kolb Cleaning Technology

What kolb Cleaning Technology does

kolb Cleaning Technology GmbH is a privately held German industrial company founded in 1988 in Willich, Germany, specializing in cleaning systems, aqueous cleaning chemistry, and related process technology for the electronics manufacturing industry. The company designs and manufactures a portfolio spanning the AQUBE® high-end Industry 4.0-capable systems (with networking, traceability, remote control and remote maintenance), PSE economy-line systems, AF-series AirFlow systems for filter and condensate trap cleaning, and WPCL/WPSD water management modules, supported by an installed base of more than 2,312 cleaning systems globally (as of 2018). Its chemistry business covers 50+ branded detergents and additives including MultiEx® (product cleaning), ContraFlux® (maintenance/flux removal), and service products (AntiFoam, PowerBooster®, CarrierSeal®), with proprietary platform technologies (AirFlow invented 1991, PowerSpray, TernarySequence) protected as registered brand identities.

Revenue is generated through four streams: hardware sales of cleaning systems and water management modules, recurring sales of proprietary detergents and additives (consumables), service and spare parts, and paid training programs (Campus B at €1,760 and Campus S at €440 per registration). kolb operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise sales from its German headquarters with wholly-owned regional subsidiaries in India (liaison office), China (Shanghai), USA (Longmont, CO) and Australia (Bankstown), supported by an extensive distribution partner network covering 52 countries including named partners Cabiotec (Italy), SIP Technology (multiple Asian markets), Suba Engineering (Australia/NZ), BeSSco (Korea), Dynatech (Japan), Magnifitec (Israel), Quiptech (Mexico), Pro SMT (Turkey), ATT (Slovenia), and Ulbrich (Slovakia). Named enterprise customers include Siemens Electronics Plant Amberg and a Leading US Space Company, with primary end markets being electronics manufacturing (PCBAs, DCBs, power electronics), SMT/SMD production facilities, and — most recently — aerospace electronics manufacturing served by the 2026-launched PSE MV3 ONE XXL, the world's largest cleaning system by process chamber size.

Name

kolb Cleaning Technology

Legal name

kolb Cleaning Technology GmbH

Website

https://kolb-ct.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

kolb Cleaning Technology GmbH, founded 1988 in Willich, Germany, designs and manufactures industrial cleaning systems, aqueous cleaning chemistry, and water management modules for the global electronics manufacturing industry, serving PCBA, SMT, stencil and aerospace electronics customers in 52 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cleaning Equipment for Electronics Manufacturing

NAICS

Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612), Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning Chemicals (IMAEABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN)

Keywords

• Industrial cleaning systems
• Electronics manufacturing cleaning
• Aqueous cleaning chemistry
• PCBA cleaning equipment
• Stencil cleaning systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Willich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cleaning Systems/Equipment: Sale of industrial cleaning equipment including AQUBE series, PSE series, AF series, and related water management systems
2. Cleaning Chemistry/Detergents: Sale of proprietary detergent products including MultiEx series, ContraFlux series, and specialty cleaners for various cleaning applications
3. Service and Training: Kolb Campus training programs (Campus B and Campus S), service support, and technical training services
4. Accessories and Spare Parts: Washing frames, options, features, service products and spare parts for cleaning systems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

kolb Cleaning Technology manufactures industrial cleaning systems, proprietary aqueous detergents, and water management modules for the electronics manufacturing industry. Its product portfolio covers PCBA cleaning, stencil and screen cleaning, solder frame and carrier cleaning, and filter/condensate trap cleaning, sold through two main system families (AQUBE high-end and PSE economy) plus a comprehensive MultiEx and ContraFlux detergent line.

Product overview

kolb Cleaning Technology offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial cleaning solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry, consisting of two product lines: AQUBE® (high-end, Industry 4.0 capable systems) and PSE (economy line systems). The product range includes PCBA cleaning systems (AQUBE® X/LH series, PSE LH series), stencil and screen cleaning systems (AQUBE® MV series, PSE MV series, PSE 300 series), solder frame and carrier cleaning systems (AQUBE® MH series, PSE MH series), and filter/condensate trap cleaning systems (AF series). Supporting the cleaning systems is an extensive range of MultiEx® and ContraFlux® branded detergents and cleaning chemicals for various applications including product cleaning, maintenance cleaning, and specialty cleaners for ESD areas and solder ovens. Water management add-on modules (WPCL IU for water recycling, WPSD IU for wastewater treatment) enable sustainable operations. The portfolio is complemented by service products (AntiFoam, PowerBooster®, ServiceCase kits) and training programs (Campus B for comprehensive education, Campus S for system-specific training).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AQUBE: High-end Industry 4.0-capable cleaning system family
• PSE
• MultiEx
• ContraFlux
• kolb Campus
• WPCL/WPSD
• PowerSpray
• TernarySequence
• AirFlow

