ONterview
PrimeTech International,
Water Treatment Company
PrimeTech International is guided by the philosophy of “keeping nature clean for humans by sharing optimal solutions of water science”. The water treatment chemicals company has been committed to developing original water treatment technologies in response to evolving environmental needs.
Text by Young-eun Kim
Photos by Eun-joo Kim
Q. What does PrimeTech International (hereinafter “PrimeTech”) do?
We develop chemicals, equipment and solutions used to reuse water discharged from various industrial plants and provide related services. Based on our 40 years of experience, we have created original water treatment technologies and established ourselves as water treatment experts.
Q. What projects did you work on with K-water?
As natural water resources are getting depleted at a growing rate, water shortages are occurring in many parts of the world. As a result, water reuse technology to treat wastewater and sewage is becoming increasingly important. PrimeTech develops, applies and tests chemicals used to treat wastewater. We have been working with K-water on R&D and application of chemicals to its facilities to improve water treatment processes.
You probably have felt that water quality varies in various countries. As for lime water, the difference is clearly visible. Did you know that water quality also varies in South Korea? We are developing chemicals that fit the quality of water in different regions. Our main focus involves producing chemicals for the treatment of different types of water, including cooling water and boiler water, and for the reverse osmotic membrane process, as well as providing water treatment equipment and solutions.
Q. What are some of the things you liked about working with K-water?
We all know that K-water is the leader of Korea’s water industry. It has extensive infrastructure across the country, enabling us to speed up product development and tests. K-water’s shared growth program also gives us the flexibility and capability we need to raise the efficiency in developing and testing our new products. Under the program, we have received consulting from various experts and other support we need. When we face with challenging issues that we cannot tackle on our own, we are able to work with K-water on joint research and get valuable advice.
Q. What is the outlook for water reclamation industry?
The demand for clean water continues to grow, and there is also a growing demand for and interest in water reuse to secure future water resources. For this reason, the water reclamation industry is expected to expand further. South Korea is in need of more industrial water in tandem with the continuing growth of the country’s pillar industries including semiconductors. Given such circumstances, the water reclamation industry boasts great potential for growth because natural water resources alone cannot meet the ever-increasing industrial water demand.
Q. What are PrimeTech’s long-term goals?
PrimTech and K-water are working together to develop water treatment chemicals required to domestically produce ultrapure water. We have used imported chemicals, but once we develop the chemicals and technology, we will no longer need to import these chemicals and can adjust them to fit our water quality. PrimeTech aims to expand beyond national boundaries and compete in the global water treatment chemicals market. R&D will remain a focus of ours to grow PrimeTech into a leading domestic water treatment company.
The pilot tester that measures the effectiveness was developed with Primetech’s original technology.
Chemicals under development are currently being tested.
