Rectification, dehydration, recycling and trade in ethanol – solutions in alcohol since 1847.
BERKEL AHK Alkoholhandel GmbH & Co. KG
Ludwigshafen (Rheingönheim) · Berlin-Adlershof · LippstadtNew on Amplifa
Solutions in alcohol since 1847
Berkel AHK Alkoholhandel GmbH & Co. KG is a family business founded in 1847, now in its sixth generation, headquartered in Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim. The company does not produce spirits; instead, it refines purchased raw alcohol through rectification, high-proof distillation (up to approx. 96%) and dehydration or absolutization up to 99.99%. In addition, Berkel AHK processes alcohol-containing waste and substrates (recycling/upcycling of around 20 million liters per year), carries out denaturing and offers storage, logistics and contract manufacturing. The ethanol goes primarily to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the skilled trades, research, and the cosmetics, cleaning-agent and fuel sectors. At its Ludwigshafen site, the company operates distillation columns, a dehydration plant, its own power plant for steam and energy generation, laboratories, storage tanks and bottling from the one-liter bottle up to the 28,000-liter tanker truck. Trading branches are located in Berlin-Adlershof and Lippstadt.
- Site
- Ludwigshafen
- Processes
- Rectification (purification of raw alcohol), Distillation / high-proof distillation (up to approx. 96%), Dehydration / absolutization (up to 99.99%), Denaturing of alcohol, Recycling / upcycling of ethanol waste (reprocessing, utilization of alcohol-containing substrates), Bottling (from 28,000-liter tanker truck down to one-liter bottle), Storage & logistics, Contract manufacturing
- Materials
- Ethanol (alcohol/spirit), Raw alcohol, Ethanol (raw alcohol), Alcohol-containing waste and substrates
- Founded
- 1847
- Employees
- approx. 50
- Industries
- Chemical and pharmaceutical industry, Skilled trades, Research, Spirits industry, Cosmetics/Perfume, Cleaning agents
- 01
Purchase of raw alcohol or acceptance of alcohol-containing waste
- 02
Laboratory analysis of incoming and outgoing goods
- 03
Rectification and high-proof distillation
- 04
Dehydration/absolutization or recycling/upcycling
- 05
Denaturing on request
- 06
Storage and logistics
- 07
Bottling and distribution
Products and processes
Ethanol (raw alcohol)
Starting material for rectification, high-proof distillation up to approx. 96% and absolutization up to 99.99%.
Alcohol-containing waste and substrates
Are reprocessed and prepared for reuse (upcycling, approx. 20 million liters per year).
Locations
Ludwigshafen (Rheingönheim)
DEHeadquarters, alcohol refinery: rectification, absolutization, laboratory, administration
- Part weight / size
- Bottling from 1 liter (bottle) to 28,000 liters (tanker
- Lot size
- 1 liter to 28,000 liters
- Materials
- Ethanol, raw alcohol, alcohol-containing waste
- Distillation columns (rectification systems)
- Dehydration plant (absolutization)
- Power plant for own steam and energy generation
- Five-story production unit
- Storage tanks (vertical and horizontal)
- Bottling facility
- Laboratory and testing stations
Berlin-Adlershof
DETrading branch, alcohol trading
Lippstadt
DETrading branch, alcohol trading
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rectification (purification of raw alcohol)Chemical refining | – | – | – | 1 liter (one-liter bottle) – 28,000 liters (tanker truck) | Ethanol, Raw alcohol |
| Distillation / high-proof distillation (up to approx. 96%)Chemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Dehydration / absolutization (up to 99.99%)Chemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Denaturing of alcoholChemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Recycling / upcycling of ethanol waste (reprocessing, utilization of alcohol-containing substrates)Chemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol, alcohol-containing waste |
| Bottling (from 28,000-liter tanker truck down to one-liter bottle)Chemical refining | – | – | 1 liter – 28,000 liters | – | Ethanol |
| Storage & logisticsChemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Contract manufacturingChemical refining | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Laboratory analysis / testing of incoming and outgoing goodsTesting | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
| Trade in alcohols of all kinds and related productsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Ethanol |
7 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distillation columns (distillation/rectification systems) | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Dehydration plant (absolutization) | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Power plant for own steam and energy generation | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Production unit (5 stories) | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Storage tanks (vertical and horizontal) | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Bottling facility | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
| Laboratory | – | – | – | – | Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1847
Founded as a family business by an ancestor of the present-day Berkel owner family; continuously family-owned ever since.
- 1950–1960er
Senior boss Dieter Berkel (d. 1989) writes the novel "Die Alkoholraffinerie" (The Alcohol Refinery) about the company in post-war Ludwigshafen.
- 1972
The Berkel AHK Group relocates to Ludwigshafen-Rheingönheim (previously Westend Ludwigshafen).
- 1988
Discontinuation of own production from fermentation; since then purchase, rectification, high-proof distillation and dehydration of raw alcohol.
- 2025/2026
Participation as ethanol supplier in the first ethanol bunkering at the Port of Rotterdam; founding member of the Global Ethanol Association.