Swiss firm makes water fit to drink
Some 80 per cent of travel diseases- from dysentery to hepatitis - are linked to contaminated drinking water.
Swiss company, Katadyn, which is celebrating its 75th birthday this year, is helping travellers to beat the odds.
The company, based near Zurich, is a global leader in portable water treatment systems.
Its products are used by armies, health organisations and adventurers worldwide.
Converting water from a lake, stream, hotel sink or public fountain into safe drinking water involves a two-pronged attack to eliminate bacteria, protozoa and viruses as well as any dangerous chemicals.
“Micro-organisms are easily removed by pure filtration,” Katadyn’s marketing and research manager, Trix Ammann, told swissinfo.
“It just depends on the size of the pores you filter it through.”
Meanwhile, chemicals such as pesticides adhere to the activated carbon filter.
Survival use
Katadyn’s products can purify between half a litre to four litres a minute.
The life span of the replaceable filter cartridges depends on how dirty the water is and the technology used in different products, but some can filter up to 100,000 litres.
The emphasis today, says Ammann, is on smaller and lighter models.
“We are looking at products that are more convenient for travellers because right now the products we have are pump-style filters which most people think are too big or have too many hoses.
“We’re looking at a product you could easily use in a hotel room without using a lot of space.”
The first product developed specifically for the leisure traveller is a water bottle with an in-built filter. The bottle can be filled at any tap or fountain and the water gets purified while drinking.
At sea, Katadyn desalinators use a different technology to remove dissolved salts from seawater.
One product – attached to a boat’s electrical system – makes freshwater from the ocean, while life rafts can be equipped with small, manual desalinators for emergency use.
Made in Switzerland
Katadyn’s turnover in 2002 was SFr30 million, a figure which includes sales of its water purifying tablets and components for filter units made for other companies.
The company was founded in Zug in 1928 but it was not until 1940 that it changed its name to Katadyn.
Today, the firm has subsidiaries in France, Germany, Singapore and the United States but all its products are manufactured in Switzerland.
Customers include the US, French and German military and a number of commercial airlines.
While other companies focus on water treatment systems for large-scale applications, Katadyn specialises in products for individual use.
The company supports sustainable drinking water projects in developing countries, including Nepal.
swissinfo, Vincent Landon
Swiss company, Katadyn, makes portable water treatment systems.
The company is based near Zurich and employs 53 people.
Its products are used whenever safe drinking water isn’t available – for travel, camping and humanitarian operations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes 80% of all travel diseases to contaminated drinking water.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.