NEWS Dr Andreas Kreuter, speaker of the Freudenberg Filtration Technologies management board, said: “Industrial companies are increasing their investment in water and wastewater filtration to preserve scarce resources and to fulfill exacting environmental regulations. Aquabio provides excellent cutting-edge filtration technology particularly for industrial wastewater recycling and reuse. The company fits perfectly to the portfolio of Freudenberg Filtration Technologies which has been offering technically demanding filtration solutions for more than 60 years.” Steve Goodwin, managing director of Aquabio, sees considerable market opportunities for Aquabio. “We have found an outstanding partner in Freudenberg Filtration Technologies with whom we can jointly expand our business, particularly internationally in the food, beverage, paper, pharmaceutical and chemical industries,” said Goodwin. He will continue to lead the UK-based water treatment specialist under Freudenberg ownership. For further information, visit www.freudenberg-filter. com and www.aquabio.co.uk
in the Life Science market. Their highly skilled management team, wide product portfolio, and significant sales volume, enhanced by their recent acquisitions, will give GVS’s Laboratory Division a far greater level of visibility in this market allowing us to generate considerable new business opportunities.” “We are very excited to enter in this new relationship,” said Bill Emhiser, president of Maine Manufacturing. “This alliance will allow Maine Manufacturing to access the global sales network of GVS and their worldwide R&D will provide additional impetus to our market and product expansion. We anticipate great results from the partnership between our two groups.” Founded in 1979, GVS manufactures filtration products primarily for the medical and automotive markets. The company has 12 manufacturing plants in Italy, UK, Brazil, China, Romania, Puerto Rico and the US, with supporting sales offices in 16 countries. Maine Manufacturing provides solutions and specialty manufacturing for precision-molded plastic, filtration, membrane and biological technologies. For further information, visit www.gvs.it and www. mfgmaine.com
GVS invests in Maine Manufacturing
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taly’s GVS SpA has acquired a majority equity interest in US-based Maine Manufacturing LLC. The new investment capital has been used to facilitate Maine Manufacturing’s recent acquisitions of GE Osmonics’ filter and membrane business and the monitors, liquid media, Centrex and ZapCap product lines of GE Healthcare Life Sciences (see Filtration Industry Analyst, December 2012). GVS and Maine Manufacturing will work closely together to maximise market penetration in the life science market and leverage the strengths of each company. “GVS has high expectations for this new investment,” said Massimo Scagliarini, GVS SpA CEO. “Maine Manufacturing brings us broad and extensive experience
March 2013
Scinor Water secures US$mn million in financing
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LSA Capital Partners’ Clean Resources Asia Growth Fund LP (CRAG) has led a US$10 million financing round for China’s Scinor Water Ltd. Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, a previous investor in Scinor Water, has also increased its investment in the Chinese membrane maker. The funds will help Scinor to expand its water membrane manufacturing capacity and accelerate expansion of its new products. Beijing-based Scinor Water produces microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF)
membranes for industrial and municipal customers in wastewater treatment and seawater desalination. The company has strong R&D ties with Chinese universities. Scinor Water was founded by water entrepreneurs Hongmei Wu and Huoqi Chen, who have previously launched and exited four water-related companies. “There are many water technology companies in China, but this is the first company we have collaborated with that has the combination of world-class technology and a management team with a deep understanding and proven track record, led by Ms Wu,” said Peter Kennedy, managing director of CRAG. “Water is one of our key focus areas given the acute issues we are seeing in Asia, but it remains a difficult area to invest in. We believe Scinor will be an excellent standalone investment and its potential will be enhanced as part of our water eco-system, which is already adding distribution capabilities outside of the China market.” Kerryn Tay, CRAG’s water analyst, added: “The water membrane market in China is expected to triple to US$13 billion, which is less than 25% of global market share. We believe Scinor is uniquely positioned for both the Chinese and global membrane markets given its international quality and low cost advantage.” For further information, visit www.clsacapital.com and www.mobiuswater.com
ProSep sells investment in South Korean JV
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anada’s ProSep Inc has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding to sell its 51% investment in its South Korean joint venture company ProSep Kolon Co Ltd, to a subsidiary of the Kolon Group, for C$5 million. After reimbursement of a related C$1 million debenture, the net proceeds of C$4
Filtration Industry Analyst
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