RAS maker buys up equipment suppliers
Norwegian recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) provider Nofitech Holding AS has bought two water treatment equipment suppliers, including the maker of HEX drum filters.
The two companies are CM Aqua Technologies APS in Denmark and Ratz Aqua & Polymer Technik Gmbh, including the subsidiary Hex Filter Gmbh in Germany.
CM Aqua and Ratz have collaborated for several years with production at the Ratz factory in Remscheid, near Düsseldorf. The main products for RAS plants are HEX drum filters, GALAXY protein skimmers, Oxywise oxygen generators and AL2 belt filters for sludge systems.
CM Aqua, located in Farum, Denmark, handles sales, service and support with technical teams in Denmark and Ukraine.
600 filters
The two companies have supplied more than 600 HEX filters to RAS plants, aquariums and pools around the world, as well as equipment for delousing vessels and water treatment systems for wellboats.
In a press release, Trondheim-based Nofitech said that part of the transaction is paid for by shares in Nofitech Holding AS, so that the four owners of CM and Ratz become shareholders in Nofitech.
The companies will continue to operate independently and CM / Ratz will continue to serve other RAS suppliers than just Nofitech.
Further opportunities
Nofitech’s ModulRAS system is designed for use in both seawater and freshwater and has HEX filters installed in all units.
“I look forward to working more closely with the new sister companies and together improving the product range to include other cost-effective solutions and pre-produced modular sections,” said Nofitech chief executive Robert Hundstad.
Asbjørn Reinkind, chairman of Nofitech Holding, also sees great opportunities in the acquisition.
“CM and Ratz are marketing and selling their products to more species than just salmon, and this should open up further opportunities for Nofitech’s ModulRAS,” he said.
Compact structure
Nofitech designs and deliver solutions for production of smolt, postsmolt, grow-out and broodstock.
The concept is based on modules, consisting of four octagonal tanks centered around a shared water treatment unit. The patented structure secures short pipelines and the system has been designed to prevent the accumulation of sediments.
All surfaces exposed to water are coated with polyurea for a completely watertight system. The tank walls also function as the building’s external and internal walls.
According to Nofitech, the compact structure and extensive use of prefabricated units result in reduced construction time and cost.
