
PBN Manufacturing Awards 2024
MEET THE MAKERS: AquasGroup
IT’S A DOCTOR’S JOB to safely insert medical devices into patients and before they reach the operating room, it’s AquasGroup’s job to help ensure the parts of that device have been made free of contaminants.
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The East Providence-based company manufactures systems that purify, store and recycle water used in the processes needed to create medical devices that can release harmful chemicals, heavy metals, oil and grease into wastewater.
But AquasGroup’s reach goes far beyond operating rooms. The company creates systems for all kinds of precision manufacturers from aerospace and marine to automotive and controlled-environment agriculture, says Dane Sheldon, AquasGroup director of business development.
“They are very strict about not wanting any contamination introduced to the parts, whether it’s going to go into a jet engine or it’s going to go into a human body,” Sheldon said.
It’s a unique field, Sheldon says, but one AquasGroup has honed through decades in business.
Initially established more than 35 years ago as Environmental Control Systems Inc., the company rebranded as AquasGroup in 2008 to emphasize water recycling rather than merely treating wastewater. The shift aligned with stricter environmental regulations and the decline of Rhode Island’s jewelry industry, which had long relied on the company’s water treatment solutions.
AquasGroup’s systems ensure the removal of contaminants from manufacturing processes, such as chemicals, heavy metals, oil and grease, that would otherwise be released into wastewater. These systems are crucial for high-precision parts, from jet engines to medical implants, where contamination cannot be tolerated. The company designs customized machines to suit client needs, including zero-liquid-discharge systems, which continuously purify and reuse water without sending it down the drain. This reduces both water waste and operational costs for clients.
Annually, the company manufactures 20 to 50 machines, ranging in price from thousands to more than $1 million, depending on complexity. The units, often a combination of stainless steel, hoses, piping and thermoplastic polymers, are designed, built and tested in AquasGroup’s 38,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space.
The company’s purification systems utilize granular activated carbon from coconut shells and specialized resin to filter contaminants. These materials can be reused multiple times, reducing industrial waste significantly.
“We are definitely a company that focuses on continuing to improve the systems and solutions we provide and move the ball forward,” Sheldon said. “We’re constantly evolving.”