Salher is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company specialized in the design and manufacturing of customized solutions for urban wastewater, water reuse, oil/water separation, industrial wastewater and drinking water. The company can provide customized complete plants as well as stand-alone equipment, from their factories located in Spain, Portugal and Poland.
Interview with Cristina Alda, Marketing Manager at Salher .
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Cristina Alda: Salher has been developing and manufacturing wastewater treatment equipment in Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyester (GFRP) since 1980. Among these equipments are WWTP by activated sludge, MBBR, by biomembranes or by trickling filter, hydrocarbon separators, pumping stations, dissolved air flotator units, septik tanks, disinfection and water reuse systems, grease separators, sieves and drinking water treatments.
Salher has been carrying out an innovative strategy to develop its products, thus achieving a leading position worldwide. Salher has successfully provided its technology in numerous projects around the world through the most prestigious engineering and construction companies.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
C.A: Urban water solutions, such as those for small and medium-sized towns, hotels and resorts, hospitals and healthcare centers and remote camp installations.
Industrial water solutions, for any kind of industry such as the dairy industry, agrifood industry, beverage industry, energetic and chemical industry. We also have more than 18 different models of hydrocarbon separators with CE certification according to European standard EN-858. In addition, Salher has developed specific solutions through membranes for the most complex water treatments: manure and leachates. These effluents are charged of highly contaminating materials for underground water, grounds and water courses close to landfills and farms.
Depending on the degree of purity required, Salher designs and manufactures pre-mounted, ready to operate (Plug & Play), modular, expandable and containerizable water purification and disinfection systems.
Finally, in the context of water shortage and the implementation of ever higher safety standards, Salher has created solutions that save resources and energy: wastewater reuse treatments.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
C.A: Recently we have launched out new models of our best-seller automatic screening system and our Dissolved Air Flotation units.
The first one, Taurus rotary screen, is used as a pretratment to remove solids with size comprised between 0.25 – 3 mm. It’s new design, more compact and modern, is been developed by optimising the design of its old rotary screen for a higher performance. Salher’s development department combines experience, study of materials and structures and innovation to ensure that each new piece of equipment improves the performance of the old, while maintaining the quality of the water treatment brand.
XCORPIO is the new Salher DAF for large flows. This robust equipment is designed for the physico-chemical treatment of water of up to 3,000 m³/day. This new equipment is specially designed for wastewater and, with proper preparation of the water to be treated, its performance can reach:
- BOD5 removal: 50-80%.
- COD removal: 60-80%.
- Removal of suspended solids, oils and greases: 90%.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
C.A: Our services range from the design of the project -engineering development and projects management-, the manufacturing phase in which we manage the production of GFRP, polypropylene and steel equipment and the assembly of modular equipment and integration in civil works, the supply of the equipment and instrumentation to provide an integral water treatment solution, the commissioning or technical assistance in the electromechanical and electrical assembly of every water treatment plant, to the practical training and delivery of manuals of operation, commissioning and maintenance. Salher also offers a post-installation control service by a qualified technical staff.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
C.A: Although this is deeply saddening because of the ecological disaster we are living through, the reality is that the water treatment market is growing at the same time as international regulations are tightening, the collective conscience is growing, and so is the need for a more efficient and effective water treatment system.
The lack of drinking water and the new climate requirements put the focus on our water reuse systems and compact drinking water treatment plants.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
C.A: The market is currently focused on the search for alternative sources of drinking water: desalination, reverse osmosis systems and even ozone water treatment.
In addition, the water crisis also leads us to think about the scarcity of other resources. Energy is becoming more and more expensive; therefore, the emphasis is shifting towards energy efficiency solutions, also in the wastewater market.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
C.A: At Salher we believe that artificial intelligence is here to stay. Developing systems that implement these tools to avoid failures that can cause environmental damage, prevent unnecessary consumption, improve performance and extend the life cycle of equipment are the best investment.
Beyond technological innovations, at Salher we are still committed to listening to our customers. According to the most recent demands, the interest in ozone disinfection systems has grown significantly.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2024?
C.A: We are working on the release of a new line of equipment of ozone disinfection.
Always studying new international regulations, we are working to offer comprehensive solutions for the most complex water treatments worldwide.