Process water and wastewater screening - the five things that industrial businesses should remember
When procuring process water and wastewater screening equipment, industrial businesses should remember these five key points to ensure that the new system delivers cost-effective, site-specific performance.
1. Every facility is different
One size most certainly does not fit all: every plant and facility is different, and industrial process water and wastewater screening equipment performance will depend on operating conditions.
Any equipment supplier that offers definitive performance data probably doesn’t understand fully the way that a range of physical and chemical variables can affect influent and the materials within it.
2. You can (and should) reduce your risk
If you are someone who has to get purchases approved then you’ll appreciate that, to a budget holder, every large capital investment is perceived as a risk.
Fortunately there are steps that you can take to mitigate that perceived risk.
Where possible, when evaluating new technologies conduct laboratory testing of your process water on that technology in order to get a preliminary performance indication.
If the preliminary results are encouraging, run real-world trials at your site using representative influent (including side-by-side tests with existing technologies), to determine likely performance and cost effectiveness.
3. Play the long game
The “Scope Triangle” common to project management can be applied equally to industrial processes, and in particular to equipment or system replacements, upgrades and refurbishments.
To put it simply, the Scope Triangle shows that a process can typically be done better, faster or cheaper. In the world of project management this triangle is meant to indicate necessary trade-offs, but when it comes to new technologies it is often possible to achieve improvements in all three areas.
Many businesses fail to take the strategic view and look at ROI over an appropriate period
Despite this, one trap that many businesses fall into is in placing too much emphasis on the “cost” corner of the triangle, as the initial capital investment can seem large.
This shows a misunderstanding of the operational savings that can be made over time, however, and a failure to take the strategic view and look at ROI over the appropriate period.
4. Stay flexible…particularly when it comes to procurement
When procuring large capital items, be aware of the various procurement options available to you—a single large capex investment will hit your bottom line, and it may be possible to avoid that one-time hit.
Wherever possible, partner with equipment suppliers that will consider spreading payments over a longer period. A good equipment supplier will understand the financial pressures associated with a large investment and will work with you to build the right type of procurement.
Also explore the possibility of equipment rental—this can provide a low-risk temporary option, or an extended trial of a new technology at a lower immediate cost to the business. In addition, more progressive equipment suppliers will offer a discount on the eventual purchase of a unit that is being rented.
5. Think laterally about your ROI
Business is about the bottom line, and any investment must generate a return. In many cases the ROI is direct and easily measurable—a new salesperson, for example—but equally there are cases when ROI is less immediately obvious, and opportunities may be missed.
Any business that is serious about boosting ROI should not overlook less obvious sources of cost savings
Reduced energy costs, reduced operational costs, increased process efficiency, increased available footprint, the weight of disposal solids and even the distance that a hose will spray irrigation water are all measurable costs—and any business that is serious about boosting ROI will not want to overlook them.
In addition, looking beyond the process itself can provide avenues for ROI improvements. Unexpected benefits may include recovering material for onward sale to secondary markets, for example, or diverting captured by-products for use in energy generation.