HYFLUX has signed two agreements for technology collaboration - one with Swiss engineering company ABB, and the second, with the Dutch Technology Foundation.

Both agreements were inked yesterday, on the sidelines of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW).

The first is with Zurich-based ABB, which has clinched a deal worth S$40 million from Hyflux to provide power to a seawater desalination plant in Algeria.

The two companies said their MOU on technology will enhance their existing collaboration, as ABB's energy efficient technologies and solutions can help increase the energy and operational efficiency of Hyflux's water processing plants.

Hyflux's second agreement, with the Dutch Technology Foundation (STW), will be to jointly fund a 3 million euros (S$6.1 million) partnership research programme on advanced membrane separation technologies.

This programme is expected to last two to four years, and aims to spur cooperation between the Netherlands' academic researchers and the industry, with Hyflux helping to commercialise technological advances.

In fact, one product of several years of collaboration between Hyflux and Dutch researchers, is Ino- Cep, a second-generation hollow fibre ceramic membrane which Hyflux also launched yesterday.

The membrane can withstand high temperatures and extreme pH conditions, and can thus be applied to a wide range of industries and processes, such as the treatment and recycling of laundry water, as well as separating emulsified oily water.

It is one of 16 new products and technologies which water companies will be launching globally, at SIWW 2009.

Another example of a product slated to be launched at the Water Expo's Innovation Corner, is a new anti-clog impeller technology for wastewater pumps by ITT Corporation, which also bought the largest exhibition space among individual company exhibitors, at this year's tradeshow.

In addition to the global product launches, 13 other new innovations will stage regional product launches at the Water Week.