BIO-UV Group, the manufacturer of the BIO-SEA ballast water management system, has cut the ribbon on a new 1,200m² maritime training, R&D, engineering, and production facility, increasing the footprint of its existing Lunel-based site to 6,400m².
The completion of the €2.2 million extension allows BIO-UV Group to increase production of its UV-based water treatment systems and to deliver a comprehensive range of BIO-SEA training modules to ships’ crews.
The company, which specializes in water disinfection by ultraviolet light, salt electrolysis, ozone, and AOP for a myriad of industrial sectors, has moved its entire maritime division to the new facility.
"Moving our entire maritime division across to the new facility will support and strengthen our ambitions in the global maritime industry, while the larger surface allows the group to ramp up training and certification on its systems as the industry moves towards a post-BWTS installation market,” said BIO-SEA Business Unit Director Maxime Dedeurwaerder.
With most ships compliant with the Ballast Water Management Convention, in that they have now installed an approved system, BWTS manufacturers are focussing on the aftersales market – training, annual certification, maintenance, and system retrofits.
“Ballast water treatment systems are technically complex and ships’ crews' proper training is essential to ensure they are operated and maintained safely, efficiently, and remain compliant,” Dedeurwaerder said.  “We now have a modern facility with a classroom and a full-scale BIO SEA system for crew training.”
The first ship’s crew for BIO-SEA training at the new facility is scheduled for this summer.
For 2024, the company anticipates a continued strengthening of its aftersales services, which are expected to contribute more strongly to the maritime division's margin and offer greater visibility over the coming years.