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Dow expands Edina plant and helps form water centre in Ukraine
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Dow expands Edina plant and helps form water centre in Ukraine
D
ow Chemical Company’s business unit Dow Water Solutions is expanding its facility based in Edina, Minnesota, USA. Meanwhile, the US company has formed a partnership with the Chemical Technology Department of the National Technical University of Ukraine Kiev Polytechnic Institute (NTUU KPI) to establish the Technical and Educational Center for Water Treatment. Dow Water Solutions, a specialist in water purification, sea-water desalination, contaminant removal and water reuse technology, says the US$88-million investment in Edina increases the production facility’s size for a third time in eight years, and furthers its commitment to addressing the world’s growing demand for high-quality water. ‘We have always been committed to providing the best possible products and technology to our customers. Whether it is through our industry expertise, technological developments, or investing to support our customers – we are standing behind our word to make high-quality water a reality worldwide,’ commented Ian Barbour, General Manager, Dow Water Solutions. Originally constructed in 1996 with an investment of US$11 million, the facility will feature an expanded manufacturing area to produce additional advanced water-treatment systems and products, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. The expansion will also include the automated processes required to produce 41-cm (16-inch) diameter elements. Covering around 58 500 m2 (630 000 2 ft ), the expanded facility will be more than eleven times the area of Dow’s original plant in Edina. It will feature the latest process and manufacturing technology, additional membrane lines, new fabrication cells and will introduce further automation to the company’s already automated production capabilities. The new lines are scheduled to begin operating this year, increasing the company’s total output by an initial 25%. In other news, Dow and NTUU KPI recently opened the Technical and Educational Center for 6
Membrane Technology
Water Treatment. According to Dow, its global commitment to creating innovative technologies to help solve the world’s most pressing water-related problems makes the objective and activities of NTUU KPI a natural opportunity for partnership. The centre, based at NTUU KPI, will use Dow Water Solutions’ products to help students further develop their knowledge and experience in the water treatment industry. The centre’s aim is to promote awareness about the importance of water and the most appropriate usage of this precious resource. Dow has had a registered office in Ukraine since 1996. It says Ukraine – part of the Dow East Europe Region – is a key country for its business growth. In 2007 the firm’s sales in the region amounted to US$2.6 billion – a growth of 30% compared with the previous financial year. Total sales in Ukraine in 2007 totalled US$150 million. With 110 years of history, the NTUU KPI is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. It includes 20 educational departments, nine educational research institutes, 12 research institutes and 13 scientific subdivisions. Contacts: The Dow Chemical Company, Liquid Separations, Customer Information Center, PO Box 1206, Midland, MI 48642-1206, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 9086, www.dowwatersolutions.com, www.dow.com Dow Customer Information Group, Prins Boudewijnlaan 41, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium. Tel: +32 3 450 2240 National Technical University of Ukraine, Kiev Polytechnic Institute, Prosp. Peremohy 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine. Tel: +38 044 241 9443, www.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/en
Siemens helps establish MBR validation plant and water research laboratory
S
iemens Water Technologies and Singapore’s Public Utility Board (PUB) are collaborating on a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) testing facility based at the island’s Changi Water Reclamation Plant. Together with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) the Siemens business segment is also jointly establishing a laboratory that
will focus on ways of improving water treatment technologies. The validation facility, rated at over 1.0 million litres (250 000 gallons) a day, will treat domestic wastewater and test design parameters for the Siemens MBR system. PUB is providing the location for the unit, while Siemens will be responsible for operating and maintaining the unit. It is expected to be in operation for a minimum of five years. Dr Ruediger Knauf, Vice President of Research and Development for Siemens Water Technologies, said: ‘This full-scale MBR plant is part of our ongoing focused R&D efforts on sustainable technologies. It will allow us to validate new product and process developments quickly under real conditions, so we can bring value to our customers through reduced lifecycle costs and process improvements.’ MBR technology is used in municipal and industrial applications. Siemens has seen significant interest in the technology for wastewater reuse applications, in addition to new housing developments and resorts. The company’s MBR technology combines a single, sludge aerobic biological treatment process with an integrated, immersed membrane system. Siemens says that its MBR represents the union of two of its native technologies, and the activated treatment process handles liquid–solids separation on a molecular scale. The mixing system transports dissolved air and mixed liquor uniformly and positively around and across Memcor microfiltration modules. These membrane units have been adapted by the company to withstand being continuously immersed in activated sludge. The Changi Water Reclamation Plant is part of the first phase of the Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) project. It will be one of two water treatment plants in the country to replace eight existing facilities. Most of the recycled water from this plant will be used for industrial purposes; some will be discharged into the ocean. ‘Through this cooperation, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with the PUB and appreciate its enthusiastic support of this project,’ added Dr Knauf. In other news, Siemens and the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), a research institute within Singapore’s A*Star, have agreed to establish a joint Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) laboratory. Both partners want to research fluid dynamics of water treatment processes to improve efficiency of equipment and treatment technology and reduce life-cycle costs of operation. ‘Based on these results, we are able to develop the next generation of water treatment equipment for industrial and municipal applications,’ commented Dr Knauf.
