IN-EKO TEAM specialises in stainless steel equipment for wastewater treatment plants. The company offers pioneering microfiltration and filtration systems, phosphorus reduction services, and more. Head of Sales Aleš Vaverka discussed some of the company’s best innovations with Hannah Barnett.
Fundamental to the IN-EKO TEAM philosophy is a strong belief in the significance of its work.
“This is a company which values filtration,” explained Aleš Vaverka. “It’s very important, because conventional biological processes can remove only part of the substances from wastewater and there are strict limits for effluence. We have access to advanced filtration technology which can reduce phosphorus down to 0.1 milligrams per litre. This means less phosphorus in the mains water and less algae in the lakes and the rivers.”
The company operates in the wastewater systems sector worldwide and is a key player for microfiltration in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, while also present in America with established partners. All devices are designed and developed by in-house engineers with a host of experience in water filtration. Everything is driven by an emphasis on high-quality, innovative processes and comprehensive after-sales services.
“Nowadays, it is increasingly important to treat wastewater and return the treated water back into the process,”
said Mr Vaverka. “For our experts, it is becoming increasingly strategic to support our customers in mitigating the high environmental impact and reducing wastewater costs by reintegrating the water into the production process.”
Multi-faceted excellence
In 1995, IN-EKO emerged from the humblest of beginnings, starting with a few people and a vision to develop and deliver innovative solutions in water filtration.
Over the last 30 successful years, thanks to tenacity and a continual investment into R&D, the company has grown to more than 100 employees. IN-EKO now designs and builds devices for mechanical pre-treatment, secondary treatment, advanced tertiary treatment with disc filters and pile cloth disc filters, and quaternary treatment with membrane intelligent technologies. It has run projects on all continents.
“We have grown to be one of the biggest producers of drum microfiltration
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systems worldwide,” Mr Vaverka said. “Our most common application is tertiary treatment at a municipal treatment plant. But we are also active in other segments like pulp and paper, where a lot of water is used, and we can save operational costs. Saving money is a very important part of what we do.”
IN-EKO also works on aquaculture projects, including fish farms, zoos and swimming pools. And, thanks to a close partnership with a notable Norwegian cruise ship wastewater purification business, the company is also active in the cruise sector. Indeed, IN-EKO currently has about 130 devices installed on cruise
ships around the world, including the world’s largest cruise ship, ICON OF THE SEAS.
“What is interesting, is that our very first filter was not installed at the tertiary treatment stage of a wastewater treatment plant but was used in an aquaculture application for a fish farm,” Mr Vaverka explained. “From that date, we succeeded not only with drum filters, but also with disc filters and pile cloth filters, to both enhance filtration capacity and allow customers to meet more stringent effluent parameters. We continue to stand by the customer's side to clean the water.”
IN-EKO’s installed devices now treat roughly 69 billion litres of water per day. A certain amount of this is recirculated into industrial applications and aquaculture, the rest flows further to the sea.
The company has multiple in-house departments and two operational headquarters: an HQ in Tisnov plus an office and laboratory in Opava, both in the Czech Republic. Everything is produced to a high technical standard and that is ensured by the company’s ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification.
“We take pride in the fact that all our devices are of Czech origin and are manufactured in our own facility in Tisnov,” added Mr Vaverka.
ESG guaranteed
A large portion of IN-EKO’s success comes from embracing sustainability and efficiency wherever possible. This commitment to innovation, creativity and environmental responsibility drives the development of all products and services.
The company designs its devices specifically to help customers save on operational costs. “Our filters are intended to have the lowest power consumption possible during the cleaning process,” explained Mr Vaverka. “To avoid human error during operation, we continually improve our filters to be as foolproof as possible.”
Since 2012, the company has been deriving energy from its own PV park, showing itself to be ahead of the curve as far as renewable options are concerned. These solar panels currently account for over 60% of the energy used by the production process and in the IN-EKO office.
These factors, combined with the development of innovative filtration segments and a company-wide initiative to use less plastic, have helped IN-EKO to lower its carbon footprint and contributed to its favourable ESG ratings.
“We were ranked sixth among the top ten small- and medium-sized companies in the Czech Republic for ESG last year,” said Mr Vaverka. “Everybody now has ISO certificates, but ESG is taking its place, so we are a great partner to work with. We are also collaborating with a global network, the Inogen Alliance, to help other companies to improve their ESG credentials when it comes to water treatment.”
The future of filtration
Ultimately, IN-EKO is well on its way to becoming a world leader in supplying tertiary wastewater treatment equipment . It will be carried there by strong partnerships and teamwork.
As a result, the company promotes trust, expertise, reliability and cooperation amongst its in-house team and extends the same ideals to external relationships. IN-EKO also offers extensive technical support and training in order to maintain strong, collaborative relationships with both customers and suppliers.
Alongside its partner for membrane filtration, New Water Group, IN-EKO achieves even finer filtration along with
a system for the removal of microplastics and pharmaceutical residues. The company also intends to strengthen its position in the cruise ship segment.
Mr Vaverka even shared a creative idea for an onboard brewery: “One day I was talking with my colleague from craft
brewery EBIA CZ and I had the idea: ‘Are there any craft breweries onboard a cruise ship?’ I know I would definitely like to try local beer brewed onboard a cruise ship.
“I think this could also be a good marketing attraction. A lot of water is needed for brewing, and we are ready with the craft brewery technology. Due to our experience with screens and filters, we would be able to implement a system that meets all the marine standards.”
IN-EKO is clearly a dynamic company with a lot of achievements and even more potential. For Mr Vaverka, the chance to make a difference is the most exciting part. “I’m ecologically focused,” he concluded. “By treating wastewater, we are doing something for nature. Many people take clean water for granted, assuming it’s endless. However, this is not the case .
“On a global scale, pure water is a precious resource and a valuable commodity. That’s why we are continually developing solutions for water and wastewater treatment to ensure the highest possible water quality for every application and to return water to nature safely. For me, this is very important.”
Head of Sales Aleš Vaverka
