MAHLE receives type approval for ballast water treatment system

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Introduction On 29th April, 2011, MAHLE was officially awarded the type approval certificate from the Federal German Maritime & Hydrographic Agency (BSH) for its ballast water treatment system,OPS (Ocean Protection System). As such, MAHLE is currently the only German company to offer a chemical-free system for treating ballast water.

MAHLE's three-stage OPS consists of a 200 µm pre-filtration system, a 50 µm main filtration system, and a low pressure UV irradiation facility for disinfection.

During the land and sea-based tests in 2009 and 2010 respectively, MAHLE secured outstanding test results which significantly undercut the maximum limit values (D2 Standards) specified by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation), and also meet the targeted requirements of the USA (including those of California and New York as well as those defined by the U.S. Coast Guard).

Not only is the system exceptionally efficient, it also boasts extremely low power consumption and requires minimum maintenance–all crucial factors in ensuring economical and safe operation on board. Consequently, the system is suitable not only for new sea vessels but also for deployment as a retrofit system.

Concurrent with the award of the certificate, MAHLE has also received various orders. Several major, renowned companies have already decided to employ technology made by MAHLE.

MAHLE Industriefiltration has been producing high-quality industrial filters for fluid technology, air filtration, and process technology for many years. As an innovative, reliable development partner and supplier all over the world, MAHLE Industriefiltration is your expert partner in all areas of filtration and separation. The Industry business unit bundles the MAHLE Group's industrial activities. These include the areas of large engines, industrial filtration, as well as cooling and air-conditioning systems. The MAHLE Group is one of the top 30 automotive suppliers and the globally leading manufacturer of components and systems for the internal combustion engine and its peripherals. More than 47,000 employees work at over 100 production plants and eight research and development centers. In 2010, MAHLE achieved sales of approximately EUR 5.3 billion (USD 7 billion).

Hamburg, 05/2011