Thousands of visitors flooded Sustainabilitylive! with attendance well ahead of last year’s figure – with queues along the NEC’s concourse to get into the three-day event.

And IWEX 2008 got its fair share of the crowds, with visitors checking out new products and services designed to sharpen their operations.

Making its show debut was Pearpoint’s P350 flexitrax portable video crawler system. Pearpoint says the system is a tough lightweight controller that provides a durable buffer between the elements and survey data. It can operate submersed and is water resistant up to 100m.

With carbon footprint reduction continuing to dominate companies’ energy strategies, Brightwater FLI highlighted its HSAF Submerged Aeration Filtration. This low-energy wastewater technology is designed to enable BOD and/or ammonia reduction.

In most applications, treatment streams are fed through the base of the packaged unit to an aerated biological treatment zone containing Brightwater’s advanced BMax media.

Energy efficiency was also the theme for WEG, as it launched its range of energy- efficient motors and drives, including the W22. Lower lifetime costs have been developed by WEG in its new W22 platform three-phase induction range. Innovative improvements include lower noise and less vibration, improved reliability, longer working life, and easier maintenance.

New generation

ABB took the opportunity to launch its new generation of flow meters for water and wastewater treatment. The WaterMaster range offers “superior measurement capabilities”, enabling users to operate more efficiently, reduce costs and increase profitability. The WaterMaster’s octagonal sensor design brings the sensor closer to the ideal square-sensor geometry – without the problems caused at the four corners.

Burkett Fluid Control Systems used the exhibition to announce its mxCONTROL multifunction controller for water treatment systems. The product integrates all control, monitoring, display and datalogging required for effective water treatment.

The GroundSure range of environmental reports and data is the latest offering from eMapSite, which provides mapping and geo-information. GroundSure reports cover historic mapping, environmental data, geology and ground- stability reports.

Silbuster, which specialises in solids/liquid separation, debuted the latest addition to its product range – the CM400 Coalescing Media Oil Water Separator. The product is a self-contained unit that separates oil from water by passing through an oil-attracting media.

Water shortages

Arlington Packaging and supply-chain provider Wincanton launched a service providing the water utilities with a delivery system to minimise the impact of water shortages. Arlington’s 1,000l container system, using Wincaton’s transport-planning systems, can provide kerbside delivery of drinking water nationwide, as well as bottles to rural areas or locations with restricted access. Visitors to IWEX were also entertained by the 20th IWO National Drilling & Tapping Championship. The time-trial event requires skill and dexterity from the two-man teams taking part. Teams drill and tap a 150mm-diameter ductile iron main under pressure – at 483-689kPa – and installing a simulated service connection.

With a winning time of two minutes and seventeen seconds, Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water’s Danny Hunt and Peter Haslock won the IWO Tyco trophy, the international competition, and the Champions of Champions contest. Carillion A team won best contractor, while Wessex Water B team took Best Newcomer.

Next year, Sustainabilitylive! and IWEX will be held at Birmingham’s NEC from May 19-21.

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