Queries: Keeping Ancient Fish Using Modern Techniques Presented by OTF - Page 2

vic · 19-02-2011, 04:13 PM

http://www.straitstimes.com/SME%2BSp...ry_503123.html

SME SPOTLIGHT
Taking green idea into uncharted waters
Mar 17, 2010

In the third of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, Lee Yen Nee talks to environmental engineering firm SIF Technologies to find out how it took a concept from lab to market with a little help from Spring Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme (Seeds).

ENVIRONMENTAL concerns had long been high on entrepreneur Matthew Tan's list of priorities, but his efforts to market a chemical-free water treatment system six years ago was met with an icy response from sceptics.

The green movement here was still in its infancy and with chemical use dominating the water treatment industry, many were not easily convinced by Mr Tan's innovation.

'When you go out there, there is a 95 per cent chance that people are using chemicals to treat water,' he said.

'Nobody believed us. People kept asking why they would need to recycle, why they would need to install this system to reduce chemical waste.'

But he was unfazed - and so confident in his system he offered a money-back guarantee to anyone who installed it.

'The strategy worked. No one returned a system,' said Mr Tan, 45, who at the time was running a one-man show at SIF Technologies, the company founded by his scientist friend, Dr Paul Seneviratne.

Dr Seneviratne, 47, had developed the water treatment system called DPA, named after the dispersion algorithm.

It uses a form of technology called hydrocavitation to increase dissolved oxygen in water by breaking down its molecular clustering. When water is oxygenated, the nutrifying bacteria, or good bacteria, can break down waste in the water, allowing it to be treated and reused.

DPA is 'green' as it treats water without using chemicals and does not require electricity to function. Industry sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals as well as hospitality have embraced this system.

For a couple of years, Dr Seneviratne had tried to market the innovation but he lacked a proper business structure and found it difficult to break into the market.

He then approached Mr Tan, a 17-year veteran of sales and marketing, to join the company. Mr Tan wasted no time in putting together a business plan and applied for funds from Spring Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme (Seeds).

At the end of 2004, which was about one year after Mr Tan joined the company, they received good news when Seeds approved a $300,000 funding that proved crucial as it helped SIF Technologies to get going.

'It gave us the kick-start,' said Mr Tan, now chief executive of SIF. His next step was to patent Dr Seneviratne's innovation and bring in two full-time engineers. The firm now employs six people. Dr Seneviratne is the chairman of SIF.

Things started to turn around after the Seeds funding, but Mr Tan knew that a common hurdle new innovations face is the lack of evidence to support what might appear to be extravagant claims.

He set about documenting laboratory reports and trial results from pilot studies and sought third-party scientists to verify the findings. The process helped SIF differentiate itself from its competitors, said Mr Tan, who hopes to license and franchise the technology worldwide.

He also kept testimonials from satisfied customers. This sort of feedback is helpful not only in keeping track of progress but in identifying new business ventures as well. That new venture turned out to be aquaculture, which had not figured in Mr Tan's initial business plan.

One of his customers, who runs a fish farm, noted that fish bred in water treated by DPA grew faster and produced better-quality meat than those raised in untreated water.

Mr Tan believes aquaculture has huge potential for growth, particularly as food stocks in the oceans are being depleted, so 'land-based farming is going to be the biggest thing'.

The DPA system, which costs about $15,000, enables farms to be self-sustainable by recycling water, so farmers need not worry about scarcity and wastage.

Besides commercial clients, SIF attracts individuals who install the DPA system for personal use. Mr Tan cited one who used the system for his koi pond and after six weeks found that the bacteria count had reduced significantly.

Over the last few years, DPA has recycled an estimated 500 million litres of water. That translates into a cost saving of several hundred thousand dollars in water bills.

The company's track record has helped to bring in several investors, including angel investor Francis Chua, who was attracted by the various areas in which the system can be applied.

SIF recently signed several major contracts here, including one to supply DPA in Singapore's first eco-precinct, Treelodge@Punggol.

Mr Tan has highlighted the possibility that SIF could be acquired by a listed environmental engineering company, perhaps within nine to 12 months. He believes this would enable the firm to take 'quantum leaps' and 'play the big boys' game'.

ynlee@sph.com.sg

**Dave57** · 19-02-2011, 04:58 PM

Anyone interested in GB for handheld Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter?

aro-spino · 19-02-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave57

Anyone interested in GB for handheld Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter?

