The agreement initiates with hte’s acquisition of the ACE-Model AP technology but includes as well an exclusive position for hte to acquire additional ACE Technology products. This framework enables hte to build ACE test units for customers and to expand its own testing services capacity in Heidelberg. KTI will no longer supply ACE units but will continue to support its user base.
There has been a strong demand for standardised laboratory FCC test units that can produce comparable and relevant data to evaluate feedstocks, catalysts, and process conditions. ACE (Advanced Cracking Evaluation) Technology was developed by KTI for this purpose and hte plans to carry this mission forward.
One critical use of the ACE-Model AP is the worldwide monitoring of equilibrium catalyst performance of samples from commercial operations. As part of the partnership, concluded on 9 February 2026, hte has acquired the ACE AP Technology and received exclusivity for additional ACE Technology products. hte customers will benefit from an expanded portfolio of laboratory systems available for purchase as well as additional capacity for standardised FCC catalyst testing at hte’s laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany.
Following a successful technology transfer from KTI, hte is currently building the first ACE-Model AP system under the partnership that will use new end-to-end automation and software integration in line with hte standards. The basic process setup and performance will match earlier AP units from KTI, but hte manufacturing will align the product with hte’s plant engineering methodology. This first hte Model AP will complement two existing KTI supplied Model AP units at Heidelberg to immediately expand hte’s capacity.
“hte has nearly 20 man-years operating KTI supplied Model AP units. hte is in a unique position to leverage both its operating experience and engineering of laboratory test systems knowhow to bring new ACE-Model AP units into the market,” said John Kayser, President of KTI.
“The collaboration with KTI underscores our long-term partnership and shared goal of ensuring global access to this established technology. We are proud to continue the ACE Technology story and to support our customers in the refining industry with the proven ACE-Model AP as the first offering and then other ACE products to follow,” added Stefan Altwasser CBO of hte.