Best in their class - Westfalia Separator decanters win in direct waste water treatment plant comparison

To be able to make the best possible decision on an impending new investment at their waste water treatment plant in Apeldoorn, the District Water Board Veluwe invited four Western European centrifuge manufacturers to simultaneously treat the original sludge in parallel under field conditions at the waste water treatment plant with its 350,000 population equivalent. Based on area, Apeldoorn is the largest municipality in the Netherlands, but with a population of only around 150,000. Westfalia Separator Environmental Systems, Oelde, clearly came out on top in the comparison test and also dictated the pace in the ensuing tendering phase. The comparison test conducted with the original sludge from the waste water treatment plant ultimately resulted in the award of a contract for three type UCD 536 decanters.

Spot landing: Technical performance convinces
The mobile container unit from Westfalia Separator Environmental Systems was quickly installed and the first dewatered sludge gushed from the decanter after less than two hours. The four competitors had a great sporting comparison contest for a whole week. The operators of the waste water treatment plant had set up a test programme with different settings which all four applicants had to complete. The assessment included parameters like flocculent consumption, the degree of separation of the separable substances, the dry substance of the discharged cake – all at different throughput capacities.


Westfalia Separator achieved a spot landing with the type UCD 536 decanter used, convinced with its technical performance and won the comparison test in accordance with the specifications of the invitation to tender. The fact that the offer submitted was also spot on rounded off the performance of Westfalia Separator Environmental Systems in the Netherlands. Completely satisfied, the Apeldoorn waste water treatment plant awarded the contract for three UCD 536 decanters, which commenced their parallel operation in autumn 2007.