Eli Tal Returns to Filtersafe as Chief Operations Officer, Bringing Significant Positive Changes

Eli Tal Filtersafe COO

August, 2023 — Filtersafe is delighted to announce the return of Eli Tal to the company, where he will assume the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO). Eli brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this pivotal role, having previously contributed significantly to the organization’s success during his tenure. His return is marked by a commitment to drive substantial improvements within Filtersafe’s operations, benefiting both the company and its valued clients.

As the COO, Eli will play a central role in the company’s leadership team, collaborating closely with the CEO and other executives to develop and refine Filtersafe’s overall strategy. His day-to-day responsibilities include translating strategic goals into actionable plans for various departments, monitoring progress, and ensuring that daily operations across IT, production, and supply chain are aligned with the company’s objectives. Eli will also focus on identifying and rectifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement within the organization.

One of the key reasons Eli enjoys working at Filtersafe is the company’s commitment to providing a positive work environment. He values the camaraderie fostered by friendly colleagues, understanding supervisors, and a healthy workplace culture. Daily interactions with people he likes and respects contribute to a more enjoyable workday.

Clients can look forward to a series of positive changes and improvements in Filtersafe’s operations under Eli Tal’s supervision:

  1. Enhanced Efficiency and Streamlined Processes: Filtersafe’s operations team will work tirelessly to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, ensuring faster turnaround times and reduced lead times for clients.
  2. Improved Quality Control: Robust quality control measures will be implemented at every stage of operations to deliver consistent and reliable results, building trust in the brand.
  3. Optimized Inventory Management: Advanced inventory management systems and data analytics will be leveraged to optimize inventory levels, benefiting clients with improved product availability and reduced inventory management costs.
  4. Enhanced Communication and Transparency: Clear communication channels and real-time updates on order or project statuses will foster better collaboration and informed decision-making for clients.
  5. Faster Problem Resolution: Proactive issue identification and resolution processes will minimize disruptions, ensuring faster and more effective problem resolution for clients.
  6. Sustainability Initiatives: Filtersafe is committed to implementing eco-friendly practices within its operations, aligning with clients’ values and contributing to a more sustainable future.
  7. Proactive Risk Management: Comprehensive risk management strategies will be put in place to ensure uninterrupted service for clients even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Clients can expect a transformed operations department dedicated to delivering exceptional value, quality, and responsiveness. Filtersafe, under Eli Tal’s leadership, aims to contribute significantly to the success and growth of clients’ businesses by embracing innovation, efficiency, and customer-centricity.

Mayan WaterTech Becomes Filtersafe

MWT becomes Filtersafe

 Mayan WaterTech is officially becoming Filtersafe.

Filtersafe acquired Mayan WaterTech in 2020 as they were looking to expand their line of quality filtration solutions. Mayan WaterTech was established in 2009 in order to provide clients with personalized, creative, and smart service. The company was a huge success, growing to over 80 employees worldwide, before being purchased by Filtersafe.

Over the past few years, Mayan WaterTech’s staff worked hand in hand with Filtersafe to continue to offer custom products in the areas of water filtration, water transport, sewage, and desalination for agricultural, residential, municipal, and industrial applications.

Filtersafe Founder and CEO Etai Dagan explained the change, “Filtersafe acquired Mayan WaterTech in order to expand our selection of filtration solutions across the industries we serve. The decision to have Filtersafe sell Azud’s disc and plastic filters will allow us to provide our clients in the industrial, agricultural, and municipal industries with a greater selection of products more efficiently. This change will allow Filtersafe to continue to grow and our brand to become synonymous with a variety of high-quality, reliable filtration solutions for various needs and at various price points.”

Moving forward, Filtersafe will sell Mayan WaterTech’s lines of Azud Automatic Disc Filters and Manual Plastic Filters directly. Filtersafe is the exclusive distributor of Azud products within Israel and will be offering Azud’s Helix Automatic 200 and 300 Series, among other product offerings, to their customers in agriculture, industry, and municipalities across the globe.