Products and services

• AQUBE X series High-end PCBA cleaning system part of the AQUBE platform featuring Industry 4.0 capabilities including networking for traceability, remote control, and remote maintenance. Designed for cleaning printed circuit board assemblies for electronics manufacturers.
• AQUBE LH series High-end PCBA cleaning system for loaded circuit assemblies within the AQUBE Industry 4.0 platform.
• PSE LH series Economy line PCBA cleaning system for loaded circuit assemblies based on the successful PS series.
• AQUBE MV series High-end stencil and screen cleaning system with advanced features including Industry 4.0 connectivity for traceability and remote control.
• PSE MV series Economy line stencil and screen cleaning system.
• PSE 300 series

Quantifiable outcome

• Cycle time: approx. 4 minutes per stencil for PSB700 H90
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, standard, historical and academic.

• Cabiotec S.r.l.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 November 2025Distribution partner for Italy starting December 2025. Partnership signed at productronica Munich to strengthen presence in the Italian market. Cabiotec will competently market cleaning systems and professionally support customers from the electronics manufacturing industry on-site.
• SIP TechnologymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner covering multiple Asian markets: Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China
• Suba Engineering Pty Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Australia and New Zealand since 2006, originally established as first kolb foreign subsidiary in Banksstown, Australia for South-East Asia business region
• BeSScostandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Korea handling marketing and customer support for kolb products
• Dynatech CorporationstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Japan with local sales and technical support
• MagnifitecstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Israel handling local market representation
• Quiptech International Ltd.standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Mexico covering the Mexican market
• Pro SMT Elektronik A.ŞstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Turkey based in Istanbul handling local sales and support
• ATT Vertriebsgesellschaft mbHstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Slovenia handling local market representation
• Ulbrich Slovensko s.r.o.standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Slovakia covering the Slovakian market
• Ing. G. Linker GmbH, Chemische FabrikenhistoricalTechnology or IntegrationHistorical partnership starting 1990 for development and production of first aqueous detergents for the electronics industry. Start product: ContraFlux flux remover for solder carriers.
• Hochschule NiederrheinacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch cooperation started 2019 for innovative processes in cleaning and water management. Various departments research with kolb process experts.
• Fontys University VenloacademicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch cooperation started 2020 in sustainable production and neutral climate footprint area

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cleaning Technologies Group: Cleaning Technologies Group manufactures industrial parts washing and cleaning equipment including aqueous and solvent systems for industrial and electronics applications, overlapping with kolb's PSE and AQUBE equipment lines.
• Inertech: Inertech designs and manufactures aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaning systems for electronics manufacturing including stencil, misprint, and PCBA cleaning — overlapping with kolb's AQUBE MV and PSE product families.
• Zestron: Zestron is the most direct competitor to kolb — a global leader in precision cleaning chemistry and processes for the electronics manufacturing industry, offering aqueous and solvent-based detergents plus process engineering for PCBAs, stencils, and power electronics. Highly comparable product portfolio and target customer base in electronics OEM/EMS.
• Kyzen Corporation: Kyzen is a US-based specialty chemical manufacturer focused on aqueous and engineered cleaning chemistries for electronics and precision manufacturing — directly competing with kolb's MultiEx and ContraFlux lines in PCBA and stencil cleaning.
• Stoelting Cleaning Equipment: Stoelting designs and builds aqueous and solvent cleaning systems for electronics and industrial customers, with comparable stencil, PCBA, and parts washing applications to kolb's systems portfolio.
• ECD (Electronic Controls Design): ECD manufactures specialized cleaning, soldering, and process control equipment for electronics manufacturing, including stencil and pallet cleaning systems that compete directly with kolb's MV and MH product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Atotech, now part of MKS Instruments, is a broad specialty chemicals and equipment supplier to the electronics industry including plating, surface finishing, and cleaning chemistries — much larger and broader portfolio than kolb but competes in adjacent cleaning chemistry segments.
• Brenntag: Brenntag is a global chemical distribution giant that also supplies industrial and institutional cleaning chemistries; while not a direct manufacturer peer, it is a comparable scale player in the cleaning chemistry value chain serving industrial customers.

Emerging players

• RBP Chemical Technology: RBP Chemical Technology supplies specialty cleaning chemistries and process materials for electronics manufacturing, including stencil cleaners and flux removers — competing with portions of kolb's MultiEx and ContraFlux product lines.

Others

• SCHUNK Group: SCHUNK is a major German equipment supplier to electronics manufacturing (tooling, clamping, and SMT accessories) that runs LineXchange events where kolb participates. Comparable as a German Mittelstand electronics-adjacent industrial peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kolbcleaningtechnology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kolb-ct
• Facebookfacebook.com/149773548885370

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 kolb Cleaning Technology