SINGAPORE : US-based Marmon Water has opened a new facility in Singapore to produce filtration systems and components for the worldwide residential water treatment market.

The new factory is part of the company's plans to establish a manufacturing base in Asia, producing filters for residential markets in China, Southeast Asia and North America.

The new 35,000-square metre plant in Singapore comes at a cost of S$28 million. But it is not Marmon Water's first investment in Asia. The US firm has already been working with the Singapore water company Hyflux for some time.

Last year, the two partners set up a water research facility in Singapore. They also set up a joint venture in China to introduce their water treatment products to the market there.

Angelo Pantaleo, President of Drinking Water Group, Marmon Water, said: "What we have done with our R&D company with Hyflux here in Singapore is that we're constantly looking for ways to make things cheaper.

"And we have some new technologies within the next 12 months that we'll be introducing, that will significantly reduce the cost of the current products."

Currently, basic faucet filters go for US$30, but the more advanced systems for entire houses can cost thousands of dollars.

Hyflux has been seeking to grow its presence in the region. It has started to push its membrane-based technology into India, adding the sub-continent to its operations in China and the Middle East.

Hyflux said it has managed to use its membrane technology to recycle more than just water.

Sam Ong, Group Deputy CEO of Hyflux, said: "We have commissioned our recycle oil plant in Saudi Arabia. It is doing very well, and that will be our showcase, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region.

"And with that plant up and running at this point, we are looking forward to the recycle oil business to grow, especially in the GCC region."

Marmon Water's new plant in Singapore is expected to reach full production capacity by the end of this year, or the first quarter of 2009. - CNA /ls