CERAFILTEC

CERAFILTEC is a German technology provider specializing in ceramic flat membrane solutions for water and wastewater treatment. Founded in 2016 by Kay Gunther Gabriel, the company originated from the idea to unite leading technology specialists in the ceramic flat membrane field, which dates back to 1993. Gabriel, previously the General Manager of TCONS, a technology consulting firm active in this area since 2010, established CERAFILTEC to innovate and patent a unique set of products and processes.

The company serves project developers, EPCs, contractors, system integrators, and plant operators by providing its filtration technology along with the required engineering design. This enables its partners to deliver competitive and reliable treatment solutions. Its business model focuses on manufacturing and supplying these advanced ceramic modules and components, with a production capacity of up to 450,000 m² per year. The company has received significant funding, including a €30 million growth capital investment in 2022 to accelerate global expansion.

CERAFILTEC's core product is a filtration module with exchangeable ceramic flat membranes for submerged applications. The technology uses an out-to-in filtration process, where water is drawn through the membrane, rejecting particles larger than the pores. Key features include the Active Cake Layer Filtration (ACLF) for removing dissolved contaminants and a CapClean process for efficient chemical cleaning. The systems are designed to replace conventional polymeric membranes and sand filters, offering a longer lifespan, reduced chemical consumption, and the ability to handle challenging feed waters. Recently, the company has partnered with xAI to build the world's largest ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR) for cooling an AI supercomputer data center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Keywords: ceramic membranes, water treatment, ultrafiltration, wastewater filtration, membrane technology, MBR, filtration module, water reuse, industrial water, desalination pre-treatment