INVENT Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik AG, based in Erlangen, Germany, is experiencing significant growth. In 2022, the company achieved its most successful financial year since the company’s inception. Additionally, many milestones have been achieved which confidently pave the way for the future.
INVENT is a high-tech company with unique technologies for the water industry. Worldwide, an increasing number of wastewater treatment plant, seawater desalination plant, and other water treatment plant operators are relying on innovative technology from Erlangen. The company projects that the greatest potential is in North and South America, the Middle East, and India.
A series of flagship projects underpin the competitiveness of the team led by CEO, Dr.-Ing. Marcus Hoefken. INVENT’s technology can be found in all wastewater treatment plants in New York City, Washington DC, or San Diego, California.
The company’s success can be attributed to developing products for water and wastewater treatment from a fluid mechanics approach – making the Germany-based company a global pioneer. INVENT is the market leader in the fields of mixing and aeration technologies, solid-liquid separation, and system solutions for water and wastewater treatment. Above all, the model series of the HYPERCLASSIC®-Mixing and Aeration System with its hyperboloid-shaped mixing body is in great demand worldwide.
INVENT’s services are not limited to the sale of products, but rather offers a complete system solution which consists of plant design, basic and detailed engineering, project management, delivery of the mechanical components, installation and commissioning of the plant, and training of the plant personnel.
Due to the technologies’ robustness and durability, installation of high-tech products requires experience and expertise to ensure that the water is treated as efficiently and effectively as possible. The statement “water is life” is to be taken literally in this sensitive area.
2022’s record numbers
As mentioned, INVENT achieved its most successful year in 2022. The total turnover of the company group reached 28.9 million euros, surpassing the previous record set in 2016. The total number of incoming orders reached a new record of over 35 million euros.
Given the global demand for energy-efficient system solutions in water and wastewater treatment, Dr.-Ing. Marcus Höfken expects dynamic growth for his company in the coming years. The number of secured contracts and collaborations are ongoing and assure the company’s advancement.
Upcoming large-scale project and Joint Venture
In addition to successfully implementing projects in Qatar and Oman, another in the Middle East is charted. After discovering the functionality and quality of INVENT’s technology, engineers decided to use it in the construction of a large wastewater treatment plant in Saudi Arabia. CFD modeling and extensive tests were carried out in the Erlangen laboratory to simulate realistic conditions and to demonstrate the product’s functionality and reliability.
The establishment of a joint venture with JASH Engineering Ltd. India is on the horizon for INVENT. JASH is a globally recognized, specialized manufacturer of various equipment for transport, pumping and treatment of water, wastewater and seawater. “This strategic collaboration was entered into in order to combine their respective strengths and expertise and jointly offer innovative solutions in the water industry,” explains Hoefken.
The joint venture will enable both companies to strengthen their market presence and develop innovative solutions for a wide range of industries; including municipal water treatment, chemical, oil and gas, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and many more sectors. The CEO adds: “This collaboration will provide Indian customers with groundbreaking solutions, enabling them to more effectively address their water-related challenges and achieve sustainable growth.”
Alternatively in the German market, the granular sludge process plays a major role in water treatment internationally. This is why INVENT’s product developers place a strong focus on it. They have developed the iSBR®/iGSR® system, which allows the combination of several phases of the treatment process in tanks of any size.
Employees urgently needed!
Due to its growth, INVENT needs employees in all areas. While the joint venture with JASH currently employs many in Erlangen, the company’s management is considering building its own production facility in the U.S. as North America is the largest market for INVENT. Meanwhile, at the headquarters in Erlangen – there are considerations for a site expansion. Geppert Ruehrtechnik GmbH, which was acquired in 2016, will be kept as a subsidiary in Erzhausen, Hesse, Germany.
About INVENT Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik AG
INVENT Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik AG is an innovative company in the field of environmental technology with headquarters in Erlangen, Germany and branch locations in the USA, Australia, United Arab Emirates as well as in Italy. INVENT was founded in the mid-1980s by a group of fluid mechanics experts as a spin-off from the department of Fluid Mechanics at the Friedrich-Alexander-University in Erlangen-Nuremberg.
The company was established in its current form in 1995 as a result of a management buy-out led by its CEO Dr. Marcus Höfken. In 2003, INVENT became a stock-holding company. INVENT develops, produces and distributes innovative components and reliable plants and systems designed to clean and treat wastewater energy efficiently. The target group consists both of municipalities as well as industrial companies.
The performance spectrum includes a portfolio of high-performance, high-quality products and services such as mixers, mixing and aeration systems, membrane aeration systems, water filters, flow simulation plus engineering services. A complete INVENT plant solution consists of plant design, basic and detailed engineering, project management, the supply of mechanical engineering components, plant and system installation and commissioning as well as training offered to the system operators.
All INVENT products are developed with utmost care at the headquarters in Erlangen in state-of-the-art research facilities and based on fluid mechanical aspects. This includes an in-house fluid mechanics laboratory and a range of large-scale test facilities.
The objective that INVENT has set is to position itself as the world market leader in the field of mixing technology.