Oni: New Reverse Osmosis System Aims to Reduce Water Consumption by Up to 45 Percent

"Oni-AquaHeRO" - (Photo: Oni).

Oni-Wärmetrafo GmbH, based in Lindlar, Germany, presented its new "Oni-AquaHeRO" reverse osmosis system at Fakuma 2026. The system is designed to desalinate make-up water for cooling systems, temperature control processes and high-pressure humidification systems. According to the manufacturer, its adaptive control system can reduce water consumption during treatment by up to 45 percent compared with conventional reverse osmosis systems. The actual savings depend primarily on the raw water quality, the required permeate quality and the operating conditions.

Desalination for Applications with High Water Quality Requirements
In water-carrying circuits, deposits and biofilms can impair heat transfer, promote corrosion and increase maintenance requirements. Injection molding machines and temperature control units sometimes require an electrical conductivity of no more than 500 µS/cm. In high-temperature processes above 180°C, permissible values can be as low as 30 to 50 µS/cm. Locally available drinking water often exceeds these limits.

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According to the supplier, the "Oni-AquaHeRO" reduces the electrical conductivity of treated make-up water to below 15 µS/cm. Depending on the substances present in the water and the operating conditions, the reverse osmosis process achieves removal rates of up to 99 percent for salts, heavy metals and microorganisms. Unlike conventional water softening, the process also removes dissolved salts, including chlorides that can promote corrosion.

Control System Adapts to Water Quality and Membrane Condition
The system takes into account raw water quality, the required permeate quality, temperature and membrane condition. Operating and water quality parameters are continuously monitored and used to automatically adjust the water recovery rate and flushing intervals. This is intended to reduce concentrate losses and fresh water requirements. Additional features include continuous condition monitoring and energy-optimized pump operation. As a pressurized system, it does not require an open storage tank, helping to reduce the risk of contamination or microbial growth in the treated water.

Complementary Treatment for Cooling Water Circuits
The new system complements Oni's existing "Oni-AquaClean" ultrafiltration system, which treats water in the operating cooling circuit using filtration and integrated ozonation. Microorganisms are inactivated and removed from the water during this process. According to the company, this can eliminate the need for chemical biocides in semi-open cooling systems and reduce their use in open systems. The two technologies address different aspects of water treatment: the quality of the incoming make-up water and the treatment of circulating water.

For the "Oni-AquaHeRO", the company was awarded second place in the "Enablers of Plastics Technology (Peripheral Equipment)" category at the Fakuma Innovation Award 2026.

Fakuma 2026, Friedrichshafen, Germany, 12-16 October 2026

More information: www.oni.de

Oni-Wärmetrafo GmbH, Lindlar, Germany

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