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LG Water Solutions rebranding to lose NanoH2O from name

Aug. 24, 2015

In less than a decade California’s home-spun membrane business has gone on an incredible journey, literally from West to East...

Tom Freyberg

In less than a decade California’s home-spun membrane business has gone on an incredible journey, literally from West to East.

From starting out in the corner of University of California laboratory, NanoH2O commercialised its membranes at such a pace that in the space of seven years the company was in a position to be acquired by South Korean company LG Chem in April 2014 (read WWi story).

Today it was announced that the merged company will no longer be called LG NanoH2O but that the membrane manufacturer will be part of a newly launched business unit – LG Water Solutions –created as part of its parent company, LG Chem.

To coincide with the rebranding, a new nanocomposite membrane manufacturing site is expected to open for business next month in Cheong-ju, Korea. The facility will produce seawater, brackish water and tap water RO membranes.

In a statement, Chul Nam, president of LG NanoH2O, said: “LG Chem is aggressively pursuing various technologies to expand our footprint in the water treatment market.”

Speaking to WWi magazine as part of its Leader Focus back in August 2014 (read WWi story),Nam said at the time that: “We believe the synergy between LG Chem and NanoH2O will propel to us to become the market leader in the RO business.”

Since then the company claims to have bolstered its global commercial team to now include sales and technical support offices in China, India, Singapore, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Europe, Turkey, Korea as well as the United States and Caribbean.

In 2013 LG Chem generated a turnover of $18.8 million, from products sold into the petrochemicals market, as well as battery manufacturing.

The coupling of parent company LG Chem’s financial clout together with the NanoH2O’s membrane technology, bringing Korean and American thinking together, could produce a team to watch in the global membrane and water treatment business. Watch this space.

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About the Author

Tom Freyberg

Tom Freyberg is an experienced environmental journalist, having worked across a variety of business-to-business titles. Since joining Pennwell in 2010, he has been influential in developing international partnerships for the water brand and has overseen digital developments, including 360 degree video case studies. He has interviewed high level figures, including NYSE CEO’s and Environmental Ministers. A known figure in the global water industry, Tom has chaired and spoken at conferences around the world, from Helsinki, to London and Singapore. An English graduate from Exeter University, Tom completed his PMA journalism training in London.