Recap: FMV Seminar: Waste Water Treatment & Regulations at SWECO
On Wednesday, March 18th, Flanders Metals Valley hosted the FMV Seminar: Waste Water Treatment & Regulations at SWECO’s beautiful neoclassical headquarters in Brussels. The event brought together experts from industry and academia to explore solutions and regulatory challenges in water management.
SWECO: Bridging Permitting and Water Management
Jan Van Peteghem, Business Unit Manager at SWECO, kicked off with a general and inspiring presentation on the work SWECO, Europe’s leading Engineering and Design Consultancy and an important partner to Flanders Metals Valley. Sustainability is a mutual core value, while SWECO promises to be climate neutral by 2030 in Belgium – in which they have our full support!
after which Hans Van der Heyden, Team Manager at SWECO emphasized the critical role of timing, preparation, and multidisciplinary collaboration in the permitting process. He introduced the SWECO Loket, a unique platform where SWECO, construction companies, and government representatives collaborate to integrate permitting and design seamlessly.
An-Sofie Christiaens, Water Consultant at SWECO addressed Belgium’s water challenges with the phrase “too little, too dirty, too much.” She presented SWECO’s approach to sustainable water management through case studies, including collaborations with FMV members Lamifil and Nyrstar.
Inopsys: Tackling Industrial Water Challenges
Suzanne Reinartz, Senior Water Expert at Inopsys discussed the pressing industrial challenges related to non-degradable pollutants in wastewater. Inopsys provides a comprehensive suite of purification technologies, such as caging, physico-chemical treatment, thermal processes, membranes, extraction, and oxidation. She illustrated their effectiveness with real-world examples from Janssen Pharmaceutica, Nyrstar, and a petrochemical company.
CAPTURE Resources: Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
Francis Meerburg, PhD. introduced CAPTURE, a dynamic platform that facilitates collaboration between researchers and industry professionals. CAPTURE serves as both a physical and virtual space for co-creation and knowledge exchange, driving innovation in water treatment.
Professor Gijs Du Laing, PhD. highlighted the work of ECOCHEM at Ghent University, focusing on groundbreaking past projects and exploring advanced technologies, including (bio)sorption, (bio)precipitation, electrochemical methods, and (bio)leaching, which are used for metal recovery from waste streams.
Xiaofei Wang shared insights into Umicore’s diverse water challenges and their strategic solutions. She also underscored the valuable role of CAPTURE in supporting Umicore’s initiatives.
Networking and Innovation
After the presentations, attendees experienced a demo of SWECO’s VR solutions. The event concluded with a networking drink, strenghtening relations between peers and professionals in the field.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to SWECO for their great support and hospitality in co-organizing this event.
FMV Members can find slides, attendants list and photos on the Member Zone.
