This month marks 15 years since Mienis Water began using ultrafiltration as a water disinfection technique. Ultrafiltration, often used as pre-filtration for reverse osmosis systems, has become an indispensable part of the horticultural industry. Finch, grandson of founder Jan Mienis, explains: "As the oldest manufacturer of reverse osmosis systems in the Netherlands, we have been around for a while. Innovation has always been important to us, and we are proud and grateful for what we have achieved with ultrafiltration. From flower growers to fruit and vegetable growers, and from propagators to seed growers, more and more growers are embracing ultrafiltration as the best water disinfection technique on the market."
Ultrafiltration uses membranes to filter and disinfect surface water, rainwater, and/or drain water. The membrane is so fine that it filters out fungi, nematodes, bacteria, and even viruses. At the same time, dissolved fertilizers, even iron chelate, are retained in the disinfected water.
Jochum Genuit explains: "In horticulture, there was a need for better disinfection techniques, and stricter environmental regulations limited the discharge of drain water, with the ultimate goal of zero discharge. The first small horticulture systems were built to recycle drain water, and a catchy saying from one of our first customers was: 'If I have any work on the system, you can take the system back.' This quickly motivated us to develop a self-sustaining system."
© Mienis Water
Finch and Jochum at two 100 m3/h ultrafiltration systems at Hacienda in Canada
Why ultrafiltration?
Mienis supplies ultrafiltration systems worldwide to flower and vegetable growers, but recently also to many seed growers, for whom effective water disinfection is especially important. Finch explains: "Customers choose ultrafiltration because it is the only technique that filters dirt and infections from the water. Other techniques leave dead tissue in the water, creating a breeding ground for new infections. After ultrafiltration, it is much easier to control new infections because the water is so clean. Furthermore, ultrafiltration does not alter the water structure, which is important for good water absorption by the plant. Ultrafiltration also eliminates the need for water discharge. Most of our systems already meet the zero-discharge requirement."
Reliability and automation
The reliability and success of Mienis' ultrafiltration systems depend on the choice of hardware, particularly the software. Finch: "The type of membrane we use is many times stronger than other membranes on the market, and we also carefully select other hardware to ensure a long lifespan and reliability of the system. This, together with our advanced software, completes the system. Membranes foul when in use, and the trick is to get them clean again. Our integrated, fully automated washing programs are unique in the market and allow the system to be tailored to the water being treated. This is important because every water type and situation is different and also changes throughout the season."
© Mienis Water
A 72 m3/h ultrafiltration system at Southern Paprika Limited in New Zealand
Customization and service
Delivering customized solutions and collaborating with customers is what makes work enjoyable for Mienis Water. A good example of this is the option Mienis Water offers to build ultrafiltration systems high up to save floor space. Finch: "We distinguish ourselves by being able to build vertically and by truly working alongside our customers to tailor a system precisely to their needs. This not only works well but also saves floor space and money. This is partly because no additional silos are often needed to integrate the system into an existing situation and because almost all our systems treat multiple water types with the same system."
Jochum concludes: "Customers tell us they have better control over their crop growth, and we are grateful to be able to contribute to that. We are a small, but incredibly driven family business that enjoys helping customers with our automated ultrafiltration and/or reverse osmosis systems. Even if a system is not meeting our high standards, we will continue until it does. Good service and customer relationships are essential to us, both domestically and internationally, and we are fortunate to receive that appreciation and trust from our customers in return. That is the greatest compliment you can receive."
For more information:
Mienis Water
[email protected]
www.mienis-water.nl
