Global pure-play water and essential services provider Saur group has signed an agreement to acquire CirTec, a Dutch player in rotating belt fine sieve technology and cellulose recovery, expanding its portfolio to support the demand for more sustainable water treatment and resource recovery solutions in the global municipal and industrial market.
CirTec provides technologies for filtration with a set of cellulose recovery solutions to upgrade toilet paper from sewage into safe raw biobased materials, reportedly achieving energy savings up to 25%, sludge reductions of 20% and a capacity increase of more than 15% in existing sewage treatment plants. LCA studies showed that a tonne of recovered cellulose from sewage saves 2-2.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
The raw cellulose material is also repurposed into different resources used in the construction industry like biobased chemicals, asphalt, or material for home insulation. Besides the potential of the rotating belt fine sieves, IntenSieve for ‘harvesting’ cellulose, the possibilities for the technology in industrial applications are said to be enormous, such as for removal and recovery of fibres or dry solids from industrial cycles in papermills and plastic recycling or as pre-treatment in vegetable processing.
Recently, CirTec was awarded a contract to establish a cellulose recovery plant at Severn Trent net zero hub sewage treatment works in Strongford, UK. The CEO of Cirtec Coos Wessels said, “With Saur we share the same vision for a future where reuse and the valorisation of resources play a vital role.” Saur executive chairman Patrick Blethon also added that this acquisition will enhance its mission to be “the champion of water transition”. CirTec solutions are set to transform the way cellulose is managed and repurposed, furthering their commitment to a greener future.
The acquisition will take place through Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI), the industrial water arm of Saur, formed after the acquisition of Netherlands-based Nijhuis Industries in 2020. NSI CEO and president Menno Holterman said, “CirTec’s expertise completes our technologies, solutions, added-value services including design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM), and rental of mobile water solutions.” CirTec will continue to exist as an independent entity and customers will continue to work with their contacts.