In the 1990s, Azud revolutionized the filtration sector with its patented Helix anti-clogging device. The helix is the fundamental element of the system, the result of careful study of hydro-efficient design. Placed in the base of the cartridge where the water passes, the device’s “wings” generate a helical centrifugal effect inside to move a large amount of suspended particles away from the discs. This translates into increased water savings and reduced frequency and intensity of maintenance.

Filtersafe is proud to be able to continue to expand its offering of solutions across 5 sectors: Ballast & Marine, Desalination, Agriculture, Industry, and Energy. If you are interested in learning more about Filtersafe’s line of Azud products, please contact their Middle East Regional Office here.

Mr. Nier Spielberg Returns to VP Marine & Sales at Filtersafe

Filtersafe is proud to announce that as of November 1, 2022, Nier Spielberg has returned to his position as VP Marine & Sales at Filtersafe. Nier had previously held this position for 3 years and stepped down at the end of 2020 in order to spend more time with his family. He continued to remain a part of the Filtersafe family, serving in an advisory role for the executive team over the past two years, which has allowed him to quickly resume his place amongst Filtersafe’s leadership.

“I’m happy to be back and to serve our clients in the best possible way,” says Nier, ”I’m looking forward to finding ways to empower and support our clients in this very competitive marketplace.

“I’ve always enjoyed working, especially with Etai [Dagan] and Filtersafe, so once I decided that I wanted to return to working in a fuller capacity, it made sense that I return to Filtersafe and my old role.”

Nier has extensive experience in the Marine and Ballast industries. He has been with Filtersafe since 2007, where he started as the Head of Marine Sales for Scandinavia and Northern Europe. After a few years, he worked in other capacities in the shipping industry before returning to Filtersafe in 2014 as VP of Business Development.

Etai Dagan, Filterafe CEO and Founder remarked, “Nier’s return is eagerly anticipated, not just by our team, but by our clients as well. Aside from being incredibly knowledgeable about the shipping industry and its needs as it pertains to ballast water treatment, he also has a unique ability to connect with people and build relationships. He was sorely missed when he stepped back from his role, and we’ve already heard from our clients how much they are looking to work with Nier again.”

Filtersafe’s Smartweave Screen: Water Filtration at a Whole New Level

The heart of any filtration system is the screen. It is the barrier that keeps downstream systems protected, ballast water free from invasive species, and RO membranes safe from upstream contaminants.

Filtersafe’s patented filtration technology all started with a vision to engineer a dedicated seawater durable filter that could handle filtration of microscopic organisms without letting the microscopic organisms through or clogging. After years of R&D our engineers created our unique smartweave screen, utilizing a patented manufacturing and sintering process that places our screen leaps and bounds above the alternatives.

By using a combination of weave wire filtration screens, protective screens, and a reinforcement layer, the innovative, highly effective screen filters out sediment and microorganisms, providing invaluable filtration support no matter where it’s installed.

Why It’s Important

As the heart of a filter, the screen provides two key benefits that make or break the functionality of the filter – it’s ability to filter out particles down to the designated micron and its ability to work without clogging.

wedge wire candle filter with debrisIf a filter can’t be trusted to filter down to the required micron level, many problems can occur. In an industry such as ballast water filtration, allowing organisms in the ballast tank can cause a ship to be in non-compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s D-2 regulations, and result in heavy fines for shipowners. In agriculture, it can result in sediment getting through to the drip irrigation lines and clogging the pipes and nozzles, resulting in expensive maintenance. Every filter request comes with a request to filter down to a specific micron level because anything bigger than this size will cause problems downstream. It’s imperative that end users can trust that their filters are filtering down to the level requested.

The second issue, clogging, is deeper than just the screen stopping because of a clog. Clogging can also refer to any unexpected reduction in the filter’s flow rate, which can cause cascading problems. Firstly, many filters clean based on the concept of differential pressure – that is the pressure inside of the filter is higher than that outside and this difference in pressure triggers the screen to be cleaned. If the screen cleaning mechanism can’t properly remove the debris building up on it, the buildup of debris can reduce the clear opening of the filter mesh and significantly reduce the flow through the filter. Even before it clogs completely, this phenomenon can reduce flow through the filter by up to 80 or 90%, effectively rendering the filter clogged even though it still can pass the process fluid.

