Leading water and energy solutions provider Davis and Shirtliff
has entered into a water and effluent treatment chemicals distribution deal
with German based water treatment firm Kurita Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of
Kurita Water Industries from Japan, in an effort to expand the two firms’
product portfolio, reach and customer base.
Davis and Shirtliff CEO David Gatende said the partnership –the
first of its kind for Kurita within the East African region –will see the
company introduce a wide range of Kurita’s manufactured industrial water and
wastewater treatment chemical products to the Kenyan and larger African
markets.
These will provide customers with the opportunity to experience
the benefits of Kurita’s cost effective and high quality water and effluent
chemical products.
The company will achieve this by capitalizing on its wide customer
base and broad geographical reach that spreads across African countries.
“With this new partnership, Davis & Shirtliff intends to
become a key player in the water treatment chemicals segment. Kurita has a long
history of innovation and technical expertise and with access to the wide range
of innovative Kurita chemicals as well as its global expertise and footprint,
Davis & Shirtliff will now be able to increasingly grow its capabilities in
industrial water and wastewater treatment and offer cost effective solutions in
a wide range of products and services,” said Mr. Gatende.
Kurita 2019 report states that, “The Kurita Group is strengthening
the foundations of its business to provide comprehensive solutions on a global
level. We have been building our business presence in a number of regions and
since 2018, the Group has been focused on expanding growth opportunities,’’
Founded in 1949, Kurita has over 6,500 employees worldwide,
generating a turnover of approximately 2.3 billion USD.
“We have been testing the quality of the Kurita products at
various customer sites to evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness and are
satisfied that the products have passed every single quality test we have
conducted on them,” he said.
In addition to conducting quality tests on Kurita products, Mr.
Gatende pointed out that exhaustive technical training for key Davis &
Shirtliff water treatment personnel, who will be storing, handling and transporting
the Kurita chemicals locally and regionally, has been conducted in partnership
with Kurita to ensure safe management and usage of the chemicals once they hit
the local markets.
The training, Mr Gatende said will be a continuous process for
their personnel.
Kurita is mainly engaged in the provision of water
treatment-related products, technology and maintenance services.
The Company operates in two business segments. The Water Treatment
Chemicals segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of water treatment
related chemicals and related equipment, as well as the provision of
maintenance services.
The Water Treatment facilities segment is engaged in the
manufacture and sale of facilities related to water treatment and wastewater
treatment, as well as the provision of services related to maintenance,
ultrapure water supply, tool cleaning, soil remediation and chemical cleaning.
Some of the Kurita products that D and S will be distributing
across Africa include; cetamine, the latest technology in Boiler water
treatment and the Biocide Kuriverter IK 110 which is used to prevent
bio-fouling in Reverse Osmosis membranes.
The Kuriverter IK 110 is the only biocide in the world to be
approved with NSF certificate for on-stream use in membrane system. It
eliminates use of chlorine traditionally used for preventing RO membrane
biofouling. Also eliminates dosing of Sodium Metabisulphite for dechlorination
before water enters the membranes.
The deal with Kurita is however not just limited to the aforementioned
distribution pact with more partnerships already in the works between the two
firms according to Mr. Gatende.
“Kurita has acquired the order and supplied cooling tower
chemicals to Olkaria Unit 5 Geothermal plant. D&S is also working
with Kurita to develop a range of treatment options for the country’s
geothermal power plants through Kengen Olkaria. The business will in future be
transferred to D&S because of the company’s position as Kurita’s local
partner,” Mr. Gatende added.