Water Technology Company of the Year
MetaWater
What is it?
A Japanese water treatment plant provider and technology supplier specialising in ceramic membrane filtration and ozone generation systems.
What has it done?
A leader in its domestic market for drinking water treatment, MetaWater continued its international expansion in 2014, establishing two of the largest ceramic membrane filtration plants in the world. Its successful initial public offering (IPO) in December raised $222 million of fresh capital to invest in the next stage of the company’s growth.
What makes it special?
2014 was the breakthrough year for ceramic membranes, and MetaWater was at the heart of that, thanks to its involvement in the 120,000m3/d Andijk III drinking water treatment plant in the Netherlands, and the completion of the 172,800m3/d Cerarocca Purification Plant in Yokohama.
MetaWater’s systems often seem expensive in terms of up-front costs, but it has a formidable record of delivering the lowest lifecycle costs. In 2014 it went a step further, committing its own balance sheet to financing two projects – the Yokohama Cerarocca plant, and a wastewater treatment plant serving a fish processing factory in Onagawa. This is a revolutionary new business model for the Japanese water sector.
Besides ceramic membranes, MetaWater’s technology portfolio spans ozone systems, monitoring and control systems, high-rate filtration, sludge drying, and incineration. In 2014, it proved that these technologies could make an important contribution to water systems in developing markets, securing contract awards in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Distinction
SKion GmbH
What is it?
The investment vehicle backed by German industrialist Susanne Klatten. Its specialist water investment arm has rapidly built up a diverse portfolio of global water interests over the last four years.
What has it done?
In 2014, SKion added to its already impressive list of water assets by taking minority stakes in sludge carbonisation specialist Pyreg GmbH and biocatalytic water treatment company Microvi Biotechnologies. It also bought German engineering, procurement and construction contractor Stulz Planaqua out of bankruptcy, marking the first time it has taken a 100% stake in a water business.
What makes it special?
From a standing start, SKion has built up an enviable portfolio of water technologies, becoming one of the most dynamic players in the sector. Its commitment extends far beyond that of a financier – the close-knit team has simultaneously developed an understanding of the water technology sector which is virtually unrivalled in the investment industry.
SKion’s pedigree as a discreet family office means that it is under no pressure either to enter or exit investments. Its long investment horizon and proven approach to nurturing game-changing water technologies through to commercial success means that it is uniquely synchronised with the cycles of the water industry.
As SKion’s water platform has grown in size and diversity, the cross-selling opportunities have become more and more exciting. While the established plant contractors in the portfolio have direct access to an ever-growing pool of cutting-edge solutions, technology companies at an earlier stage of development can gain access to new markets by using the group’s broad network of contacts, all while retaining their brand and entrepreneurial spirit. It is this approach which marks SKion out as one of the most forward-thinking pioneers active in the water technology space today.
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