Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS), a business unit of the Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW), announced today the commencement of its cooperation with Haier to supply its advanced FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis (RO) technology applied in its residential water purification system and filtration products. According to the agreement, Haier is also authorized to use the Dow FILMTEC™ RO’s composite logo for both its water filtration products and in its marketing materials. Haier’s latest residential water purifiers adopting the Dow FILMTEC™ RO components will be available in the market in January.
Haier Group, a leading multinational home appliances and consumer electronics company, is the latest official partner signing a component trademark licence agreement with Dow in FILMTEC™ RO ingredient branding programme in China. Initiated in 2012, this ambitious programme aims to power the development of China residential water treatment through collaboration with well-known local brands, to promote advanced FILMTEC™ RO technology in residential water treatment segment, as well as to enhance the quality of drinking water for Chinese consumers. Dow’s other official partners of the FILMTEC™ RO ingredient branding programme in China include Midea Water Appliances and Angel, both of which signed deals with Dow last year.
Dow FILMTEC™ is an advanced reverse osmosis technology and is capable of rejecting virtually all dissolved impurities and contaminants, thus generating clean, safe and better tasting water for cooking and drinking, straight from the tap.
The safety of drinking water is a growing concern around the world. The residential water treatment market in China has immense potential with the increasing requirement of improving water quality from people. Safe and healthy water is indispensible for high quality of life.
The commercial director of DW&PS greater China, Dr. Xiaolan Wang, said: "Over the past half a century, DW&PS has been dedicated to providing innovative water and process solutions to both communities and industries. We enjoy strong positions in a number of major application areas, including residential water. Collaborating with major local water purifier manufacturers to improve water quality is an important part of our strategy in residential water treatment."
She said: "Haier is the world largest white goods company with strong distribution network and consumer business model. Dow has the cutting-edge RO water treatment technology in residential water treatment market. We are fully confident that it is a win-win for both of us and consumers. Meanwhile, our previous cooperation with Midea Water Appliances and Angel resulted in a very positive market feedback. It reaffirms that improving residential water quality is not only a requirement, but a relentless mission for us."
"Dow is a global leader in the R&D of water separation and purification technologies," said Mr. Guinan Qu, director of Haier water purification.
"As the world’s leading home appliance manufacturer, Haier welcomes Dow as its strategic partner. This alliance allows both companies to showcase and expand the reach of advanced water purification technology in China and to provide safe drinking water for Chinese consumers."
The R&D innovation collaboration history between Dow and Haier can be traced back to 2009. The two parties jointly held an innovation workshop in 2009 covering various businesses, followed by a global technical partnership signed in 2010. FILMTEC™ RO’s partnership is a new expansion to residential water treatment business and a further extension of the strategic cooperation of the two companies.
In 2012, Dow Chemical was crowned one of the "ten companies that are saving the world" by Business Insider for the development of FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis technology. For many years, DW&PS has been dedicated to perfecting this technology. To date, FILMTEC™ has not only resulted in the increase in the total amount of water treated but also largely reduced the total energy consumption of global seawater desalination and wastewater re-use projects.
In addition, DW&PS has been named China’s top membrane component and module brand in the 2011-2012 user satisfaction award, within the water industry equipment category. The award was presented during the 2012 (sixth) water technology forum, and is based on DW&PS winning the highest level of user satisfaction among all the 140 nominated enterprises and well-known brands in China, according to a recent customer survey. Since the award was launched in 2006, DW&PS has received the honor for seven consecutive years.
As the global separation and purification technology leader and one of the largest RO membrane manufacturers with the leading advanced technology in the world, DW&PS has already become one of the top solution providers offering a full portfolio of water treatment technologies manufactured in the greater China. In China, it has two manufacturing sites with three manufacturing facilities, a world-class research centre and a pool of first-class local talents.