On Friday April 29th, 2021, GF Piping Systems held a virtual live event- Flow to the Future– broadcasted from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, around the world. The event highlighted new technologies and discussed what the future has in store for the water industry. It was a day filled with all things water, innovation and sustainability!
GF Piping Systems provides the safe and reliable transportation of water and specialises in system solutions and plastic piping. They are an international company with sales firms in 31 countries and production sites in 36 locations throughout Europe, America and Asia. Flow to the Future reflected this, with its virtual set up allowing global inclusivity.
The event was varied and informative; from reviewing some of the newest developments in the water industry and GF Piping Systems latest innovations, to expert panel discussions and live Q&A’s. They even had Regina Halmich, former boxing world champion from Germany, feature as the keynote speaker.
Butterfly Valve 565
One of the main subject matters of the day was the introduction of GF Piping Systems new Butterfly Valve 565. This new design of valve helps to optimise piping systems built for water applications. The Butterfly Valve 565 is made from high performance thermoplastics, making it corrosion resistant and protecting it even under harsh conditions. The material reduces maintenance and repair costs and gives it a much longer lifespan. It has been designed to allow for direct replacement with other valves and does not require any additional work to be done on the pipes. And just to make it even more appealing, the Butterfly Valve 565 is 60% lighter than metal valves, making it easy to install and reducing the need for expensive transportation.
Sustainability has not been forgotten about with the Butterfly Valve 565. Overall, it has a lower production footprint than metal valves, saving energy and reducing waste. Similarly, its lower weight reduces the amount of energy needed for installation and transportation, making it a more environmentally friendly alternative to metal.
The Butterfly Valve 565 appears to beat metal in every way! It is lightweight, reliable, cost effective and more sustainable.
GF Piping Systems Head of Product Management, Thomas Kuessner said: “The Butterfly Valve 565 is a complete solution for the water segment which solves all of the typical problems customers have been experiencing with metal valves. Thanks to its higher resistance against corrosion, longer service life, and more effectives use of energy and resources during industrial production; our new Swiss-made valve provides a more cost-effective and sustainable solution for water treatment customers. Its quick and simple retrofit capability adds to the knockout arguments that will make our highly reliable and lightweight valve a winner in the market segment.”
The future of water
Another big part of the event was focusing on the future of the water industry and exploring some of the key themes that are likely to arise and become more prevalent in the coming years. Throughout the day, panel sessions were held where experts in the field discussed and shared their thoughts on the topic at hand.
Decentralised water treatment, microutilities and the vision for water infrastructure in the 21st century were discussed by Gilad Yogev, Antoine Walter and Jacob Bossaer. They shared their thoughts on the importance of moving towards a decentralised system in order to meet global water demands in a sustainable way. Decentralised water and wastewater systems are being promoted as a sustainable solution for urban water treatment and it is likely that they will play a major role in the long-term sustainability of these systems to meet the ever increases challenges in the water sector. However, like all new innovations, implementing their uptake can be difficult.
Sandra Schiller, Michael Smith, Elmar Hufschmid and Antoine Walter then went on to discuss how digitalisation and sustainability will influence the next generation of water treatment systems. Digitalisation is already helping to take the pressure off the water industry and goes hand in hand with achieving sustainability. Sustainability is one of the big buzz words in the industry currently and that is likely to continue for some time. The panel debated the challenges that lie ahead, how they are imagine the water industry will alter and new trends and innovations they expect to appear.
Greg Sutcliffe, Sandra Schiller, Nils Steinfelder and Pieter Loose gave their expert insights on process automation. Moving towards process automation is a trend we are seeing globally across all sectors, so it is no surprise that the water industry is taking advantage of this technology. These systems can provide many benefits, including improved efficiency, remote monitoring, reduced costs and better data to optimise performance and maintenance.
All of these topics are central in the development and progression of the water industry. It is a time of added pressures, so adaptation and innovation is essential. If you missed the live event, and any of these areas are of interest to you, you can register now and watch the sessions on demand. It is the perfect way to expand your knowledge and get a good insight into the future of water.
Education is key
Flow to the Future provided an opportunity for people from all across the world to learn more about important issues in the world of water today and what the near future may hold for the industry. It is an exciting time of innovation and change. Change is not always easy, but education and awareness is essential, and events like this make it possible.
