Mercedes Benz Vans
Automotive Circularity: Paint Shop to Cooling Tower
In South Carolina, we proved that complex industrial streams can be circular. We deployed the Ginseng to tackle paint shop effluent—a difficult waste stream heavy in organics, oils, and dissolved solids. Utilizing a synchronized AOP, UF, and RO process, the system continuously treated this wastewater to premium cooling tower makeup standards.
This rigorous validation didn't just filter water; it stripped out contaminants to create a crystal-clear resource, confirming a scalable, impactful model for factory circularity.
Contaminant Removal
Our multi-barrier process eliminated over 99% of suspended solids, oils, and grease. The system consistently delivered clean water (~ 0.1 NTU), far exceeding the strict quality standards required for cooling towers.
Energy & Recovery
The system operated at ~1.5 kWh/m3 with a projected 75% water recovery across the 3-stage treatment process.
This case study documents the deployment of a containerized water treatment system at an automotive manufacturing facility producing commercial vans. Mercedes-Benz Vans required an industrial water filtration system capable of treating paint and process wastewater to reuse standards, reducing municipal water reliance and eliminating costly third-party hauling fees associated with industrial effluent disposal.
The ginseng modular water treatment system was deployed to remove total suspended solids, oils, turbidity, and paint-related contaminants from the facility’s process wastewater stream. The system delivers treated water to automotive manufacturing reuse standards, enabling on-site water recycling and reducing the facility’s overall wastewater discharge volume and associated compliance risk.
Key capabilities deployed include ceramic flat sheet ultrafiltration membrane treatment, automated HMI controls, remote monitoring via One Service subscription, and full system support from design through commissioning. This deployment serves as a reference case for automotive wastewater treatment, paint booth wastewater treatment, and modular water reuse systems in large-scale automotive manufacturing environments.