Expansion of the Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing Plant in Cheshire, UK

Rhea-AI Summary

H2O Innovation Inc. announced a significant expansion of its specialty chemical business in Cheshire, UK, doubling the facility's size to 30,000 ft² with a production capacity of 1,000 tons/year of powdered membrane cleaners. This $1.7 million investment aims to meet the growing demand for Genesys-PWT powdered membrane cleaners, which are environmentally friendly and reduce freight costs. The project created two new jobs and was completed in just 10 months, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Positive

• Expansion of facility to 30,000 ft² to meet growing demand.
• Investment of $1.7 million reflects commitment to business growth.
• Increased production capacity of 1,000 tons/year of powdered cleaners.
• Creation of two local jobs and a new research and quality control position.

Negative

• None.

QUEBEC CITY, March 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: HEO) – H₂O Innovation Inc. (“H₂O Innovation” or the “Corporation”) is proud to announce that its specialty chemical business line is doubling the footprint at their Cheshire, UK facility to keep up with demand from the market. The grand opening ceremony for this new reverse osmosis (“RO”) cleaner production plant took place on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

The whole project is a $1.7 M investment to extend the Corporation’s specialty chemicals production facilities required in part due to significant growth in demand for Genesys-PWT powdered membrane cleaners. The UK facility doubled in size to 30,000 ft² with capacity to produce 1,000 tons/year of powder cleaners. The expansion created two more local chemical operator jobs and a role for an additional research and quality control chemist.

“The completion of this critical project in just 10 months is an amazing feat and something that all involved can be rightly proud of. Nick Davenport, Genesys Production Director, and Ray Wain of Lineflow, a powder specialist who acted as the consultant, started initial design work and getting proposals from local suppliers in June 2021. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and international supply issues, equipment was delivered over the Christmas period and the plant was officially commissioned and opened by Cheshire Councillor Sam Corcoran on March 15^th, 2022,” stated Steve Chesters, Managing Director of H₂O Innovation Specialty Chemicals Group.

“This builds strategically on the momentum of combining the strengths of Genesys and PWT to execute on the promise of delivering the best products from the best location through our distribution network to customers around the world. We are expecting to see an acceleration in powdered cleaner sales due to their lower water footprint which reduces freight costs and associated CO₂ emissions compared to equivalent liquid products. These powdered products are in line with our ESG initiatives, and we are seeing increased demand from many customers for products that reduce environmental impact,” added Frédéric Dugré, President and Chief Executive Officer of H₂O Innovation.

Prospective disclosures
Certain statements set forth in this press release regarding the operations and the activities of H₂O Innovation as well as other communications by the Corporation to the public that describe more generally management objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Forward-looking statements concern analysis and other information based on forecast future results, performance and achievements and the estimate of amounts that cannot yet be determined. Those forward-looking statements, based on the current expectations of management, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, which may result in actual and future results, performance, and achievements of the Corporation to be materially different than the said forward-looking statements. Information about the risk factors to which the Corporation is exposed is provided in the Annual Information Form dated September 27, 2021 available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About H₂O Innovation 
Innovation is in our name, and it is what drives the organization. H₂O Innovation is a complete water solutions company focused on providing best-in-class technologies and services to its customers. The Corporation’s activities rely on three pillars: i) Water Technologies & Services (WTS) applies membrane technologies and engineering expertise to deliver equipment and services to municipal and industrial water, wastewater, and water reuse customers, ii) Specialty Products (SP) is a set of businesses that manufacture and supply a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables and engineered products for the global water treatment industry, and iii) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) provides contract operations and associated services for water and wastewater treatment systems. Through innovation, we strive to simplify water. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com.

Source:
H₂O Innovation Inc.
www.h2oinnovation.com

Contact:
Marc Blanchet
+1 418-688-0170
marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37f3a118-f153-414c-884d-138741533dd8