On a cargo ship this reduction in water can slow or even halt the loading or unloading of cargo, as the ship can become dangerously unbalanced as products are moved on and off and there isn’t a respective change in balancing ballast water. The additional time in port not only throws of the ship’s schedule down the line, but can result in expensive additional docking fees while in port. In many industrial applications a clogged filter can simply shut down the process its involved in – in a food production facility this means stopping production, but if the filter is involved in a HVAC/cooling tower application, the particles that aren’t filtered out can cause corrosion within the system, or even more dangerous cause the system to overheat and shutdown as the vital cooling water isn’t being provided.

Now that we understand how important a properly functioning screen is to various industries, let’s learn more about how Filtersafe’s smartweave screen works.

How It Works

The basis for Filtersafe’s smartweave screens is our exclusive weave-wire mesh layer. This is the layer that determines the micron level down to which the filter filters, and can range anywhere from 10-500 microns, depending on the application. In order to enhance the strength of the screens (and we’ll see below flimsy screens are a real problem), the mesh layer is covered on either side by a protective layer. In addition, on the outside of the screen is an additional perforated reinforcement layer, for enhanced durability.

Filtersafe's 4 layer sintered screen

In order to keep the 4 layers compact and without rubbing (which can lead to wear and tear of the individual layers and compromises the filtration integrity and can also encourage corrosion within the filter screen) we have a unique sintering process, which allows our 4 layer screen to be less than 3 mm thick. The combination of the unique use of weave wire along with the additional protective layers also gives us an unrivaled effective screen area. This means that smartweave screens are able to trap a huge amount of particles while still maintaining a high flow rate (all within a small footprint). Lastly, Filtersafe is able to offer its proprietary screen technology in several different stainless-steel varieties including – 316L, 904L, and SMO254, depending on application requirements.

What is Sintering

Sintering entails heating elements of the 4 layers so that the metals of each layer bond together, without the use of any bonding agent or other external materials, and without actually melting the metal. Sintering produces a secure, reliable bond between the layers, and is especially suited to wire mesh, as it allows each wire to be securely attached in place at the same time. This is especially important as the numerous strands of wire can easily become loose and start fraying if not properly secured together – threatening the integrity of the filtration element cut point.

A Closer Look At Other Screens

The smartweave screen technology especially stands out when compared to the other screen technology options available. Let’s see how smartweave compares to the competition.

Floating weave wire vs smartweave sintered

Floating weave wire screens are similar to our smartweave screens in that they both contain weave wire and therefore have exceptionally high open area and higher flow rates than other screen options, while trapping 8 times more organic matter than wedge wire filters – however the similarities end there. Floating weave wire screens are a popular choice as they are much cheaper to manufacture than our sintered alternative, and therefore cheaper to buy. However, the cost savings in the short term quickly result in expensive problems for buyers.

The screens are called ‘floating’ because the screen layers aren’t sintered together and a cross-section looks like they are floating atop one another. Each layer of the Floating weave wire screens needs to be more robust because it can’t rely on the strength it neighboring layers which leads the overall width of the screen to be 12 mm thick or more with the actual fine filtration layer (working mesh) placed further away from the surface of the screen and the gap between the inner protection mesh and the working mesh can be 2.5mm or more allowing high slippage flows when being cleaned. Alternatively, smartweave screens are only 3mm thick with the working mesh being only 0.5mm away from the inner protection mesh. This increased thickness between the layers can make it harder for nozzles to properly clean the screen (an issue discussed in greater depth in our article about our patented nozzlex technology). Aside from the problems their thickness can cause with cleaning, as the screen layers ‘float’ they can move with changes in pressure within the filter, rubbing against each other. This can cause two problems – corrosion from the steel rubbing and reduced integrity of the weave wire layer which puts the filtration degree in jeopardy. Just one small hole in a screen changes the filtration degree of the entire screen.

