Outsourcing Opportunities Available in the European Industrial Water Sector

Sept. 12, 2005

The outsourcing of industrial water and wastewater treatment facilities is gaining ground across Europe as an increasingly popular option for end users to effectively manage their on-site water needs and obtain operational cost savings while focusing on core activities.

The demand for these outsourcing services is expected to accelerate steadily over the long- term as established contracts and successful strategies enhance end-user confidence.

"On their part, suppliers will need to establish a good track record and facilitate continuous interaction and involvement with industrial end users in order to effectively combat initial resistance and develop confidence regarding the outsourcing option," explained Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Suchitra Padmanabhan.

The market for industrial outsourcing in the European water sector was estimated at US$620.0 million in 2004 and will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% to reach close to US$1 billion in 2011 with France and the United Kingdom offering the maximum revenue generation opportunities.

With the Benelux region fast becoming an industrial hub in Europe, successful contracts in the petrochemicals industry in this region are expected to boost revenues. Due to a strong industrial base, Germany is also exhibiting immense potential although progress has been slow due to strong in-house engineering capabilities.

While water treatment and water supply outsourcing has been stable, the revenue shares of these services have been diminishing due to the shift towards integrated water management contracts. As a result, wastewater treatment outsourcing constituted almost 62% of revenues during 2004.

End users in petrochemicals, automotive and chemicals industries are showing a great interest in outsourcing wastewater treatment due to rising discharge costs strict effluent norms and increasingly complex effluents which support demand for specialist support.

In order to sustain demand for outsourcing services in the long-term, suppliers need to understand the highly cost-conscious nature of industrial end users across Europe and accordingly, offer solutions at a fixed competitive price within a contract, whereby operational risks are fully or partially transferred.

Critical factors for attracting industrial customers also include accelerated re-engineering benefits, long-term stability from integrated services, capability to manage multi-site contracts and assistance in complying with strict environmental standards and regulations.

Given the increasing end-user diversity and specific demands from each industry, suppliers who are able to cater to the specialist demands of the market stand to gain significant market share.

"The type of outsourcing contract, its scope and size, depend to a large extent on the type of end user sector," said Padmanabhan. "For instance, demand from petrochemical end users is based more on each individual site due to the large and independent nature of operations, while in the food and beverage industry, the demand for outsourcing is fragmented and spread across several regional sites."

To remain competitive, companies need to offer effective outsourcing strategies tailored to suit the size of the industrial site, the type of effluents produced, the local regulations and the nature of the production process.

There is also growing demand for higher-end and 'integrated water management' solutions that cater to the site's entire water needs ranging from water for boiler feed and process water and wastewater treatment to recycling and reusing wastewater.

"These all-encompassing contracts encourage further expansion of large service providers that can provide their clients with multiple technologies, comprehensive know-how and guaranteed efficiency and economy," said Padmanabhan.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the Outsourcing Opportunities in the European Industrial Water Sector, then send an e-mail to Magdalena Oberland - Corporate Communications at [email protected] with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, country and source of information. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.

Source: Frost & Sullivan

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