About Orthene | 50 Years of Brake Fluid Expertise & Innovation

World leaders in specialist brake fluids

Since 1976

50 years

The timeline

1964

Before the Standard Existed

Shaping modern brake fluid

Alan Ker formulates a low-hygroscopic brake fluid ahead of formal DOT 4 standards and becomes the first European member of the SAE Brake Fluid Standards Committee.

1976

Built to Be Specialist

Orthene is founded

Alan Ker establishes Orthene as a specialist brake fluid manufacturer focused solely on formulation expertise and long-term performance.

1984

Packaging Innovation Begins

Plastic packaging introduced

Orthene pioneers the use of plastic packaging for brake fluid, improving safety, durability, and handling.

1986

System Change

First bag-in-box brake fluid

Orthene introduces the world’s first bag-in-box brake fluid packaging, transforming storage and dispensing at scale.

1996

Proprietary Systems

Exclusive packaging range

Development of Orthene’s own proprietary packaging systems to support global and private-label customers.

1997

Performance Component

Racing brake fluid engineered

Orthene develops its first brake fluid specifically engineered for racing applications, designed for sustained extreme temperatures and loads.

2001

Quality Leadership

QS 9000 achieved

Orthene achieves QS 9000 registration, later evolving into ISO TS 16949, reinforcing long-term quality and compliance leadership.

2004

Ready for Modern Braking

Low-viscosity DOT 4 developed

Development of low-viscosity DOT 4 brake fluids to support ESP and electronically assisted braking systems.

2007

Raising the Bar

DOT 4 320 launched

Launch of DOT 4 320, delivering the highest boiling point available at the time.

2013

A World-First

Low-viscosity DOT 5.1

Orthene becomes the first manufacturer to develop a low-viscosity DOT 5.1 brake fluid for modern braking systems.

2016

Scaling Globally

Capacity expansion

Major investment in production capacity to support growing global demand.

2018

Unmatched Breadth

100+ specifications reached

Orthene’s brake fluid portfolio surpasses 100 specifications, the widest range globally.

2019

Heritage & Future Mobility

RR363® and EHV fluids

Development of RR363® fluid for historic Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles, alongside DOT 5.1 EHV fluids for electric and hybrid vehicles.

2020

Motorsport Benchmark

330°C racing fluid

Launch of a DOT 4 racing brake fluid exceeding 330°C boiling point, among the highest-performing DOT brake fluids globally.

2024

The Halo Moment

Halo by Orthene launches

Halo launches as a dedicated high-performance racing brake fluid brand, bringing Orthene’s motorsport expertise directly to performance users.

2025

Sustainability Without Trade-Off

60% recycled content

Orthene launches brake fluid containing up to 60% recycled content while maintaining full performance and compliance.

2026

50 Years of Orthene

A specialist legacy

Half a century of brake fluid expertise, independence, and leadership in performance and innovation. With aggressive future growth plans imminent.

In motion since 1964.

1964

ROBERT ALAN CAMERON KER

In 1976, Orthene was founded by Robert Alan Cameron Ker. Built on forward thinking, technical expertise and real hands-on formulation experience, the company focused from the outset on expert brake fluid performance, consistency, and enabling brands to offer their own
brake fluid with confidence.

2005

CHARLES JAMES KER

In 2005, Alan passed the keys to his son, Charles James Ker. Under Charles’s leadership, the business expanded at a significant pace, increasing its scale, technical capability, credibility, global reach & presence. Which helped shape much of the Orthene Group as it operates today.

2024

LLOYD JAMES KER

In 2024, Charles echoed his fathers actions by passing the keys to the next gen, his son Lloyd James Ker. Representing a more future-focused era, Lloyd has already introduced innovation through Halo by Orthene, applying decades of formulation expertise to a high-performance brand.

Today, Orthene remains defined by continuity across generations.

Knowledge, standards, and responsibility continue to flow forward, ensuring the company evolves without losing the principles on which it was built.

Single Source Solution

Our single-source approach means fewer suppliers and fewer delays. By managing every part of the process internally, we ensure reliability and a smoother experience at every stage.

Step 1 Formulate

Orthene chemists design the brake fluid specification using high-quality ingredients to meet or exceed DOT and international standards.

Step 2 Blend

The ingredients are blended under controlled conditions to produce the required brake fluid formulation.

Step 3 Fill

The finished brake fluid is filled into containers (bottles, drums, IBCs, etc.) using production filling lines.

Step 4 Label

Products are labelled according to the customer’s private-label brand and regulatory requirements.

Step 5 Dispatch

Orders are shipped through Orthene’s logistics network to customers globally.

Step 6 Support

Ongoing technical, commercial, and customer support after delivery to ensure performance, compliance, and continued partnership.