Candle filters vs weave wire

Candle filters get their name from the long, tubular shape of the filter. These types of filters are normally wedge wire and rely on metal barriers to filter water and are cleaned through backflushing. While theoretically candle filters are supposed to be able to filter to a finer degree, the backflushing process can allow fine particles to come through. Unlike precision nozzles which suck off debris at the point of nozzle contact, backflushing reverses the flow of water to clean and the force of the reversed flow can weaken the filter’s welds over time,  reducing the durability of the filter. In addition, when fine filtration is required, the open area and porosity of the filter decrease dramatically, resulting in a much lower flow rate.

As discussed above, because smartweave screens are sintered, the layers of the screen don’t rub together, resulting in enhanced durability.  Weave wire screens can also be used on-line or in-line, while candle filters can only be in-line. Weave wire screens also have up to 6 times the open area of wedge wire, resulting in a higher flow rate that can be incredibly valuable if time is of the essence (such as when you are trying to fill up a ballast tank while unloading cargo, or are filtering water at a desalination plant for hundreds of thousands of people). Lastly, while more superficial, weave wire screens tend to leave water looking cleaner, even with larger filtration degrees.

Screen vs sand filters

Sand filters are one of the oldest technologies that are still in use. Sand filters are a common choice when the user wants to remove suspending particles and don’t require a high flow rate. They can be economical choices, but overall, have many cons when compared to automatic screen filters. The table below gives a clear overview on the benefits automatic screen filters have over sand filters.

FeatureSand FilterFiltersafe Filter
Size

Big

Compact

External Backwash Pump

Needed

Not needed

Blower

May be Necessary

May be Necessary

Clean water for Backwash

Needed

Not needed

Filtration Degree

25 microns and above (Unless chemical is used)

25 microns and above (Unless chemical is used)

Downtime for Backwash \ Flushing

10 to 20 minutes. System isolated for backwashing unless with
standby unit.

Flushing doesn’t affect system flow.

Approximately 30 seconds for full recovery.

Amount of Backwash water

Easily 6% of total flow

Less than 1% of total flow

Media Replacement

Yes

Not needed

Chemical Use

Yes, to achieve fine filtration

No chemical use

 

Let smartweave Filter For You

smartweave works to its full potential when paired with our nozzlex proximity nozzles, and results in our EVERCLEAR automatic filtration cycle technology. The EVERCLEAR autonomous self-cleaning filtration cycle works with low operating pressure, minimal water for flushing, and is NOT a backwashing sequence, for 100% screen cleaning every cycle.

Filtersafe Down Under: Our Australia & New Zealand Office

You can now find Filtersafe down under! 

Filtersafe’s latest international office and support center, Filtersafe Australia & New Zealand has opened in Adelaide, South Australia, servicing the entire Oceana region. Our Australia office specializes in filtration for Agriculture, Aquaculture, Mining, Industrial and other related applications, and brings unique solutions to these applications to meet the Australian market’s needs. 

For example, agriculture is the largest user of water from the River Murray System. Filtersafe has years of experience filtering water directly from rivers, reservoirs, and other dynamic bodies of water for use in irrigation. Filtersafe offers extensive experience in a variety of agriculture and aquaculture applications, including high-flow filtration, filtering water sources with high loads of TSS and organic matter, and other applications so important to corporate farms who rely on filters that run smoothly and won’t clog. 

Mining is another important industry that requires robust, proven filters that can work in the harshest conditions. Filtersafe filters have and are currently being used for various critical aspects of water filtration in mining, such as de-dusting, reuse, and treatment before discharge, and can be found operating reliably in the toughest climates, from Siberia to South America.  

These industries provide challenging water for filters as the water to be treated will have very high TSS and debris that can threaten the integrity of the screen. Filtersafe successfully not just passed but superseded a test done for the ballast industry, but is applicable to all industries, showing that even at 2,450 ppm TSS the filters do not clog. 

