PRESS RELEASE: Paper Industry Water Hub in Eerbeek and Nijhuis Saur Industries set new global standard maximizing the reuse of water by launching innovative pilot plant - Nijhuis Industries (2025)

Industriewater Eerbeek (IWE), a subsidiary of three Dutch paper mills focusing on wastewater treatment, has started a pilot plant for the reuse of its wastewater, based on the solutions and technology provided by Nijhuis Saur Industries, NX Filtration, Pure Water Group and REDstack.

Circular water concept ‘Waterrotonde’
This summer various heat records were broken. Despite the relatively wet spring, drought is a growing concern for our society. William Suijkerbuijk, project director of the Waterrotonde adds: "The paper industry is very aware of the current ground-water consumption and the impact on our local environment. We now want to do everything necessary to reduce groundwater extraction. With this in mind, the Waterrotonde was born last year”. The Waterrotonde can contribute to a sustainable ecosystem and anticipate upcoming regulations regarding discharges on surface water. Since the 1960s, IWE has been purifying surplus process water from three paper mills (Stora Enso De Hoop Mill, Folding Boxboard Eerbeek and Neenah Coldenhove) in Eerbeek, the Netherlands. As a first in the global paper industry, IWE now aims to close the water loop, using the groundbreaking solutions, technology and expertise of Nijhuis Saur Industries and integrating the technology provided by Pure Water Group-REDstack and NX Filtration.

The pilot

In only ten months, the project team has been able to go from concept designs to starting up the first processes in the pilot. After a first technology workshop held in September ‘22, Nijhuis Saur Industries conducted an i-CONSULT feasibility study involving the main stakeholders (paper mills, technology providers, and IWE) to understand how fully closing the water loop impacts water quality, the water- and the heat balances. In parallel, the pilot was engineered to produce 10 m3/h of product water. The current effluent from IWE needs to be upgraded to meet the mills' process water requirements. Firstly, NX Filtration’s direct nanofiltration technology is used to remove organic pollutants, color, turbidity, sulphates, and hardness. The filtered water then passes through an optional Nijhuis activated carbon filter to ensure that the next step, Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR), can perform optimally. PureWater Group’s EDR system uses highly efficient stacks built by REDStack to separate salts from the water. The degree of desalination is flexible, making sure the operating costs are optimized. The desalinated water is then ready to be used by the paper mills.

The objectives of the pilot are:

-Demonstrate that the product water meets the quality requirements of the paper mills
-Producing reject- and brine streams to test brine treatment techniques and define the best brine treatment strategy
-Generate a set of starting points for the design of the “full-scale” water plant based on insights from the pilot

Through its integration of services and partnerships, Nijhuis Saur Industries was able to rapidly deploy the required rental units for the pilot. With IWE supporting the installation works and laboratory analyses on site, the project team could start up the pilot technologies in a phased and controlled approach. In this way, the team is constantly obtaining insights to increase the reliability and reduce the TOTEX of the full-scale design. Full-Scale plant
Until the end of 2023, several innovative water treatment technologies will be extensively tested in the pilot. Based on the test results and financial feasibility, a choice of Nijhuis Saur Industries' implemented technology will be made in early 2024. In case of a positive follow-up, construction of the plant itself will most likely start in 2025. Thereafter, the various paper mills will be connected step by step to create one of the largest hubs for water reuse in the global paper industry.

William Suikerbuijk, project leader IWE
“This innovative water reuse project marks a significant step forward for sustainability in the paper industry. By harnessing the best available technology and effective collaboration, the paper factories and IWE are committed to reducing their environmental footprint and ensuring a prosperous and eco-friendly future.”

Menno M. Holterman, CEO Nijhuis Saur Industries
“The full cooperation of our technology partners and the involvement of some of the best water reuse experts in the world, we are proudly helping IWE to meet all their sustainability objectives. This pilot stands as a shining example of water reuse and showcases the integrated approach of Nijhuis Saur Industries to help our customers close the water loop and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future, another inspiring example of our #MissionWater.”