The Haltermann Carless production site in Speyer combines industrial tradition with a clear focus on the future. Since commissioning in 1965, the site has continuously evolved. From the very beginning, modern technologies and a strong commitment to innovation have shaped the plant – an ambition that remains firmly embedded today. Its strategic location, a strong product portfolio, ongoing investments and highly committed employees form the foundation of its success. Once again, the production site is taking important steps towards the future: to achieve greater sustainability, higher efficiency and tangible added value for customers. This makes it the perfect time to take a closer look. In this interview, Site Manager Dr Thorsten Ackmann talks about the development of the plant, the challenges and opportunities it faces, and how tradition, innovation and motivation come together in Speyer.
Dr Ackmann, you have been Site Manager for Haltermann Carless in Speyer since January 2023. Before that, you spent four years as Production Manager and Commissioning Manager for the hydrogenation unit at the site. What makes the Speyer plant special for you?
Ackmann: The site has a long tradition and has always remained modern. You can also see this in our workforce - a great highly qualified team made up of many experienced colleagues and young creative employees. We are just as diverse in our portfolio: We offer our customers a wide range of high-quality products, for example high-purity hydrocarbons for the pharmaceutical industry or pentanes, which ensure excellent insulation of buildings when used in polyurethane foams, for example. We also produce pure, technical hydrocarbons, printing ink distillates and components for test fuels at the site. What is new is the production of products based on gas-to-liquid (GTL) feedstock. The broad range of different industrial customers value our "Made in Germany" quality.
What advantages does the location bring to your customers?
Ackmann: With our plant in Speyer, we are strategically located in the heart of Europe, directly at the Rhine river and close to Frankfurt and Basel Airport. We have our own jetty at the plant grounds as well as our own loading and unloading stations for rail tank cars and a modern loading and mixing station for tank cars. This is a great advantage in terms of logistics - both with regard to the delivery of our products to our customers all over the world and the delivery of raw materials. After all, in addition to high product quality, we are committed to high delivery reliability.
As a strategically important production site, we have invested and continue to invest in the plant in order to drive further developments and implement trends. This pays off and is the ideal position to continue to grow, to meet the demands of the market and at the same time to secure jobs in this region.
In 2022, you commissioned a modern hydrogenation unit at the site. What benefits does it offer to your customers?
Ackmann: The new hydrogenation plant is one of the biggest investments of our company in recent years. It enables us to produce a product range with even higher purity and extremely low aromatic content using the latest technology. This is especially important for our middle distillate customers. We are also able to significantly increase capacities for our pentanes. With this hydrogenation unit, we have become the world’s largest producer of Cyclopentane – just as a side note. All in all, with the new hydrogenation plant, we offer our customers high product qualities and great security of supply.
»Find out more about the hydrogenation plant here!
At the end of 2025, you extended the contract with Neste, the licensor of your hydrogenation unit. What does this involve?
Ackmann: With the extended licence agreement for our NEXSAT™ hydrogenation technology, we are now able to fully exploit the potential of this highly flexible technology at the Speyer site. This means we can process a significantly broader range of feedstocks – in particular sustainable and biobased materials as well as locally sourced raw materials.
This puts us in a position to offer our customers targeted, innovative and more environmentally friendly solutions “Made in Germany”, while at the same time contributing to the reduction of climate impact. In doing so, we are not only strengthening sustainable business practices in the region, but also actively positioning ourselves in future growth markets. For the Speyer site and our entire team, this represents an important step forward.
You also mentioned Gas-to-Liquid as a feedstock for modern products. What are the advantages of this new product portfolio and how is the market responding?
Ackmann: With the introduction of our Halpasol® G products – our GTL-based product line – we offer the market synthetic hydrocarbons with exceptionally high purity, free from sulphur and almost completely free of aromatics.
This opens up new possibilities for customers across a wide range of industries, such as cosmetics, high-tech lubricants or electronics – for example in sensitive formulations that reach their limits with conventional mineral oil-based feedstocks. At the same time, our customers benefit from reliable supply and consistent product properties, as GTL synthesis is independent of fluctuations in fossil feedstock quality.
»Find out more about the Halpasol® G products here!
Alongside future orientation and customer focus, sustainability is a key element of your corporate culture. How is this reflected at the Speyer site?
Ackmann: On the one hand, through our efforts to establish more environmentally friendly production processes or to use electricity from renewable energies such as solar, wind and water. On the other hand, we are working together with our customers on solutions to produce more efficient and sustainable products that are capable of making a significant contribution to reducing COâ‚‚ emissions in the final application. In 2025, we successfully processed bionaphtha for the first time. The resulting product is being blended by a customer in the performance fuels sector as a biocomponent.
With all the tasks, responsibilities and future plans at the site, you also need to relax. What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Ackmann: Sustainability is also very important to me in my private life. I find my balance primarily in nature – especially when hiking in the Palatinate Forest, where I really appreciate the peace, the landscape and the local culture. I also recharge my batteries through sporting activities such as cycling or jogging. Exercising in the fresh air helps me to clear my head and regain energy. Another key element is spending time with my family. Shared activities, whether outdoors or at home, give me support and ensure that I return to my professional tasks with renewed motivation.
Read also:
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Chemical Park Speyer: Industrial Partnerships at Haltermann Carless
- Haltermann Carless: Our strengths in supply chain management
Do you have any questions about our the Speyer site, our services or supply chain? Then please feel free to contact us!
This blog has initially been published in July 2021 and updated in March 2026.
