aquaTECH is incorporated in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland,

in the Village of Avully. We produce flocculants, coagulants,

dispersants, nutrients, anti-odor chemicals as well as

personal care intermediates. Production in Switzerland can be less

expensive then in anywhere else in the world for four reasons:

1. 1.An exceptionally high process efficiency. In 2018, for example, our overall yield on the Geneva site was 99.7%, by weight.
   

2. 2.Production is fast, reducing depreciation costs. While a synthesis in Asia may require 2-3 shifts our production is optimized and most polymerizations require only 1-3 hours.
   

3. 3.Ability to finance, for secure purchases, at very low interest rates, owing to low interest rates in Switzerland and our good credit rating.
   

4. 4.The strong Swiss Franc permits us to take coverage at only a fraction of a percent. Therfore, even for mid size tenders we can produce and stock an guarantee prices. In inflationary times this permits production in Geneva to be less expensive than even in China or India.
   

Recycling

The Avully (Geneva) production facility invests in closing the loop as a means to improve efficiency and make a measurable improvement to the environment. Since 2016 the following improvements have been made:

1. •Production energy reduced, absolutely, by 64%
   

2. •Water use reduced by 32%
   

3. •Steam use reduced, absolutely, by 31% with an Eco-fuel with lower N and S emissions
   

4. •Solid waste reduced, absolutely, by 10%
   

5. •Utilities cost per ton reduced 17%
   

6. •Air Scrubber Chemicals reduced 20%
   

7. •Metal recycling increased over 7 fold
   

8. •Paper/carton recycling increased 3 fold
   

9. •Wooden pallets recycled
   

10. •Plastics separated and valorized energetically
    

11. •Vegan surfactants applied: Products Kosher and Halah
    

12. •Zero Volatile Organics Used in Production and on the site
    

World-Leading Products

Key Competencies

AQUA+TECH has world leading experts in the areas of polyelectrolytes, emulsions and encapsulation. Probably, and with modesty, in these three areas we are better than anyone else., industrial or academic alike. All our products are based on one of these core competencies, some combining several. We are, therefore, able to make polymers faster than most firms, reducing costs. Our processes are also highly automated, and this can give higher regularity and performance, as well as a lower labor component. Even for the most commoditized of products our production costs are only 4-6% higher compared to Asian producers and this we overcome with improved quality, consistency, service and financing, as will be discussed below. Overall, the cost of use of AQUA+TECH’s polymers is lower than any other on the market.

Continuous Innovation and Product Customization

Our products work at lower dosages than many of our competitors, because they:

1. •Are made from highly pure, cosmetic grade, raw materials, providing higher solution viscosity
   

2. •Have a higher molecular weight, owing to unique semi-continuous processes
   

3. •Dissolve rapidly because of molecular uniformity, a result of process control
   

4. •Have a longer shelf life owing to customized production of surfactants used to make emulsions
   

5. •Are delivered faster and more economically owing to a professional logistics service.
   

6. •Are, in some cases, unique molecules
   

AQUA+TECH innovates continuously. If we do not have something in our catalogue which can service a customer we custom produce, provided the volumes justify it. This is efficient and something that larger multinationals choose not to offer.

Testing, Development and Innovation

Economic Benefits of Water Recycling

Treating process water is an investment and not a cost. In all cases, over the 20-year history of the company, when one applies oneself to a sample, one can identify solutions which generate realizable savings and a significant ROI. This can be in terms of higher production rates, better raw material efficiency, reduced depreciation because of extended equipment lifetime and reductions in energy use. All of these are direct, short-term, benefits of having a clean water loop. We have a data base of cases from many sectors and these expand monthly.

Water Testing Service

AQUA+TECH provides, to our business partners in 41 countries, a free of charge testing service. This turns around, within 72 hours, a 1-2L sample of water, shipped in by courier. This includes a full report as well as an optimization strategy. Everyone in the company, from our President, Board, Director of Production, Engineers and Chemists travel. Anyone we can send, anywhere, to win the client will go. We also provide seminars and min house marketing events several times per year, either regionally or globally, integrating partners.

Development Bursts and Rapid Prototyping

Working in concentrated “bursts” between 2-12 weeks our team, very much at the interface between engineering and science, screens through ideas, produces and tests new molecules.  Some of our products have gone from first lab synthesis to 5-Ton production in 8 weeks.

Market-Pull

The vast majority of our products are made to solve a need which we, or some of our partners, identify. We very much like our customers to challenge us with “if you can make it ,we will use it”. Everyone in the company travels and we hope we are good listeners.

Team and Awards

We are entrepreneurs. When we began, we were told, on many occasions, that the three factors for success were team, team and team. Our group is an amazing bunch of normal people, who together, function like superstars.

AQUA+TECH was voted the Top Environmental Company in Europe by the Wall Street Journal Europe in 2002. Dow Jones gives three annual awards for Business Innovation and the SnowFlake technology was recognized for this, also in 2002. AQUA+TECH won the Swiss Economic Award in 2003, something given to at most five companies per year. They also received the Prize of Honor from the Foundation for the Innovation of Technology (Lausanne Switzerland) for their process technology, as well as the Label of Excellence from the Commission for the Innovation of Technology (Bern, Switzerland). David Hunkeler, AQUA+TECH’s Director and one of the founders, was co-awarded the De Vigier prize in 1999 as Swiss Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Our President was Business Woman of the Year in Switzerland in 1996.