September 2008
Dow expands Edina plant and helps form water centre in Ukraine
D
ow Chemical Company’s business unit Dow Water Solutions is expanding its facility based in Edina, Minnesota, USA. Meanwhile, the US company has formed a partnership with the Chemical Technology Department of the National Technical University of Ukraine Kiev Polytechnic Institute (NTUU KPI) to establish the Technical and Educational Center for Water Treatment. Dow Water Solutions, a specialist in water purification, sea-water desalination, contaminant removal and water reuse technology, says the US$88-million investment in Edina increases the production facility’s size for a third time in eight years, and furthers its commitment to addressing the world’s growing demand for high-quality water. ‘We have always been committed to providing the best possible products and technology to our customers. Whether it is through our industry expertise, technological developments, or investing to support our customers – we are standing behind our word to make high-quality water a reality worldwide,’ commented Ian Barbour, General Manager, Dow Water Solutions. Originally constructed in 1996 with an investment of US$11 million, the facility will feature an expanded manufacturing area to produce additional advanced water-treatment systems and products, such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. The expansion will also include the automated processes required to produce 41-cm (16-inch) diameter elements. Covering around 58 500 m2 (630 000 2 ft ), the expanded facility will be more than eleven times the area of Dow’s original plant in Edina. It will feature the latest process and manufacturing technology, additional membrane lines, new fabrication cells and will introduce further automation to the company’s already automated production capabilities. The new lines are scheduled to begin operating this year, increasing the company’s total output by an initial 25%. In other news, Dow and NTUU KPI recently opened the Technical and Educational Center for 6
Membrane Technology
Water Treatment. According to Dow, its global commitment to creating innovative technologies to help solve the world’s most pressing water-related problems makes the objective and activities of NTUU KPI a natural opportunity for partnership. The centre, based at NTUU KPI, will use Dow Water Solutions’ products to help students further develop their knowledge and experience in the water treatment industry. The centre’s aim is to promote awareness about the importance of water and the most appropriate usage of this precious resource. Dow has had a registered office in Ukraine since 1996. It says Ukraine – part of the Dow East Europe Region – is a key country for its business growth. In 2007 the firm’s sales in the region amounted to US$2.6 billion – a growth of 30% compared with the previous financial year. Total sales in Ukraine in 2007 totalled US$150 million. With 110 years of history, the NTUU KPI is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. It includes 20 educational departments, nine educational research institutes, 12 research institutes and 13 scientific subdivisions. Contacts: The Dow Chemical Company, Liquid Separations, Customer Information Center, PO Box 1206, Midland, MI 48642-1206, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 9086, www.dowwatersolutions.com, www.dow.com Dow Customer Information Group, Prins Boudewijnlaan 41, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium. Tel: +32 3 450 2240 National Technical University of Ukraine, Kiev Polytechnic Institute, Prosp. Peremohy 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine. Tel: +38 044 241 9443, www.ntu-kpi.kiev.ua/en
Siemens helps establish MBR validation plant and water research laboratory
S
iemens Water Technologies and Singapore’s Public Utility Board (PUB) are collaborating on a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) testing facility based at the island’s Changi Water Reclamation Plant. Together with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) the Siemens business segment is also jointly establishing a laboratory that
will focus on ways of improving water treatment technologies. The validation facility, rated at over 1.0 million litres (250 000 gallons) a day, will treat domestic wastewater and test design parameters for the Siemens MBR system. PUB is providing the location for the unit, while Siemens will be responsible for operating and maintaining the unit. It is expected to be in operation for a minimum of five years. Dr Ruediger Knauf, Vice President of Research and Development for Siemens Water Technologies, said: ‘This full-scale MBR plant is part of our ongoing focused R&D efforts on sustainable technologies. It will allow us to validate new product and process developments quickly under real conditions, so we can bring value to our customers through reduced lifecycle costs and process improvements.’ MBR technology is used in municipal and industrial applications. Siemens has seen significant interest in the technology for wastewater reuse applications, in addition to new housing developments and resorts. The company’s MBR technology combines a single, sludge aerobic biological treatment process with an integrated, immersed membrane system. Siemens says that its MBR represents the union of two of its native technologies, and the activated treatment process handles liquid–solids separation on a molecular scale. The mixing system transports dissolved air and mixed liquor uniformly and positively around and across Memcor microfiltration modules. These membrane units have been adapted by the company to withstand being continuously immersed in activated sludge. The Changi Water Reclamation Plant is part of the first phase of the Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) project. It will be one of two water treatment plants in the country to replace eight existing facilities. Most of the recycled water from this plant will be used for industrial purposes; some will be discharged into the ocean. ‘Through this cooperation, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with the PUB and appreciate its enthusiastic support of this project,’ added Dr Knauf. In other news, Siemens and the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), a research institute within Singapore’s A*Star, have agreed to establish a joint Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) laboratory. Both partners want to research fluid dynamics of water treatment processes to improve efficiency of equipment and treatment technology and reduce life-cycle costs of operation. ‘Based on these results, we are able to develop the next generation of water treatment equipment for industrial and municipal applications,’ commented Dr Knauf.
September 2008