Gasoline and diesel fuels are known for their high energy density and their qualities are optimised by fuel companies to maximise power output and fuel consumption. These fuels are brought to perfection for the respective application by various additives. Fuel additives play a major role in modern fuels, as the active molecules can further optimise and improve performance. To combine all these different molecules in one additive formulation, a strong solvent as carrier fluid is needed. For decades, fuel additive formulators rely on Haltermann Carless aromatic solvents to meet their needs.

The market requirements for the fuel additive industry are changing rapidly and continuously due to: 

• new legal regulations, 
• regulations for new fuel specifications and
• the resulting need for higher qualities

Innovations and the development of new additives are therefore often the focus of manufacturers and suppliers to meet the dynamic market needs. 

Haltermann Carless heavy aromatics are used as solvent and are especially suitable for critical ingredients. Our Caromax^® aromatic solvents enable fuel additive formulators to develop innovative and tailor-made concepts of the future. In the end, it is their additives that transform the already high-quality basic fuel into today's high-tech product.

Haltermann Carless offers high-quality aromatic solvents for additive formulations allowing basic fuels to become high-tech products. 

Strong cooperation and joint developments

With competence and customer focus we develop tailor-made products for the different requirements of our customers. Our long-standing customers are confident of our high-quality aromatic solvents and enjoy customised specifications, meeting their needs.  

The development of safe and high-quality products that meet legal requirements and demonstrate high performance requires close cooperation, open dialogue, a strong commitment and the joint presentation of convincing products between oil refineries, raw material suppliers, the fuel additive industry and vehicle and engine manufacturers.

Haltermann Carless has over 70 years of experience in the field of fuels and aromatic solvents and is continuously working on new solutions together with its customers. We are therefore open to joint research and development programs that cover legislative, ecological or formulation challenges of the future.

Caromax^®: Aromatic solvents for tailor-made additive formulations

Haltermann Carless offers tailor-made aromatic solvent for additive formulators. We have been producing our Caromax^® heavy aromatics for over 70 years. Caromax^® 20 and 28 are used in a wide range of applications, for example as an solvent to protect active ingredients in emulsified concentrates for fuel additives, among other things. All these grades with low napthalene (LN, upto 1%) and extra low naphthalene (XLN, upto 0.01%) content.

Our Caromax^® hydrocarbons act as a carrier fluid for bespoke additive formulation with the following requirement profile:

• Stable quality from batch to batch
• High solubility for additive molecules, such as surfactant and extreme pressure additives
• Long-term storage stability
• Stability throughout temperature fluctuations

We offer our customers in the fuel additive industry qualities with low naphthalene content (Caromax^® LN) and extra low naphthalene content (Caromax^® XLN) to meet strict regulatory requirements for certain end products and sensitive formulations:

• Caromax^® 20
• Caromax^® 20 LN
• Caromax^® 20 XLN
• Caromax^® 28
• Caromax^® 28 LN
• Caromax^® 28 XLN

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At the beginning of the 1970s, exhaust emission limits were introduced, which made the automotive industry change engine concepts. The improved and therefore more demanding combustion made it necessary to avoid residues at various parts of the engine. This was achieved by using special surfactant additives. In view of the further development of engines, it is important to ensure full cleanliness even under tougher conditions. The improved cleanliness is reflected in a lower liability towards repairs, an improvement in exhaust emissions and a reduction in fuel consumption. 

However, changes due to environmental regulations are not only to be found in the automotive industry. This also applies to other vessels with internal combustion engines. For example, ships are subject to much stricter environmental requirements from 1^st of January 2020. They will be only allowed to use fuels containing a maximum of 0.5% sulfur. Fuel consumption numbers must also be disclosed.

Additives and the important carrier solvents play an important role in the implementation of legal requirements and actively contribute to improving the environmental performance of internal combustion engines.

Sustainability is a decisive part of Haltermann Carless' corporate culture, to which we have felt responsible for generations. Together with our customers, suppliers and employees we want to develop and manufacture products in an environmentally friendly way, use resources in the best possible way and thus offer sustainable solutions. We are therefore working on many future projects that will make our products even more environmentally friendly. 

What counts for Haltermann Carless is a consistently high quality and excellent product properties such as low naphthalene values and good solubility features. This means that the effectiveness must unfold freely in the various fuel types as well as in the most diverse combustion engines under all operating conditions. Harmful side effects have to be avoided. Product quality, effectiveness and environmental benefits shall go hand in hand.

Fuel additives require high quality solvents to work and thus improve their environmental performance.

Aromatic solvents for fuel additives - worldwide distribution

We see sustainability potential in our products, but also in many other areas of our company. In recent years, we have made important investments at our production site in Harwich, UK, to improve sustainability and energy efficiency. Significant process improvements have been made at our production units to reduce the energy consumption of our processes to significantly reduce the carbon footprint per tonne of Caromax^® produced on the other.