PlasmaSelect AG / Miscellaneous
23.09.2008
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Aquaworx Deutschland GmbH surprises the maritime world at the opening of
the world's leading shipbuilding and marine technology exhibition SMM in
Hamburg
Munich, 23th September 2008 After years of development and successful
completion of preliminary testing, the Munich-based marketing division of
Swiss company Aquaworx AG has launched the certification process leading to
'Basic Approval' for its ballast water treatment system AquaTriComb with
the BSH (German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency). Basic Approval
is part of the certification process required by the IMO (International
Maritime Organisation, London) to approve ballast water treatment systems
in line with the strict regulations for use on board ship, with the
objective of preventing the growing 'global transport' of organisms and
microorganisms into foreign environments. Ships store significant volumes
of ballast water in their hulls and transport them around the world, thus
distributing the water and its contents.
When water from Singapore, say, is released in the Port of Hamburg, the
consequences for local ecosystems are almost impossible to predict.
Scientists have warned of the dangers of this 'tourism' for years. Now the
new global regulations issued by the IMO are aimed at eliminating the
problem entirely. In future, all ballast water must be cleaned and filtered
in line with rigorous specifications. From 2010 all newly built ships must
be fitted with ballast water treatment systems; this directive will be
extended to all ships by 2016.
The Aquaworx AquaTriComb ballast water treatment system combines two
technologies in the new company's area of core competence. MicroSintFilters
use membrane/ultrasonic technology to filter water in cross-flow or
dead-end mode; water that passes through this treatment can immediately be
released into its maritime environment of origin. Bacteria, microorganisms
and germs are subsequently treated with the ultra-violet AquaTriLight
element. With this combination of ultrasonic and UV technology, a system
which Aquaworx has used in potable and waste water treatment with proven
success, the ballast water treatment system is assembled ready for use in
maritime applications under the name of AquaTriComb.
The system features outstanding efficiency, particularly in the filtration
stage, combined with low operating costs and compact design for on-board
installation. Thanks to the use of ultrasonic technology the system is
'self-cleaning' and thus almost entirely low-maintenance a further
benefit which shipbuilders and owners will appreciate, particularly since
the system is priced well below its competitors. A further special feature
of the Aquaworx solution is the fact that on release or 'deballasting', the
water is again passed through the system for cleaning and filtering. This
ensures that bacteria and microorganisms in the inaccessible ballast tanks
and channels of the ship are effectively eliminated and only clean water is
returned to the sea.
Experts are convinced of the system's design and effectiveness; Hamburg
scientist Dr. Stephan Gollasch states, 'While the market for AquaTriComb
systems is considered to be vessels with low volumes of ballast water flow,
AquaTriComb can also be of use for ships with average or even higher flow
volumes, particularly large container ships, tankers, bulk goods
transporters, cruise liners, RORO transporters and car transporters.
'.
'Although there are already several systems on the market, the Aquaworx
technology is unique in that it is designed to clean ballast water without
the use of chemicals or deliberate generation of chemical substances', adds
Peter Falk, CEO of Aquaworx Deutschland GmbH.
The AquaTriComb system is expected to receive IMO Basic Approval
certification in early 2010.
During SMM, Aquaworx representatives can be contacted via the Munich office
at +49 (0) 89 20 60 44 560 or info@aquaworx.de
About Aquaworx
Aquaworx AG, based in Arbon (Switzerland), is part of the PlasmaSelect AG
group (Munich). At its Lake Constance facility at Marina Horn
(Switzerland), the company develops and produces patent-pending
disinfection and filtration technologies for water and liquids, thus making
a significant contribution to sustainable resource management. The Aquaworx
platform technology is based on a brilliant combination of ultrasonic and
UV technology in a single system, effectively eliminating bacteria and
preventing their reproduction. The Aquaworx product family delivers
consistently good results at a level of cost-effectiveness that is unique
in the industry. Aquaworx systems' primary applications in the water and
filtration sector include potable water and waste water treatment,
filtration of liquids, ballast water treatment in the maritime sector, pool
water, potable water and industrial water treatment for holiday homes, and
Legionnaire's disease prevention in retirement homes, hospitals and hotel
complexes. Aquaworx AG's global sales subsidiary, Aquaworx Deutschland
GmbH, is based in Munich.
Find out more at www.aquaworx.de
PlasmaSelect AG
Founded in 1998 as a specialist in the sale of infusion and irrigation
solutions and complementary medical products, today PlasmaSelect AG is an
innovative investment holding company on the healthcare new technologies
market. The holding currently comprises six operating subsidiaries with a
total of almost 300 staff worldwide. In fiscal 2007 (as of 30 November
2007) the company reported consolidated sales of EUR 56.2 million.
PlasmaSelect AG is listed on the Regulated Market (Prime Standard) of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (securities ID 547 180). For more information
please see www.plasmaselect.de
DGAP 23.09.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: PlasmaSelect AG
Pettenkoferstraße 22
80336 München
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)89 810 29-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 810 29-111
E-mail: info@plasmaselect.de
Internet: www.plasmaselect.de
ISIN: DE0005471809
WKN: 547180
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-News: PlasmaSelect AG: Subsidiary Aquaworx enters certification process for AquaTriCombballast water treatment system
| Source: EQS Group AG