The team is led by David Thomson, the CEO. After working in filtration for decades, David was excited at the opportunity to build Filtersafe’s presence in Australia. He explains, “It is not often that the mechanical filtration industry, which is quite mature, has a big advancement, but Filtersafe’s patents and systems are a game-changer.” In addition to his roles as CEO, David is focused on bringing Filtersafe’s revolutionary technology to the corporate agriculture sector.  

Jamie Pickford brings his years of experience to serve Industrial applications. Jamie himself has spent 30 years in the water industry, working in South Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia and Indonesia. During that time, he served in various management roles focusing on large industrial pumping and filtration projects for municipal, mining, aquaculture, agriculture, and industrial applications and will continue to use his expertise to show potential customers in these industries the benefits Filtersafe can bring to their applications. 

For Technical Sales & Support, Ronen Leyson rounds out the leadership team. His expertise is helping clients find the best Filtersafe product for their needs and providing support when needed. 

For more information on the products and services Filtersafe Australia and New Zealand offers to the region please reach out to fsaustralia@filtersafe.net or fill out our contact form here and we will get back to you.  

Filtersafe 2.0: The filtration experts for challenging waters

As Filtersafe approaches 20 years in business, we decided to take a deep look back at what has made us successful, and where we want to be heading. Over the course of the past year, we took time to self-reflect and identify our strengths so that we can continue to utilize them and see where we have the potential to grow. At the same time, we reached out and spoke to our clients, vendors, partners, and employees to help us get alternative points of view on the same questions.

Amongst the responses, there were three recurring themes that stood out, and that we felt a deep emotional connection to that touched on the answer of why we do what we do. We took these ideals and forged them into values that don’t just represent who we are as a company but also as a commitment for the future, that Filtersafe is and will always strive to be:

  • Committed to relationships
  • Leading the with expertise  
  • Driven by challenges

To help explain how these values touch in our daily function as a company we put together the following story: 

While we are still at our core a seawater filtration company founded to help protect the world’s oceans, we have grown to become a leader in the filtration of challenging water across the spectrum (fresh, brackish, reclaimed, etc.). Today, over 4,000 of our systems can be found installed on ships, in mines, in municipalities, on farms, on oil and gas rigs across the globe, to name a few locations.

With this growth, we decided it was time our brand was updated to reflect our growth.

As a company that heavily invests in R&D, we have significant developments that will be introduced to our markets in the coming year. This rebranding is done to reflect these developments and journey we are going through. This visual change may seem minimal, but they reflect the new additions and improvements to our product lines and processes that we’ve been making, and will continue to make as we continue to solve critical filtration challenges, together.

Filtersafe’s NozzleX: An Innovation that will Save Your Filter Screen

Filtersafe's nozzleX, the only nozzle your filter will ever need

At Filtersafe, we understand that water filtration is essential to helping many industries run smoothly. However, we also understand that today’s filtration technologies can always be improved — which is why we strive to be a leader in the world of water filtration. Our engineers have decades of experience in the industry, and they’re dedicated to creating the top technologies for automatic filtration.

nozzlex nozzle head in filter

One such technology is the NozzleX suction scanner – an innovative tool that enables the cleaning of organic and inorganic material from your filter’s screen, without wearing down the nozzle or wearing out the screen. With a typical automatic screen filter, the nozzles sit on a bar called a raiser. The raiser moves the nozzle heads back and forth along the length of the screen, while also rotating the nozzles in a corkscrew motion. The nozzles scan the surface, and by using negative pressure, dislodge debris one square inch at a time. While this does help the screen filter water effectively in the short term, the force from the nozzle can damage the screen and shorten its lifespan.

NozzleX, by contrast, uses low head pressure (as low as 23psi) to clear off all the buildup on the screen without damaging it. First, the raisers move the nozzles in such a way that 100% of the screen is scanned and cleaned. Next, in contrast to other filters, NozzleX nozzles safely come into contact with the screen, utilizing gentle pressure to pull materials off of the screen without impacting the screen’s integrity. This results in improved performance and a longer lifespan for your ballast water filter or other filtration technologies.

