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A Century of Experience. And Still Curious Every Day.
Since our foundation in 1926, a great deal has changed. Production processes have become more complex, markets more international and requirements more demanding.
What has remained is our commitment to working with our customers to develop solutions that make processes safer, more reliable and more cost-effective.
Discover the key milestones in our company’s history.
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On January 2, 1926, our story began in Halle (Saale). Two university friends, Dr. Alfred Kellerand Albin Bohacek, founded “RostschutzGmbH” - without significant capital, but with a clear vision: to develop specialty chemicals that stop corrosion, protect machinery, and improve industrial processes.
At that time, this was an entirely new field. Yet the founders had the courage to break new ground.For us at KEBO, this beginning was more than the start of a company. It was the expression of a mindset: to improve things with curiosity and precision, to take responsibility, and to see innovation as a driving force.
Even the very first products proved that chemistry is not just a tool -it is essential for industry.
💡From a bold founding emerged a mindset that has lasted 100 years and continues to shape KEBO to this day.
KEBO: our journey through a century of chemistry with character, our way of thinking and acting, and what drives us to this day.
The 1930s brought new materials –and new challenges. With the shift from brass to steel, the metalworking industry had to rethink corrosion protection. For KEBO, this was the opportunity to build a name with innovative solutions. Even back then, we relied on detailed expertise and precision.
In 1943, the sugar industry entrusted us with their facilities. Our products protected production equipment from acid attack during aggressive chemical cleaning. A technical detail that saved entire campaigns. For KEBO, it was a breakthrough: we became a partner an entire industry could rely on.
💡 From expertise came trust –and from innovation came lasting connections.
After the war years, rebuilding was the priority. For KEBO, this meant learning from experience and daring to try new things.
Building on our work in the sugar industry, we developed specialty chemicals for scale and corrosion prevention in aqueous systems.
This step was pivotal. We no longer settled for individual products -we built an entire field of expertise. Practical challenges became systematic solutions. Our products kept plants clean, efficient, and reliable -an advantage that helped companies get back on track more quickly.
💡 For us, it was clear: specialty chemistry can only create real impact when it is precise, reliable, and application-driven. This conviction still defines KEBO today.
The 1950s marked a turning point for KEBO. We moved to Düsseldorf-Rath, where our headquarters are still located today. At the same time, we founded KEBO FRANCE SARL in Paris – our first international subsidiary.
This step meant more than organizational growth. It marked the beginning of our European presence. KEBO FRANCE later relocated to Ozoir-la-Ferrière – a sign of stability and expansion.
For us, it was clear: only those who think beyond borders can remain strong partners in the long term.
💡 Regional became international – and partnership became shared strength.
In this decade, it became evident that KEBO products didn’t just work technically – they also had personality. One example: our scale inhibitor KEBO DS.
The name derives from “Déesse” – the French goddess – inspired by the Citroën DS, an automotive icon.
But the real impact went beyond the name. KEBO DS still ensures today that production processes - especially in the sugar industry -run stable and energy-efficient. Deposits remain reliably suspended, and sugar crystals are cleanly separated.
For us, KEBO DS was proof that chemistry can have character – a blend of innovation, creativity, and reliability.
💡 For us, products aren’t just formulas – they carry our mindset into practice.
For KEBO, this era was shaped by continuity and renewal. Founder Alfred Keller was a chemist - just like his wife, Gertraud Keller, and one of their daughters Renate.
Chemistry wasn’t just a profession for us; it was a calling. This family foundation deeply influenced our corporate culture.
In the 1980s, we faced the challenge of passing knowledge on to a new generation. It wasn’t only about management - it was about values: trust, responsibility, and a passion for chemistry. The family remained closely involved and handed over responsibility step by step.
💡 For us, this was both a test and a promise: we remain independent, we stay true to our values, and we continue as a family-owned company.
Starting in the 1980s, we redefined our ambition at KEBO: standard products were no longer enough. Instead, we developed customized solutions for the sugar, ethanol, steel, and water industries. Each sector faced its own challenges - and we provided tailored answers.
This marked the beginning of a philosophy that still shapes us today: listen, understand, act. From this mindset emerged a product portfolio built directly around the needs of our customers. For us, this wasn’t just economic success - it was the certainty that we were genuinely helping our partners move forward.
💡 Specialization became our principle of success - and the heart of KEBO.
With our expertise in water conditioning and corrosion protection, KEBO opened the door to new industries. We collaborated with petrochemical companies and power plant operators, cleaned and protected large-scale industrial systems, and developed solutions that enabled safety, efficiency, and reliability on a major scale.
For us, this decade proved that specialty chemistry doesn’t just work in detail -it can drive entire industries forward. Whether in energy generation or petrochemicals, KEBO was there whenever processes needed to run reliably.
💡We grew with the challenges - and our chemistry became a key driver for large-scale progress.
In 2009, KEBO invested in a comprehensive modernization of its in-house laboratory in Düsseldorf. Equipped with state-of-the-art analytical and measurement technology, we created the foundation for more precise research and even more efficient product development.
For us, this was more than a construction project –it was a clear commitment to innovation within our own walls. Instead of outsourcing processes, we wanted to take responsibility ourselves. The laboratory became the birthplace of new solutions that meet the highest standards and drive entire industries forward.
💡For KEBO, progress begins where we take responsibility into our own hands – with passion, precision, and courage.
Today, we look back on 100 years of KEBO – and firmly ahead. Throughout this decade, we continuously challenged ourselves: improving processes, evolving structures, and strengthening partnerships.
Our ambition is clear: we want to be more than a supplier. We are partners – reliable, fair, and on equal footing. Whether it’s cleaning, corrosion protection, or specialty solutions, we take on challenges so our customers can stay focused on their core business.
💡 Experience is our foundation. Partnership is our future.
The products shown on our website are only a selection of our entire product range. There is no universal remedy for the rapid removal of impurities. Some can be removed well with alkaline agents, others better in the acidic range. The large variety of conceivable cleaning problems and the large number of additives, inhibitors and ready-to-use cleaning solutions offered by us make it advisable to obtain detailed advice before starting cleaning.
The same applies to inhibitors, defoamers, scale preventers, corrosion inhibitors, pickling inhibitors, etc. Depending on the plant, material, product and the type of boiler/cooling water is used, different individual challenges arise. We are well equipped for them.
Talk to us, we will be happy to help!
On request, we can analyze deposits in our laboratory and develop a cleaning strategy based on our many years of experience, taking into account the conditions on site.