GRAF Ireland acquires Wastewater Solutions
Otto Graf GmbH, headquartered in Teningen, Germany, specialises in designing, manufacturing, and distributing sustainable water management solutions to homeowners, businesses, and local authorities in over 80 countries worldwide.
As European market leaders in rainwater harvesting and stormwater management, they also recognise the importance of the wastewater industry and its role in protecting nature’s most precious resource. In 2014, GRAF acquired KLARO, a long-standing partner also based in Germany, known for its market-leading SBR technology, which plays a key role in safely treating wastewater before it is discharged back into the environment. As GRAF established its manufacturing and technical capabilities globally, they also aimed to make water management solutions more accessible to customers, which included setting up an Irish headquarters in Milltown, Co.Galway.
Cathal Keane, Managing Director of GRAF Ireland, discusses the role of Wastewater Solutions in their partnership:
"Our goal as a global manufacturer was to find strategic partners in Ireland with the right team and technical expertise to grow our wastewater business. After meeting Philip and his team, we realised that Wastewater Solutions was perfectly positioned to deal directly with customers and provide the necessary support. With over 20 years of experience in the domestic and commercial wastewater industry, they understand what customers need and how we can deliver it. A recent example is an 862PE oneAdvanced wastewater treatment system designed for a hotel and golf club in Co.Tipperary. Wastewater Solutions managed the project from start to finish, including design and installation, in collaboration with our team, ensuring a sustainable, cost-effective solution that complies with local county council regulations. We are very proud of this project, as it was the largest oneAdvanced system installed in Europe to date."
Since 1962, sustainability and innovation have been at the heart of everything GRAF does. They reuse waste plastics from yoghurt pots, bottles, and other consumer goods as raw materials and design technology that maximises energy efficiency in their manufacturing processes, thereby reducing the overall environmental impact of their operations. Otto P. Graf, Managing Director of Otto Graf GmbH, perfectly captures this philosophy with a quote: “Not so long ago this was termed “thrift”; today it’s called “sustainability”. Yet I do think we were sustainable before the concept was even invented.”
Philip Johnston, Managing Director of Wastewater Solutions, reflects on the initial meeting with GRAF Ireland:
“We were introduced to GRAF Ireland in 2019 at an IWTA (Irish Water Treatment Association) annual meeting. This association was founded to reduce the pollution created by domestic and commercial wastewater treatment systems, particularly septic tanks, focusing on our streams, rivers, and drinking water. This has always been a problem and key players in the industry decided to take action and work on initiatives to influence regulations in Ireland positively. As a distributor, we felt it was our responsibility to provide our customers with the best solutions, and it was immediately apparent that GRAF Ireland was ahead of their competitors.”
Wastewater Solutions, based in Little Island, Co.Cork, are wastewater specialists designing, manufacturing, supplying, and servicing domestic and commercial wastewater treatment systems for over 20 years. In 2020, to make their products more accessible, they launched Tanks Direct, an e-commerce brand that delivers similar products and services to consumers and businesses throughout Ireland.
The acquisition of Wastewater Solutions and its team is an important milestone in GRAF Ireland’s journey and highlights its long-term commitment to customers in Ireland.
Philip from Wastewater Solutions highlights the strengths of GRAF’s products and their commitment to customers:
“GRAF’s wastewater treatment systems are extremely durable and deliver exceptional treatment performance. What sets them apart is their advanced SBR technology, and over 70% of their product range is manufactured using recycled plastic materials. These systems protect our water and the environment while also addressing the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly solutions. Communicating this commitment throughout the supply chain is important and GRAF is uniquely positioned to meet these consumer demands.”
GRAF Ireland intends to keep the Cork office and warehouse, with their headquarters remaining in Milltown, Co.Galway. They plan to retain members of the Wastewater Solutions team while also making new additions in both Cork and Galway. Maintaining and growing relationships with key suppliers, customers, and partners in the communities will also be a top priority.
Cathal Keane, Managing Director at GRAF Ireland, concludes with opportunities for the future:
“The integration of Wastewater Solutions with GRAF Ireland marks a significant milestone in our journey. We are excited to welcome the Wastewater Solutions team into the GRAF family and are committed to maintaining and growing our relationships with key suppliers, customers, and partners. We look forward to leveraging our combined expertise to continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
