HAERTOL

What HAERTOL does

HAERTOL Chemie GmbH is a German specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1952 in Magdeburg, with strategic management headquartered in Hamburg. The company develops, produces, and sells automotive heat transfer fluids, engine coolants, antifreeze concentrates, and corrosion protection products under its proprietary FROSTOX® brand, serving automotive OEMs, commercial vehicle and construction equipment manufacturers, stationary power generation operators (biogas, CHP, and power plants), and electric vehicle producers globally. Its core technology stack rests on proprietary Si-OAT (Silicate Organic Acid Technology) and OAT (Organic Acid Technology) corrosion inhibitor systems built on monoethylene glycol (MEG) and bio-based monoethylene glycol (bMEG). Notable products include FROSTOX HT12 (premium Si-OAT antifreeze approved to MAN 324 Si-OAT evo, VW TL 774-L, BMW LC-18), FROSTOX LC100 (low-conductivity battery coolant for EVs with -36°C freeze protection), FROSTOX HT12 eco (marketed as the world's first CO2-neutral coolant not subject to mass balancing), FROSTOX SF-D12++ and SF-D12PLUS, FROSTOX VP2 for stationary engines, and FROSTOX W 35/65 for biogas and CHP plants. HAERTOL also manufactures Valvoline™-branded OEM Advanced 30/40/48 coolants under mutual licensing.

Name

HAERTOL

Legal name

HAERTOL Chemie GmbH

Website

https://haertol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HAERTOL Chemie GmbH is a German specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1952 that produces proprietary FROSTOX® engine coolants, antifreeze, and heat transfer fluids using Si-OAT and OAT corrosion inhibitor technologies, supplying automotive OEMs, EV manufacturers, and industrial energy operators globally under direct sales and Valvoline licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. FROSTOX Product Sales: HAERTOL manufactures and sells its proprietary FROSTOX brand of heat transfer fluids, coolants, and corrosion protection products directly to automotive OEMs and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Revenue is generated through product sales of antifreeze concentrates, ready-to-use coolants, cleaning agents, and heat transfer media.
2. OEM Product Development: HAERTOL develops OEM products to order for the global automotive and power plant industries, fulfilling customer-specific product requirements in terms of specifications, color, and packaging. This involves bespoke formulation development and production for individual OEM customers.
3. Technology Licensing to Valvoline: HAERTOL licenses its product technology to Valvoline, permitting Valvoline to produce and sell HAERTOL product technology. Valvoline distributes FROSTOX HT-12 in North America, China, India, Thailand, and Malaysia under this licensing arrangement. HAERTOL also produces and sells Valvoline technology under reciprocal licensing.
4. Chemical-Technical Analysis Services: HAERTOL offers customer-specific chemical-technical product analysis services as an external laboratory, providing independent expertise for examination of customer products including liquid analyses, field monitoring, deposit detection, and aging simulation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HAERTOL Chemie GmbH manufactures and sells the proprietary FROSTOX® family of antifreeze concentrates, ready-to-use engine coolants, battery coolants for electric vehicles, cleaning agents, and heat transfer media used in biogas and combined heat and power plants. The company also produces Valvoline™ OEM Advanced coolants under a mutual licensing agreement, and develops customer-specific OEM formulations, colors, and packaging for the global automotive and power plant industries. All manufacturing is conducted exclusively in Magdeburg, Germany, with chemistry, R&D, quality assurance, and analysis capabilities in-house.

Product overview

HAERTOL is a German manufacturer specializing in automotive heat transfer fluids and coolants. The product portfolio centers on the proprietary FROSTOX® family of antifreeze/coolant products for combustion engines, electric vehicles, and industrial applications. HAERTOL also manufactures Valvoline™ OEM products (Advanced 30, 40, 48) under licensing agreement. The FROSTOX® line includes: premium concentrates (HT12, HT12 DI, SF-D12++, SF-D12PLUS, VP2) using Si-OAT and OAT corrosion inhibitor technologies; eco-friendly variants (HT12 Eco, SF-D12++öko) using bio-based ingredients; specialized coolants for electric vehicles (LC100); heat transfer media for biogas/CHP plants (W 35/65); and service products (R neo, S cleaners). The company operates under a mutual licensing and production partnership with Valvoline since 2018, and Valvoline holds an equity stake since 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FROSTOX: The company's own product family of antifreeze coolants, heat transfer fluids, and engine care products for automotive and industrial applications. Includes HT12, SF-D12++, SF-D12PLUS, VP2, W 35/65, LC100, R neo, S, and HT12 DI product lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2-neutral engine and battery coolants — no mass balancing required
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UPM BiochemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership with UPM Biochemicals for the development of sustainable, CO2-neutral coolants using bio-based monoethylene glycol (bMEG) from renewable forest biomass. UPM is constructing the world's first wood-based biorefinery at the chemicals site of Leuna, Germany — only 122 km from the HAERTOL plant. This partnership enabled HAERTOL to develop the world's first CO2-neutral engine/battery coolant (FROSTOX HT12 eco) that is not subject to mass balancing.
• Valvoline Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2018Since 2018, HAERTOL and Valvoline maintain an international licensing and distribution partnership. Valvoline is licensed to produce and sell HAERTOL product technology; HAERTOL is licensed to produce and sell Valvoline technology. Valvoline distributes FROSTOX HT-12 in North America, China, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. In 2023, Valvoline Global Operations also took a financial stake in HAERTOL.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Valvoline Inc. Strategic partner and minority equity holder in HAERTOL. While Valvoline is also a fluid supplier, its relationship with HAERTOL is primarily as licensor, distributor, and investor rather than direct competitor — making it an adjacent ecosystem participant with deep operational overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Clariant: Specialty chemicals company with a portfolio that historically included automotive coolants and heat transfer fluids. Comparable as a specialty chemical supplier serving automotive OEMs with similar regulatory and quality frameworks.
• BASF: Global chemical major with the Glysantin automotive coolant brand. Most direct large-scale competitor to HAERTOL's FROSTOX line, supplying OEMs worldwide with similar engine antifreeze formulations and holding comparable OEM approvals.
• TotalEnergies Lubrifiants: TotalEnergies' lubricants division supplies automotive coolants globally, including through its Arteco joint venture. Comparable broad incumbent in automotive heat transfer fluids with global OEM reach.
• Castrol (BP): BP-owned lubricant and fluid brand with automotive coolant products sold globally. Comparable as a large incumbent in automotive fluids with established OEM relationships and broad distribution.
• Shell: Global energy major with automotive coolant and antifreeze products under the Shell brand. Comparable as a large incumbent selling heat transfer fluids through OEM and aftermarket channels worldwide.

Emerging players

• KMCO: US-based specialty chemicals manufacturer producing custom automotive fluids including coolants and heat transfer products on a toll/formulation basis. Comparable as a smaller specialty manufacturer serving automotive fluid customers.

Direct peers

• Recochem: Canadian manufacturer of automotive antifreeze, coolant, and specialty fluids with private-label and OEM business. Comparable mid-sized specialty chemical manufacturer focused on automotive heat transfer products.
• Arteco: Specialist automotive coolant manufacturer (joint venture between TotalEnergies and Chevron) producing OAT and Si-OAT coolants with extensive OEM approvals. Closest pure-play competitor to HAERTOL's FROSTOX range.
• Old World Industries: Manufacturer of Peak and Prestone antifreeze/coolant brands, a direct competitor in automotive heat transfer fluids with broad OEM and aftermarket distribution in North America and beyond.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haertol-chemie-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 HAERTOL