AGC Mol (BE), a leading glass manufacturer in Belgium and part of the AGC Group—a global leader in flat glass with operations in over 30 countries—has four production divisions focused on flat glass for automotive, high-tech, solar applications, and the construction sector.
AGC Mol faced the challenge of improving its production processes and chose to implement an installation for the production of ultra-pure water. The existing system, managed internally, demanded significant time and resources. AGC Mol sought an innovative solution that would both modernize their infrastructure and significantly reduce the operational burden of water treatment management. Given AGC’s commitment to sustainability, a sustainable water treatment solution aligned perfectly with their vision.
Ekopak addressed AGC Mol’s needs by installing a Water-as-a-Service (WaaS®) system. Under the WaaS model, Ekopak handles the operation, maintenance, and financing of the installation, while the client pays only for the water consumed. This concept offers maximum relief for the client.
The installation consists of four modular containers combined with three tank containers for storing different water streams. To maximize space efficiency, the tank containers are positioned above the modular units, minimizing the system’s physical size and making the best use of AGC Mol’s limited on-site space.
The nearby Albert Canal serves as the water source for the WaaS system. The water first undergoes preliminary treatment through two pre-filters to produce filtered canal water. The majority is used by AGC for various cooling water circuits, while the remaining portion is further treated via Ultrafiltration (UF) to remove suspended particles from the canal water.
To achieve ultra-pure water, the system utilizes a Double-Pass Reverse Osmosis (RO) process, which removes salts to meet the specific water quality requirements for AGC’s operations. If needed, mixed-bed ion exchangers are available to further refine water quality.
“To ensure AGC’s production capacity, the installation is built redundantly. It provides more capacity than strictly necessary, ensuring that maintenance can be carried out without disrupting the water supply.”
Dries De Cock, Project Manager Ekopak
“At AGC Mol, sustainability is a top priority. We aim to minimize our ecological footprint and integrate sustainable solutions into all our processes. A sustainable water treatment system perfectly aligns with our vision and commitment to a greener future.”
AGC Mol
AGC Mol is now assured of a continuous, reliable water supply essential for their production processes. Additionally, the client is pleased with the peace of mind the WaaS solution provides, allowing AGC to focus entirely on its core business without concerns about water treatment.
