Western US states and British Columbia, Canada. Located at P.O. Box 6263, Bend, Oregon 97708 USA.
• Bus StufcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransit industry sales contact with regional representatives covering Western (Garrett Krueger), Eastern (Jim Gallagher, James Gallagher), and Midwest (Tony Jackson) US regions for DIESELMATIC ether starting fluid systems.
• Marxgold Starting SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Australia and New Zealand handling KAPower supercapacitor products only. Contact: Mark Bygrave.
• Hasi IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for India covering KBi products. Located at 6 Deshpran Sasmal Road, Howrah 711101, West Bengal, India. Contact: Sukhamoy Das.
• Ioxus Japan Co., Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Japan handling both Ether and KAPower products. Located at 1381-1 Okamotocho, Kusatsu-city, Shiga Pref, 525-0044, Japan. Contact: [email protected].

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Denso: Denso is a major Tier 1 automotive supplier producing starter motors, alternators, and engine electrical components. Represents the incumbent approach to engine starting that KBi's supercapacitor technology partially displaces.
• Skeleton Technologies: Skeleton Technologies is a European supercapacitor manufacturer focused on automotive, transportation, and industrial energy storage applications. Operates in adjacent supercapacitor technology space with overlap in heavy-duty and transportation use cases.
• East Penn Manufacturing: East Penn Manufacturing produces Deka batteries including Odyssey absorbed glass mat (AGM) cranking batteries. Represents the lead-acid starting battery incumbent whose products KBi's supercapacitor modules are designed to supplement or replace.
• Prestolite Electric: Prestolite Electric manufactures starter motors, alternators, and electrical components for heavy-duty trucks, buses, and military vehicles. Competes indirectly in the engine starting equipment space across KBi's transit and heavy equipment segments.
• Maxwell Technologies (UCAP Power): Maxwell Technologies (now UCAP Power) is an established supercapacitor cell and module manufacturer supplying industrial energy storage markets. Adjacent to KBi in supercapacitor technology but operates upstream as a component supplier rather than end-product system integrator.
• Schumacher Electric: Schumacher Electric manufactures battery chargers, jump starters, and power conversion products. Broad incumbent in the consumer and professional jump starter market overlapping with KBi's portable product line.

Emerging players

• Ioxus: Ioxus manufactures ultracapacitor cells and modules for industrial and transportation applications. Also serves as KBi's Japan distributor, creating both a partnership and partial competitive overlap in supercapacitor-based energy modules.

Direct peers

• Clore Automotive (Jump-N-Carry): Clore Automotive's Jump-N-Carry brand is a long-established portable jump starter line competing directly with KBi's KrankingKART products in marine, automotive, and fleet service channels.
• NOCO: NOCO manufactures portable battery-based jump starters and battery chargers. Direct competitor to KBi in the portable jump starter market, though NOCO uses lithium battery chemistry rather than supercapacitors.
• Antigravity Batteries: Antigravity Batteries makes lithium-ion portable jump starters and micro-start products. Direct competitor in the portable jump starter segment with a different chemistry approach but overlapping marine and powersports customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KoldBan
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kold-Ban International