50+ Years of Innovation
Engineering reliable engine starting solutions since 1969
1969
Founded on Innovation
Kold-Ban International, LTD was established in a northwestern suburb of Chicago to solve cold-start challenges for diesel engines in harsh winter conditions. We began with high-pressure starting fluid (ether) injection systems—technology that would prove essential for commercial fleets. Our commitment was building reliability that fleet operators could depend on when starting an engine meant the difference between operational success and costly downtime.
1980
DIESELMATIC® Revolution
After extensive research and testing in our own “Cold Room” laboratory, we developed the DIESELMATIC® fully automatic turnkey starting fluid device. This patented technology eliminated manual ether application and provided precise, automated starting fluid injection. The DIESELMATIC proved itself year after year, eventually becoming the starting fluid system of choice for major truck fleets. Today, over 1,000,000 DIESELMATIC systems operate successfully on vehicles throughout the world.
1990s
Electronic Controls & Industry Leadership
We developed the DIESELMATIC EC®, a microprocessor-controlled starting fluid device for the pre-ECM era. The EC system provided fail-safe starting, idle control, emission control, and compatibility with alternate fuels. Our innovation was so advanced that diesel engine manufacturers looked to Kold-Ban for guidance in developing their own ECM-controlled starting fluid systems, cementing our role as a trusted engineering partner to the diesel industry.
1996
Supercapacitor Pioneer
Kold-Ban created our first supercapacitor engine starting systems, recognizing that physical energy storage could revolutionize cranking reliability. We invested years in rigorous testing of supercapacitor technology for all types of vehicles—buses, trucks, RVs, equipment, workboats, and recreational boats. Our proprietary KAPower® supercapacitor module became the heart of our KSM™ systems, proving that supercapacitor technology would become the standard for engine starting on land and sea.
2000-2010
Commercial & Industrial Validation
Our supercapacitor systems moved from development to deployment in demanding applications. Municipal fleets eliminated cold-start failures. Construction equipment starts reliably after sitting idle in sub-zero conditions. Military and commercial marine operators validated our technology on patrol boats operating in extreme environments. We qualified for OEM manufacturing Quality Standards and became the engineering partner for organizations that couldn’t afford starting failures.
Recent Years
Consumer Innovation & Modern Technology
We developed the DIESELMATIC NVT™ for modern ECMs, plugging directly into engine control modules with no separate interface. In 2023, we released the KSM Kompact™ for Class B & C RVs, paratransit buses, and recreational boats. We expanded our portable jump starter line with KrankingKART® devices—supercapacitor-powered with no batteries to maintain. Most significantly, we launched BoatStartPlus, bringing industrial-grade supercapacitor reliability to recreational marine markets with a brand built for end users.
The Future of Engine Starting
Our ether-based starting fluid systems remain the most effective and cost-efficient cold-start aid available. Meanwhile, our KAPower® technology consistently outperforms traditional batteries in marine, construction, and transportation applications—delivering greater reliability, longer life, and lower long-term costs.
Backed by ongoing research and development at our Lake in the Hills, Illinois facility, Kold-Ban continues to lead the industry with cutting-edge engine starting solutions.
Today and Tomorrow
For over 50 years, Kold-Ban International has been the trusted name in commercial and industrial starting solutions. Today, we’re expanding that expertise into consumer markets with brands built for the people who use them.
Ether Systems
Cold-start solutions for diesel engines in construction and agriculture
KApower (KSM)
Commercial supercapacitor systems for municipal fleets and industrial equipment
BoatStartPlus
Marine supercapacitor starting systems for recreational and commercial vessels
KrankingKart
Portable supercapacitor jump starters for any engine
Proudly Made in USA
American Manufacturing
Designed, engineered, and manufactured in Lake in the Hills, Illinois. Every KAPower® module built to exacting standards.
Engineering Excellence
Proprietary supercapacitor technology developed in-house. Decades of thermal management expertise applied to every product.
Quality Assured
Rigorous testing protocols ensure every unit performs to specification—from -40°F Arctic operations to 149°F desert conditions.
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