In close cooperation with DSM Nederland NV, BPO has developed a unit to obtain drinking water from for example collected rain or open wells. The product is meant to supply, for instance, tsunami victims with clean drinking water. To finance the project a substantial amount of DSM Nederland NV’s employees volunteered to hand in 1 hour. BPO also contributed financially.

The product will be used in third world households and fulfils the important requirement for clean and safe drinking water in a very costs efficient way. The unit consists of a 12-liter container that is pressurized with a hand pump. The bacterial infected water will be pumped through two filters to a tap. The unit will be produced locally (India) and consequently, the product design had to be adjusted to their technology standards.

Oscar Brocades Zaalberg, managing director of BPO, went to India together with DSM project manager Mantijn van Leeuwen to visit the manufacturer. The plastics industry in India is well represented and sometimes has modern equipment to its disposal. Most producers though use old but well maintained machines. The development of products that will have to be made on simple machines requires a different approach; Initially a gas-injection channel was designed but taken out because of the high risks in both production and mould construction. KIS (Keep It Simple)!