Fuel-treatment firm expands

FORT MYERS — Fuel-treatment provider AXI International acquired Clean Tank & Fuel, another Fort Myers firm that specializes in small gas-powered boats. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This is the first of what will be numerous acquisitions of service-oriented companies over the coming months,” says Wessel van Tonder, CEO of AXI International, in a statement.

AXI provides fuel maintenance and optimization systems. Founded in 1995 with a diesel-fuel conditioner called Algae-X, AXI has expanded to include fuel-polishing systems, mobile tank cleaning and fuel restoration systems, fuel treatment additives and sampling and testing equipment. AXI says it has increasingly focused on service-oriented businesses in recent months, moving to gasoline and other fuels beyond diesel.

“Through this partnership, I hope to expand throughout Florida and then outward to the rest of the U.S.,” says Randy Mote, owner of Clean Tank & Fuel, in the statement.