 

Why It’s Important

The importance of a properly functioning nozzle is simple – a water filtration system only works when it’s clean. Whether you are filtering ballast water before filling your tanks, protecting your oil and gas exploration equipment safe from organic oceanic materials, or prefiltering water for desalination, each filtration system should have the same thing in common  a reliable nozzle to clean your screen.

 

How it Works

The NozzleX uses passive suction to remove organic matter like debris and sediment from the filter screen. Through an innovative combination of consistent force and passive pressure, whereby the nozzle both actively removes material from the filter while allowing the naturally occurring changes in pressure to carry it away, this nozzle makes cleaning your filtration system an easy and automatic process.

This patented system moves around the filter screen automatically, using as little as 1/32nd the force of typical cleaning nozzles to offer a thorough cleaning with minimal wear. Then, the nozzle disposes of reject water through the system’s flushing chamber, guaranteeing that buildup won’t remain on your screen.

NozzleX is part of Filtersafe’s Everclear cleaning system, which includes the Smartweave screen filter. Working together, these two technologies provide exceptional filtration power while minimizing space. This ensures that operators can use their filtration system as long as possible.

A Closer Look At Other Nozzles

NozzleX vs Dynamic Spring-Loaded NozzlesFiltersafe nozzle nozzlex force chart

While Filtersafe relies on its patented proximity nozzle to consistently clean the screen at any pressure, dynamic spring-loaded nozzles use brute force to ensure their nozzles clean sufficiently at low operating pressure. More force means that both the nozzle and screen wear out faster, in fact, some dynamic spring-loaded nozzles need to be replaced every few weeks!

Floating & Brush-Loaded Nozzles vs Patented Proximity Nozzle

Some nozzles ‘float’ along the screen, never coming into contact with the screen. This reduces nozzle wear but decreases cleaning efficiency and in fact allows dirty backflow to slip out of the nozzle back into the filter’s interior, since there isn’t enough pressure keeping the dirty water inside of the nozzle head and moving towards the flush valve. Brush-loaded nozzles are intended to provide more ‘elbow grease’ to the nozzle’s cleaning capacity. However, the bristles wear out incredibly quickly, leaving the filter owner with what is essentially the previously described undesirable floating nozzle. Even before the bristles break and deform, they can push particles into the screen.

 

The Patented Concept That Sets Us Apart

Our nozzle is one of the most highly engineered aspects to our filter. Let us explain how this simple yet unique design provides the most effective and durable nozzle available.

Efficient Design

Each nozzle contains just 4 individual pieces. The low number of moving parts reduces the opportunities for something to break. In addition, you will not find a spring anywhere inside our nozzles! While other nozzles use springs to force the nozzle head close to or onto the screen when there is low operating pressure, our patented nozzle design equalizes the pressure inside and outside of the nozzle head, allowing it to be on the screen without utilizing damaging force.

Optimal Screen Interface

Because the nozzle is always firmly on the screen with minimal force, it causes absolutely no damage to the screen. Firstly, the nozzle is always applied with minimal, gentle force on the screen at all pressure ratings, and always less than 350 g/cm2. This means that the nozzle does not push dirt and suspended solids into the screen. This is a not uncommon occurrence that not only reduces the filtration capability of the screen, but can also create holes and invalidate the promised micron rating.

 

Additional Benefits of NozzleX

In the world of water filtration, NozzleX is truly a revolution. This unique cleaning tool offers several significant benefits to an automated filtration system, which can make a real difference in the quality and longevity of a system. Here are just a few of the unique benefits you can get from using NozzleX:

Continual System Operation

Firstly, NozzleX runs as part of the automated filtration system. There’s no need to halt system operation and clean out your filtration screens; instead, NozzleX will clean your screens throughout the filtration process.

Minimal Surface Area

In addition to its consistent cleaning functionality, the NozzleX is exceptionally compact. The nozzle takes up a mere 1% of the screen area, which allows your filtration system to continue running even while it’s being cleaned, and without significantly hindering the flow rate. This will result in greater filtration capacity and greater overall efficiency for your system.

