A Japanese wastewater processing technology that is helping plant operators reduce operating costs overcame a Dragon’s Den-style panel to win the annual WEX Innovations Forum.
The Volute dewatering press from Japanese company, Amcon (Amenity Convenience), won the Innovation Forum Award presented at the WEX (Water-Energy Exchange) event held in Istanbul, Turkey. Inspired by the popular Dragon’s Den style TV program, companies entering the forum had to pitch their technology in 10 minutes and then face questions from a panel of judges, including consultants, financiers and utilities.
Industry experts on the panel included Fiona Griffith, managing director of Isle Utilities; Frank Rogalla, director of innovation and technology at Aqualia; and Piers Clark, formerly with utility Thames Water and now director at Global Water Development, a Blackstone Portfolio Co.
The Volute dewatering press is now being used in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Amcon recently supplied the world’s smallest dewatering press to Siberia, to serve a population equivalent of 500 people but also supplies large-scale systems for population equivalent of 130,000 people.
The treatment of sludge is an expensive cost for utilities. In Europe, sludge treatment can amount of 50% of a wastewater treatment plant’s operating costs.
By dewatering sludge, it reduces the weight and therefore cost associated with transporting the product. Since the development of Volute, there have been three generations of cylinder improvements and new model sizes added over the years. The current ES series has 13 models.
“Volute is a technology that was conceived and developed in Japan, but is now being used across six continents,” said Richard Beagrie, sales director for Amcon Europe. “The idea came about from the frustrations and issues that operators experienced. The result is a vision from operators, for operators.”
Source: Amcon
