NEW YORK, February 6 /PRNewswire/ --
- Purchase Will Expand Ability to Quickly Develop Advanced Water Filtration Products for Developing World
Vestergaard Frandsen, a European company developing and selling disease control textiles, today announced the purchase of a majority share of Prime Water International (formerly known as Prime Membrane Technologies NV), a 15-year old Belgian company with expertise in the development of advanced membranes for water purification products, including Vestergaard Frandsen's LifeStraw(R) products which are designed to prevent water borne diseases and save lives in developing countries.
"The technology created by PWI is extremely innovative, and this purchase will propel Vestergaard Frandsen to the absolute forefront of the ongoing technology race in water purification," said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, President and CEO of Vestergaard Frandsen. "Products like LifeStraw(R) Personal provide safe drinking water away from home, and are complementary to household solutions like the newly launched LifeStraw(R) Family. These products are designed for use in rural areas of developing nations; they do not require electricity, batteries or spare parts. The unique design of LifeStraw(R) Personal has won numerous awards, and the product is extremely popular among end users."
By using a unique blend of polymeric compounds, PWI succeeded in creating micro- and ultra filtration membranes with ideal features for point-of-use water filtration applications. PWI, in close cooperation with the Flemish State Research Institute (VITO), developed a new generation of low pressure membranes for water purification products, including those currently used in Vestergaard Frandsen's LifeStraw(R) products.
"I'm thrilled to announce this important acquisition, which will allow Vestergaard Frandsen to remain the world-leader in point-of-use water filtration systems that require no repeat interventions," added Mr. Vestergaard Frandsen. "Together, we will continue to produce innovative products that prevent the transmission of diseases and save lives."
LifeStraw(R) Personal has earned many awards and accolades, including 'One of the Ten Things that will Change the Way We Live' by Forbes Magazine, 'Best Invention of 2005' by Time Magazine, and 'Innovation of the Year' by Esquire Magazine.
Company Profile
Founded in Denmark in 1957, Vestergaard Frandsen is an international company specializing in complex emergency response and disease-control products. The company is headquartered in Switzerland, with branch offices in Denmark, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Vietnam, Kenya, USA and the Middle East, and has licensed production facilities in India, Vietnam and Thailand. Vestergaard Frandsen's international reach allows the company to meet complex emergency needs around the globe at very short notice.
Vestergaard Frandsen strongly believes that business is for profit, but that profit must be for a purpose. The company's unique business model, Humanitarian Entrepreneurship, has allowed these two ideas to coexist, turning humanitarian responsibility into a core business, and making Vestergaard Frandsen a leader in its field. The company is constantly developing new products and improving existing ones that fight diseases and save lives.
For more information please visit www.vestergaard-frandsen.com.
Contact: Peter Cleary, Public Relations and Communications Director Office +1-212-984-1026, Mobile +1-347-653-5857 email pc@vestergaard-frandsen.com
Web site: http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com
Peter Cleary, Public Relations and Communications Director, +1-212-984-1026, or Mobile, +1-347-653-5857, or pc@vestergaard-frandsen.com
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