Improved Performance

Dirty or clogged filters can have a serious impact on a filtration system’s efficacy. In fact, Filtersafe testing has shown that some systems lose performance in as little as six hours due to a buildup of a ‘cake’ like layer of dirt. In that time, a system’s flow rate can drop 37%, but NozzleX maintains a consistent flow rate throughout its operations. With NozzleX, your system always fully recovers so you’ll be able to get the optimum performance from your filtration system all day long.

Zero Screen Wear

Finally, one of the greatest benefits NozzleX provides is the way it minimizes screen wear. Other nozzle-based cleaning systems use significant force to remove debris from their filters, which can lead to punctures and other damage that cuts the screen’s lifespan short. NozzleX, in contrast, equalizes system pressure to use far less force — around 1.6 Bar (23psi) of head pressure. This means your filter screens suffer next to zero wear, allowing them to operate much longer than other screens.

Filtersafe nozzle cleaning screen

Let NozzleX Clean for You 

NozzleX ensures that a filtration system stays clean throughout operations, thereby making sure that the system remains effective and efficient. As part of Filtersafe’s Everclear system, NozzleX will provide users with a completely clean filter screen — and that will help guarantee superior performance from your filtration system.

To learn more about the NozzleX cleaning technology, contact Filtersafe today. Our team will be happy to answer questions and help you find the system that best suits your industry and your organization’s unique filtration needs.

Advancing filtration standards in the ballast water industry

E Series Filter BS-804E

Filtersafe boosts filtration standards in the ballast water treatment industry by removing 316L grade stainless steel from its filter supply chain

 

Commitment is part of Filtersafe’s $10m market-feedback program and will see the company manufacture its filter screens with the more durable 904L grade steel

 

ISRAEL; Monday 15th February 2021:  Filtersafe, a world leader in automatic seawater filtration, has today announced the removal of 316L grade stainless steel from its supply chain for ballast water treatment system (BWTS) filters. The commitment will see Filtersafe switch to 904L grade stainless steel at its manufacturing facilities in Israel and Hong Kong, which produce filters for around 25% of the global BWTS market. Filtersafe’s pledge comes as the company introduces a plethora of technology upgrades as part of a $10m market-feedback program designed to boost the quality, durability, and turnaround time of BWTS filters – all without impacting filter affordability.

 

Founded with the aim of tackling the world’s most complex water filtration challenges, Filtersafe supplies filters to many of the shipping industry’s leading BWTS manufacturers including De Nora, Ecochlor, Group, Evoqua, ERMA FIRST, SunRui, TeamTec, Techcross, and Wärtsilä. The initiatives announced today mark a step-change for Filtersafe, as the company aims to enhance the agility of its maritime business in response to the shipping industry’s increasingly dynamic regulatory and operational landscape.

 

Until now, 316L steel has been widely used across the global maritime industry as the material of choice for BWTS filter screens. However, the alloy is prone to early pitting corrosion, which can compromise the overall effectiveness of the filter and the entire BWTS. In contrast, 904L steel is up to 82% more durable, meaning it can more effectively support the longevity of filter systems, as well as lowering maintenance costs. To guarantee the quality of steel used in its filters, Filtersafe has invested in two x-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) analyzers that will enable the company to carry out positive material identification (PMI) testing on every metal alloy that enters its manufacturing facilities.

In addition to the x-ray analyzers, other upgrades that form part of the $10m market-feedback program include an FS laser cutting machine designed to improve repeatability in the manufacturing process, thereby minimizing the margin of error and further reducing the possibility of filter screen corrosion. A newly digitalized warehouse system also brings additional accuracy to the manufacturing progress, adding an additional layer of quality assurance as well as optimizing the production line so that filters can be delivered in four to six weeks – the fastest lead time in the global maritime industry.

Commenting on Filtersafe’s latest initiatives, Mark Riggio, Head of Marine at Filtersafe, said: “With ballast water regulations maturing and the global maritime industry shifting its focus to operational compliance, the critical role of filters within overall the BWTS has really come to the fore – with ship owners increasingly understanding that a strong and robust filter is critical to overall system reliability.

