Breakthrough Technology Company of the Year
OxyMem
What is it?
A wastewater treatment technology company spun out of University College Dublin in 2013, that produces a patented membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) technology.
What has it done?
OxyMem’s activities reached a climax in 2019. While the company prepared to install the UK’s largest membrane aerated biofilm reactor, and Spain’s first new build MABR integration with activated sludge, in December, it was snapped up by the soaraway DuPont. As a recognition of the company’s skills it is a huge vote of confidence; as a chance to further upscale its capabilities to keep up with market demand, the move is truly transformative.
What makes it special?
As utilities are continually pushed for ever lower nutrient discharge levels, the drivers for MABR technologies are stronger than ever. In 2019, the MABR modules were selected as part of a high profile pilot by VCS Denmark, in order to approach the problems faced by the water industry from a different angle. OxyMems’s solutions remain to impress customers with the option of a drop-in system, a vital part of business in an industry where every second of productivity counts. This attractive feature enables utilities to pilot the technology and choose commercial installations with less risk.
The company experienced huge levels of interest from the industry, and significantly expanded its operations and revenues throughout 2019.
The culmination of the acquisition by Dupont signifies the multinational’s confidence in MABR solutions, proving them to be a significant technology that is worth investing in for the future.
The solution has the potential to provide benefits for both the municipal and industrial realm. A wide range of end-users are accepting MABRs as a revolutionary technology, including Saudi Aramco, which has approved OxyMem’s products for use on its sites across the country, a critical success in one of the world’s largest strategic water infrastructure markets.
Distinction
Ketos
What is it?
A digital technology provider from California that is aiming to improve treatment plant operations by delivering cloud-based, unmanned water quality monitoring systems to utilities.
What has it done?
In 2019, Ketos successfully broke through, securing a major pilot project in association with the South Nevada Water Authority, providing the utility with rapid source quality readings to tailor its treatment plant operations. In California, Castle Rock State Park also selected the technology in order to become the first U.S. state park to continuously monitor drinking water quality.
What makes it special?
As its upward trajectory accelerated in 2019, Ketos raised a record amount of money. In February, $9 million of series A funding allowed the company to expand its team around an accomplished CEO; while the opening of an office in India marks a massive step in the company’s aim to address global water management issues.
The company’s holistic approach measures over 20 water quality parameters, including heavy metal ions, inorganics, and nutrients.
This is providing users with a comprehensive web of information that can be used for real time monitoring and future modelling, allowing them to transform their operations.
Ketos’ new Shield Fabric digital solution combines multiple testing elements into a single system, streamlining the monitoring process. Utilities can also benefit from a reduction in manual water testing costs, which are often prohibitively expensive.