HP Watermakers, a company known for innovation, expanded its facilities and achieved steady growth. In 2023, they introduced Sea0spot, a machine solving poor dock water quality by combining desalination and softening functions. A desalinator for boat
In 2022, HP Watermakers achieved outstanding results, including a 20 percent growth and the sale of over 350 desalinators. They also inaugurated a flagship warehouse&shop in Fort Lauderdale, demonstrating their commitment to expanding their presence in the U.S. territory. Notably, they launched new products like the HP Kilo watermaker, MWT water softeners, and Part-net 2.0 interface system version.
More space to produce more and better
In 2022, HP Watermakers completed the expansion of its headquarters in Zibido San Giacomo, near Milan, by adding a neighboring facility and connecting them with a new intermediate shed. This effectively doubled the size of the production facility, enabling the reorganization and streamlining of production processes, logistics, warehouse, and offices. The company, although smaller compared to other multinationals, is smart and dynamic in finding solutions and addressing challenges. The decision to expand the headquarters was prompted by the increase in raw material prices. According to Gianni Zucco, co-founder of the company, the expansion was driven by the need to produce parts in-house to mitigate the impact of rising raw material costs on the final product price. They invested in a five-axis CNC lathe to expedite part production, necessitating more space.Zucco highlights the company’s strong growth and increased market shares in several countries, including a resurgence in the Italian market. Construction sites now actively seek their products, marking a significant shift from the post-2008 crisis period when the Italian market was stagnant.
The sales and service network
HP Watermakers exports approximately 80 percent of its production, with key foreign markets including Europe (France, Holland, Spain, Croatia, Greece), Turkey, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. Gianni Zucco highlights the presence of distributors in 53 countries, emphasizing the extensive and knowledgeable network. The company conducts annual refresher courses at headquarters for its distributors. Service during the warranty period (three years) is managed directly by HP Watermakers and its network. Remote management of interventions is a crucial aspect of the service system, facilitated by the machines’ interfacing and automation. YouTube hosts a series of instructional videos and tutorials explaining various alarms and interventions, linked to digital manuals available in five languages on the website and onboard plotters. An innovative assistance system utilizes WhatsApp, automatically sending troubleshooting videos based on the problem and machine’s serial number, reducing interventions by 95 percent.
What’s new 2023
The first novelty unveiled at the 2023 Düsseldorf show underscores HP Watermakers’ ability to swiftly devise practical solutions. In 2022, they introduced MWT, a softening and nanofiltration system tailored for treating water sourced from the dock’s water main. This system, devoid of pumps, operates using mains water pressure and relies on a sophisticated membrane. Gianni Zucco explains that due to drought and water network management issues, the quality of water supplied by docks increasingly deviates from standard mains water, sometimes bordering on semi-brackish. This challenge, particularly prevalent in Mediterranean ports, spurred the development of Sea0spot, a new solution distinct from MWT, designed to address the issue of poor-quality dock water.
How the new solution works
Sea0spot is an innovative machine that integrates the functionalities of both a desalination system for boats and a softener into a single system. It represents an evolution of the HP Kilo desalinator launched in late 2022, which, operating at 220V with minimal energy consumption of only 1 kWh, can consistently produce 120 l/h of fresh water. Designed for small to medium-sized boats, Sea0spot features a compact and energy-efficient design.
Key additions to Sea0spot include a dedicated inlet for port water requiring softening treatment, a solenoid valve, and new software. The operation is straightforward: users can switch between desalination and marina water treatment functions using a dedicated button while the system is on standby. This functionality is enabled by a solenoid valve that opens the dock water arrival line, which may vary from port to port. The dock water is treated using the same seawater membranes employed for desalination but at lower pressure, ensuring a reduction in the total dissolved solids (TDS) and total hardness levels. This helps prevent limescale buildup and ensures the protection of systems utilizing fresh water, as well as facilitating deck and hull washing without limescale residues. Sea0spot utilizes existing and well-established technologies while offering a new product solution. It shares the same dimensions as any HP series desalinator, eliminating the need for redesigning engine room layouts. Moreover, retrofitting this system onto existing HP desalinators is feasible.
Together We Boat!ùIn Düsseldorf show a prominent message emerged from the joint booth featuring HP Watermakers, Mase, and GenSet, emphasizing a strategic alliance between the three companies. This alliance, showcased as a key claim, signifies a collaboration aimed at complementing each other’s offerings. The message emphasizes the integration of desalinators and generators to create an independent boat. It underscores the formation of an alliance not only in sales but also in service provision. The collaboration is portrayed as a union of three robust and independent companies, pooling resources to foster growth, capitalize on synergies, and establish a comprehensive solution hub for their customers.
