On 1 February 2025, the UV Alliance was launched to advance awareness and application of ultraviolet (UV) technology in water management.
Nedap has taken a pivotal role in this new collective, which aspires to contribute substantially to a sustainable and resilient water cycle.
Fostering understanding of UV technology
All founding companies of the UV Alliance have extensive experience in the UV sector. The alliance was created from a need to bridge the gap between the market’s current knowledge of UV technology and its true capabilities, according to Ton van Remmen of Van Remmen UV Technology.
Van Remmen stated, “I am truly passionate about UV technology and the positive impact it can have. But I find it frustrating that so many myths exist in the market. There is a huge gap between what the market knows and what this technology is actually capable of. We need to close that gap.” He further explained that the move involved reaching out to competitors, a step which initially felt uncomfortable but quickly revealed shared challenges. The collaboration now intends to highlight the significant impact of UV technology.
Professionalising the UV market
The UV Alliance is committed to delivering authentic knowledge sharing, going beyond theoretical discussions to include practical examples. It aims to elevate the UV market by focusing on constructing compelling business cases, rather than solely concentrating on the technology itself. By showcasing real-world benefits like reduced water usage, energy efficiency, and waste minimisation, the Alliance promotes UV technology’s relevance in creating sustainable water systems.
UV technology is increasingly being applied in diverse settings, including swimming pools
Known for its role in the microbiological disinfection of drinking water, UV technology is increasingly being applied in diverse settings, including swimming pools. In such environments, the technology's primary benefit is energy conservation, achieved by lowering the frequency of backwashing and reducing water heating requirements. This leads to lower energy costs and decreased formation of combined chlorine, thus ensuring healthier swimming conditions.
Expanding the UV community
As a specialised and knowledge-intensive niche, the UV market requires strategies to make information more accessible, even to professionals not routinely engaged with UV solutions. With this in mind, the UV Alliance plans to participate in international water events, such as Aquatech Amsterdam, where it will present on 12 March from 1:45 PM to 2:30 PM at the “Industrial Stage” in Hall 12.
Initially comprising four core members—Van Remmen UV Technology, Nedap N.V., VGE B.V., and Dissol GmbH—the UV Alliance aims to expand by incorporating other UV-focused firms. To support this growth, a foundation has been established to manage the UV Community, oversee event organisation, produce detailed knowledge articles, and operate the digital platform, uv-alliance.com.
On February 1, 2025, the UV Alliance was officially established. Nedap is one of the initiators of this center of expertise for UV technology. With this alliance, they aim to increase awareness of UV technology and contribute to a sustainable, future-proof water cycle.
All participating companies have been active in the UV market for decades. What led to the founding of the UV Alliance?
True impact of UV technology
Ton van Remmen, owner of Van Remmen UV Technology, explains: “I am truly passionate about UV technology and the positive impact it can have. But I find it frustrating that so many myths exist in the market. There is a huge gap between what the market knows and what this technology is actually capable of. We need to close that gap. That’s why I took the initiative to establish the UV Alliance. I stepped out of my comfort zone and reached out to my competitor. At first, it felt a bit uncomfortable, but we quickly realized that we were facing the same challenges. From there, we joined forces. With the launch of the UV Alliance, we have reached a real milestone. Together, we can showcase the true impact of UV technology.”
For the Alliance, honest knowledge sharing about UV technology is a key foundation, but the collaboration goes beyond that. By sharing real-world examples, members aim to further professionalize the UV market. Currently, decisions about solutions often focus on UV technology itself, while that is not the right starting point. At its core, it’s about building strong business cases. By demonstrating potential savings in water usage, energy, and waste reduction, UV technology becomes relevant. It helps organizations build a sustainable water cycle.
Microbiological disinfection step
The focus on real-world case studies is what sets the Alliance apart from existing associations. Most people are familiar with UV water disinfection in drinking water treatment, as the fourth microbiological disinfection step.
However, UV technology is now used in many other applications, such as swimming pools. In that case, the primary focus is energy savings. By reducing the backwash frequency, less water is needed, and it doesn’t have to be heated to 28 degrees Celsius. This results in significant energy cost savings. Additionally, it lowers the formation of combined chlorine, creating a healthier swimming environment.
Knowledge-intensive niche
The UV market is a highly specialized, knowledge-intensive niche. With the UV Alliance, members aim to make the UV story more accessible, even for water professionals who do not work with UV technology daily. To achieve this, the UV Alliance will take the stage at several international water events in the coming months. One such event is Aquatech Amsterdam, where the UV Alliance will present on Wednesday, March 12, from 1:45 PM to 2:30 PM on the “Industrial Stage” in Hall 12.
The UV Alliance was founded with four core members but aims to expand by welcoming more UV-related companies. To facilitate this, a foundation has been established, which manages the UV Community. Foundation members organise events, develop in-depth knowledge articles, and maintain the digital platform: uv-alliance.com.
The four founding members of the UV Alliance are:
- Van Remmen UV Technology
- Nedap N.V.
- VGE B.V.
- Dissol GmbH
