When an approach to an everyday process has been in place for decades it takes a strong individual or organisation to take it head on and propose a different approach. The new approach has to be at least as effective as the recognised way of doing things and to comply to all the standards that exist in the sector – no mean feat.
Steve Crick, managing director of established water treatment business DosaFil, grew increasingly frustrated with traditional water treatment and decided to instil change in a methodology that had been pretty much the same for a number of decades. It is more or less accepted that all water treatment products come in a liquid form, that can be added to the circulating water in the heating or cooling system, requiring the movement of heavy, usually plastic containers that once subjected to chemicals cannot be recycled. Inevitably, a high proportion of the liquid chemical added to such systems is water, not active ingredient.
The DosaFil alternative solution relies on being able to provide the active ingredients in a solid paste format that is far lighter, less dangerous to handle and transport, results in zero leakage or spillage, needs zero plastic that ends up in landfill and offers as good or better results once applied to a system. DosaFil has multiple customers that have reported success with the DosaFil solid chemicals and dosing devices that suggest that the results of the solid chemical approach is in all cases as effective as the traditional liquid chemical approach and in many, significantly better.
“We set out to challenge the status quo, creating a safe, easy to install and operate water conditioning system that also addresses common key concerns of modern business, such as health and safety, eco-friendliness and reduction of energy consumption,” he says. “We designed a new approach to water treatment, dared to dream about changing things when we were told they couldn’t change, and produced a solution that has made us a highly successful business as we quietly went about changing the face of improving water quality in heating systems.”
So what was the aim of DosaFil?
“DosaFil® was created with the purpose of designing, manufacturing and delivering innovative, high quality water conditioning equipment for the commercial and industrial water treatment markets. And that is exactly what happened. DosaFil® devices combine industry proven technologies that wipe the floor with traditional, alternative options.” Steve is a very matter of fact individual and brought more than twenty years of experience working for major water treatment companies to the party.
DosaFil began by addressing issues in commercial heating systems that traditional water treatment wasn’t shifting. DosaFil® devices enable systems to be operated and maintained in line with the guidelines detailed in British Standards BS8552 and BSRIA BG29 and BG50. The range features unmatched temperature and pressure range capability plus smart monitoring and communications as standard. It’s a solution that will change the way the industry approaches the management and treatment of closed heating and cooling systems for years to come.
Whilst there are a number of more complex solutions and outcomes to the hours of research and development undertaken at Innovation House – the aptly named HQ for DosaFil, on the outskirts of Liverpool – one very simple idea that was far more complex to master was the belief that water treatment does not need to revolve around huge quantities of liquid chemicals. Steve was convinced that solid paste type chemicals that rapidly dissolved when applied to systems was the answer to several issues that needed addressing in the water treatment sector.
And it will come as no surprise that DosaFil is currently working hard on the means of introducing a similar product – a solid paste chemical cleaner and inhibitor/system protector – for the residential heating and plumbing marketplace. Once again the new product will, when released, meet all the standards and guidelines that currently exist in the marketplace whilst offering a raft of benefits over liquid solutions for merchants stocking the product and installers using it – including a massive weight reduction for moving the product in bulk, far less space taken up on the merchants shelves and in the installers vans, far less mess – due to no spillage of the liquid product and a range of other benefits that merchants, specifiers and installers will see as real and tangible benefits over the need to work with liquid chemicals.
“These are very exciting times for DosaFil,” says MD Steve Crick. “Currently 97% of chemical water treatment uses liquid products. So we have a huge market to target and massive volume potential when those using these products see the penny drop that using solid water treatment products that will be able to be used through introducing the products via filters or towel rail radiators as they wish, will save them time, money and contribute towards sustainability and reductions in emissions and plastic waste. We received exceptionally positive feedback from a number of major players in the marketplace at our stand at Installer Live – we’re confident that they and other manufacturers will be keen to take a closer look at what we have to offer.”