 

“As the core material used to build filters, stainless steel should be viewed as a key factor in determining a filter’s long-term performance; it is the first critical building block from which ship owners can realize greater value from their BWTS. By being the first manufacturer to transition away from 316L grade steel, the typical steel used in maritime applications, to 904L we hope to elevate standards across the entire industry and deliver a more efficient balance between filter durability and affordability. At the same time, we’re making a huge effort to introduce new technologies and systems that instill quality across the entire filter supply chain, from start to finish, creating better value for BWMS manufacturers, as well as ship owners and operators.”

 

Commenting on Filtersafe’s decision to use 904L grade stainless steel to produce its filter screens, Marcie Merksamer, Vice President at EnviroManagement, Inc, said: “Filtersafe’s switch from 316L grade stainless steel to 904L is a step-change for the maritime industry. The move will not only increase the longevity of Filtersafe’s filters but also minimize maintenance and increase the run-time of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS). This, in turn, improves OPEX for both BWTS manufacturers as well as shipowners, as there will be less potential for system failures.

 

“Filtersafe’s investment in developing and improving technology demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing quality BWTS filters. With the implementation phase of ballast water regulations underway, shipowners need confidence their systems are meeting the requirements. New innovations, including the introduction of 904L steel, will play a key role in supporting compliance. With more data available to measure and drive progress, ongoing ballast water treatment research and development is more essential than ever.”

 

Following the introduction of the 904L steel and supporting technology at Filtersafe’s manufacturing facilities, the company is working on an industry outreach program that will see it work with BWTS manufacturers to assess the performance of filters currently in operation. Filtersafe intends to extract lessons learned and share them with others in a further bid to increase standards across the industry. The industry outreach program is underway now and is set to accelerate once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and international travel mobility improves.

 

 

New Executive For Filtersafe Marine Division

Mark Riggio

Filtersafe Proudly Announces New Head of Marine, Mr. Mark Riggio 

Filtersafe today announced that Mr. Mark Riggio will be joining the company as the Head of the Marine Division, effective the 3rd of August. Mark will be leaving Hyde Marine, where he was the Senior Market Manager for over 9 years.

Mark brings with him to his new role his vast experience in the maritime industry, which will only serve to benefit the continued growth of Filtersafe’s efforts as a marine filtration expert and marine equipment supplier. His perspective on the maritime industry is unique, and one that few others can offer, as he has voyaged through the three distinct and critical parts of the maritime landscape: Classification, Port & Fleet Management, & BWTS Designer and Manufacturer. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his position at Filtersafe including:

  • A rigorous understanding of the standards involved in the marine industry from his time as a Senior Surveyor at the American Bureau of Shipping, where he oversaw hundreds of surveys and equipment installations stretching over four continents, and co-wrote the book on the ballast water regulations.
  • A deep insight into the needs of the most important stakeholder in this industry – the fleet owners/managers. The 6 years spent as a Port Engineer and Fleet Manager put him in the same waters as the end clients that he now works with.
  • Comprehensive view and experience of the ballast water industry from inside a market juggernaut, Hyde Marine, where he was the Senior Market Manager for over 9 years.

Filtersafe is thrilled to have a marine industry icon like Mark join the company in his new Senior Executive role. “I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” says Mark. “Filtersafe is poised not only to be the dominant player in the ballast water filtration market but they also have the personnel and product portfolio to tackle the broad range of challenges that ships face with contaminants in their process waters. Ballast water treatment is only the leading edge of this opportunity.”

“With Mark joining Filtersafe’s leadership team, we are reinforcing our commitment to deliver quality products and services to not only the BWT segment but the wider Marine industry,” says Miyan Mears-Dagan, COO at Filtersafe. “We have full confidence in Mark and his unique qualities to bring us to new heights.”  

 

About Filtersafe: A leader in the Ballast water filtration industry, that specializes in high capacity filtration. Filtersafe boasts over 3000 successful installations of its systems in a wide range of vessels. Filtersafe brings unrivaled value, effectiveness, and durability to even the most demanding filtration solutions.