Not prepared to wash its hands of environmental hazards or dirty equipment, Ecotech Africa has its vision set on cleaning industrial equipment and one day dominating the local car wash industry.

The Emalahleni-based company designs environmental protection solutions for mining, oil, gas and power generation industries, designed to protect natural water systems and the surrounding ecology.

“With a clear understanding of these sectors, we offer a holistic environmental solution to our clients ranging from water purification and treatment, wastewater treatment (sewage), wash bays, effluent separation processes, as well as asbestos removal, waste management, oil and chemical absorbents, spill kits and a range of biological products for the degradation of contaminants,” says Ecotech Africa GM Karl Claassen.

Claassen explains that biological treatments, which use organisms to break down organic substances in wastewater, are widely used around the world. Unlike other wastewater treatments methods, which use only mechanical or chemical processes, biological treatments include the use of bacteria, nematodes, or other small organisms.

Asbestos removal is another infamous hazard that Ecotech Africa has set its sights on.

As former leader in asbestos production, the incidence of mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer) in South Africa ranks among the highest in the world. This legacy stems from the country’s extensive history of asbestos mining and production for over 100 years. More than 30% of mesothelioma cases in South Africa are tied to environmental exposure, most commonly in the Northern Cape area. More than 70% of reported environmental cases affect women and children, who most likely were exposed when miners brought home the fibres on their hair and clothes, states mesothelioma awareness website, Asbestos.com.

Claassen says that that it is estimated that at least one in every three buildings constructed between the 1940s and 1990s contains asbestos products and was used extensively in the manufacture of many products once used in the South African construction industry.

However, returning to water technology, Ecotech Africa also plans to dominate the car wash industry for not only light commercial vehicles, but also the behemoths of the public transport arena.

“We are experiencing an increase in requirements for such heavy-duty wash systems as the mining and industrial sectors are looking at moving away from the conventional wash systems and are looking at alternatives that save time on washing vehicles and also on the opportunity cost of such systems,” Claassen says.

The company does not only offer mining equipment wash systems, but also a touchless vehicle wash system, rapid transit bus washes, transit rail wash systems and even aircraft and military vehicle wash systems of which many of these systems are fully automated.

Hall M2 Stand 59