Partnership Between Christeyns and Klaratex: innovation and sustainability hand in hand

Christeyns and Klaratex are partners in innovation and sustainability. Their collaboration, spanning several decades, has resulted in a more efficient and environmentally friendly washing process at this industrial laundry in Wevelgem, Belgium. Thanks to the installation of HydRO, Klaratex can reduce its consumption of fresh spring water significantly.

A Valued Partnership

Both companies are family-run businesses with several generations of history, and they share a passion for innovation. Managing Directors Piet and Karel Dermaux explain: "We share the same family values, which are reflected in the commitment and attention that Christeyns brings to our company and industry. The employees at Christeyns actively collaborate with us to develop practical and high-quality solutions that further optimise our washing process. This makes Christeyns a truly valuable partner."

Pioneering Water Management

In 2016, Klaratex became the first industrial laundry in Belgium to install a HydRO water treatment system. This innovation allowed the company to significantly reduce water consumption while maximising reuse efficiency—a vital factor in managing the 6,000 garments from the food and general industry that pass through the laundry each day. "Water is becoming liquid gold," said my late father. "Years later, that statement is more relevant than ever," observes Piet Dermaux. Inspired by these words, the Dermaux brothers have taken a pioneering role in sustainable water management.

[caption id="attachment_130416" align="alignnone" width="300"] HydRO installation at Klaratex[/caption]

80% Water Reuse

"We aim to use our water as responsibly as possible," says Piet Dermaux. "That’s why we utilise groundwater, rainwater, and even our wastewater, which we purify, treat, and reuse through HydRO."

Karel Dermaux states: "By systematically minimising our water consumption, we now use just 3 litres of fresh spring water for every kilo of linen washed. This indicates that we reuse 80% of our wastewater."

The HydRO system not only saves water but also reduces discharge costs. "Thanks to the system, we discharge up to 80% less wastewater, and the water released is much purer: COD (chemical oxygen demand) is significantly reduced, microplastics are eliminated, and heavy metals are greatly minimised."

"We also collect rainwater from our 4,400 m² roof, purify it, and reuse it through HydRO," continues Piet Dermaux. "In theory, we could operate our laundry for nine months using solely rainwater. However, to gather all the rainwater required, we would need significantly more storage capacity—an area in which we plan to invest further in the future."

A Constructive Collaboration

The HydRO installation at Klaratex was made possible through a partnership between Veride, which designed the water treatment plant, Klaratex, and Christeyns.

"The transition to a HydRO-based washing process went very smoothly," says Piet Dermaux. "Once the system was installed, the plant was operational in less than a month. It was an instant success."

Sustainable Results

"Today, HydRO is an indispensable part of Klaratex’s operations,’ says Piet Dermaux. ‘Thanks to this installation, we have reduced our water consumption by 75-80%, significantly limiting our reliance on natural water sources."

Discover the Klaratex video testimonial

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