In an important commercial development for Sprintex Ltd, commissioning has been completed on the compressor operation between Sprintex and leading European environmental technology company Mest Water with the first large-scale purchase order expected next month.
This strategic collaboration is focused on developing a custom compressor for reducing ammonia emissions from agriculture, in response to Dutch regulations.
Commissioning of the Sprintex-Mest compressor operation on saturated steam was successfully completed in the Netherlands.
Full-scale production
With the performance and efficiency validated, Mest Water is preparing for full-scale production at its newly established 31,000-square-metre manufacturing facility in Tubbergen, Netherlands.
Production is set to begin in the coming weeks, alongside an initial order of 200 units from a major farming company.
The systems will be priced at €19,000 (A$31,000) per unit, representing a total order value €3.8 million or A$6.3 million, highlighting a considerable and near-term revenue opportunity for the company.
Reducing ammonia emissions
“This is an outstanding commercial development for Sprintex and highlights the company’s potential value add in the environmental sector,” Sprintex CEO Jay Upton said.
This maiden purchase order would represent a significant milestone in the deployment of the innovative ZLD-Up system for sustainable manure processing and ammonia emission reduction.
Alongside the initial order for 200 units, the company and Mest Water anticipate monthly production volumes to increase from April 2025, ahead of a minimum production of 1,000 units per annum in 2026.
Total minimum order volumes from these 1,000 units will be valued at €19 million (A$31 million) and underpin a meaningful revenue stream for Sprintex.
Making a real difference
Mest Water CEO Arjan Mensink said: “We are excited by the recent progress in commissioning and evaluation of Sprintex Compressors, bringing our innovative ZLD-Up systems to a practical reality.
"Our patented ZLD-Up is the culmination of nine years of development and systems manufacture in manure processing, representing the most advanced system available today.
"With our new factory and the inclusion of Sprintex specialised compressors, we expect to commence production in March with a 200-unit order from a large farming company, making a real difference in the circular treatment of manure and reduction of ammonia emissions across the Netherlands in the first instance.”
Ongoing revenue
Sprintex said system production would commence in March at 30 units per month, which equated to EUR €570,000 (A$942,000) per month in ongoing revenue for the company.
Monthly increases are expected with an anticipated minimum production of 1,000 total units in 2026, valued at €19 million (A$31 million).
1,000 units annually will be for the Netherlands only, which Sprintex said delivered critical validation of the technology for Sprintex and Mest Water to target other EU member states with similar emissions laws.
Market opportunity
The European Union has stringent ammonia emission regulations under the National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive (NECD), driving increasing demand for solutions like Mest Water’s ZLD-Up system.
The Netherlands alone has approximately 21,000 cattle and pig farms, representing a large market opportunity.
Sprintex remains committed to supporting Mest Water in its mission to reduce ammonia emissions and provide circular economy solutions for livestock waste treatment.
"Walking through rural towns in the Netherlands, it’s striking how prevalent ammonia emissions are in the air — it is something that millions of people are exposed to daily in the Netherlands, as well as other European Union Member states,” Upton said.
“We are proud to be part of Mest Water’s groundbreaking solution, delivering technology that reduces emissions and also transforms waste into valuable resources.
"This partnership demonstrates how innovation can drive real environmental improvements and economic benefits."
MVR technology
In addition to this collaboration, Sprintex is confident that its mechanical vapour recovery (MVR) compressor technology will have broader applications across multiple industries.
The company’s compressors are ideal for processes requiring efficient vapor recompression, including food and beverage production, chemical processing, wastewater treatment and renewable energy applications.
Sprintex will offer three MVR compressor models this year, catering to different industry requirements and expanding its market presence beyond the agricultural sector.
This is anticipated to considerably increase industry engagement across the EU.
Optimising production
The company anticipated developing two additional compressor models (500kg/hr and 1,500kg/hr) following successful commissioning.
However, discussions are ongoing as to whether a single model can be used in parallel for larger capacity (1500kg/hr) requirements instead of developing two additional sizes.
Decisions in this regard will be made shortly. It is likely that at least one additional model at the lower capacity (500kg/hr) will be developed to ensure optimal efficiency. This has the potential to result in streamlined production, lower costs and faster market deployment.
The ability to use multiple units of the same compressor model presents scalability advantages, allowing Sprintex to optimise its production per unit costs through higher volume output.