Any particular brand in mind?

dave6238 · 20-02-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave57

Anyone interested in GB for handheld Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter?

After yesterday's seminar, u so fast post liao? Dun wan to buy tis meter lah.... sekali test my tank n find it low on DO then hv to buy the 15k HRA system product liao..... where to find so much mahneee?

20-02-2011, 11:03 PM

Dear AFC team, thank you for organizing the event. The seminar was very enriching with the presentation on cavitation. if I have understood the seminar correctly, the device is to bring about an increase in Dissolved Oxygen & saturation and reduction of harmful bacteria in the water. By any way, could that be a group buy on the blower and UV sterilizer? or are any products that can help hobbyist achieve the above in blue?

reddevil79 · 22-02-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aro-spino

Any particular brand in mind?

Hi all, i also attend the OTF talk.

did a quick search and found a company in sg carrying some DO Meter:

eChem Instruments Pte Ltd
57 Ubi Ave 1 Unit 06-08 Ubi Centre
Singapore 408936

This links show the DO meters http://www.eutechinst.com/pdt-para-do.html#

maybe we can consider if not too ex or share share use

reddevil79 · 22-02-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddevil79

Hi all, i also attend the OTF talk.

did a quick search and found a company in sg carrying some DO Meter:

eChem Instruments Pte Ltd
57 Ubi Ave 1 Unit 06-08 Ubi Centre
Singapore 408936

This links show the DO meters http://www.eutechinst.com/pdt-para-do.html#

maybe we can consider if not too ex or share share use

To add the price is abt 300 to 400 from the internet

**Dave57** · 22-02-2011, 01:53 PM

thanks for sourcing.
EUTech instruments are value for money from my personal experience.
Maybe can contact them for GB possibility.

nutx · 22-02-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave6238

After yesterday's seminar, u so fast post liao? Dun wan to buy tis meter lah.... sekali test my tank n find it low on DO then hv to buy the 15k HRA system product liao..... where to find so much mahneee?

Bro...for koi pond, they use some hospital system to increase the DO. Abt 3-5k per unit, and it is a professional unit use in hospital. Check with the koi farm you keep your koi.

**Dave57** · 25-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Just to share some info I found online.

American Marine, makers of Pinpoint pH meters, also offers DO meter.
http://www.americanmarineusa.com/
click on Oxygen on the left column.
Not sure about their local distributors.

Will do some search later.

19-02-2011, 04:58 PM	#12
Dave57 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,624	Anyone interested in GB for handheld Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter? __________________

22-02-2011, 01:53 PM	#18
Dave57 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,624	thanks for sourcing. EUTech instruments are value for money from my personal experience. Maybe can contact them for GB possibility. __________________

25-02-2011, 11:59 AM	#20
Dave57 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,624	Just to share some info I found online. American Marine, makers of Pinpoint pH meters, also offers DO meter. http://www.americanmarineusa.com/ click on Oxygen on the left column. Not sure about their local distributors. Will do some search later. __________________

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19-02-2011, 04:13 PM	#11
vic Dragon Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 2,020	http://www.straitstimes.com/SME%2BSp...ry_503123.html SME SPOTLIGHT Taking green idea into uncharted waters Mar 17, 2010 In the third of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, Lee Yen Nee talks to environmental engineering firm SIF Technologies to find out how it took a concept from lab to market with a little help from Spring Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme (Seeds). ENVIRONMENTAL concerns had long been high on entrepreneur Matthew Tan's list of priorities, but his efforts to market a chemical-free water treatment system six years ago was met with an icy response from sceptics. The green movement here was still in its infancy and with chemical use dominating the water treatment industry, many were not easily convinced by Mr Tan's innovation. 'When you go out there, there is a 95 per cent chance that people are using chemicals to treat water,' he said. 'Nobody believed us. People kept asking why they would need to recycle, why they would need to install this system to reduce chemical waste.' But he was unfazed - and so confident in his system he offered a money-back guarantee to anyone who installed it. 'The strategy worked. No one returned a system,' said Mr Tan, 45, who at the time was running a one-man show at SIF Technologies, the company founded by his scientist friend, Dr Paul Seneviratne. Dr Seneviratne, 47, had developed the water treatment system called DPA, named after the dispersion algorithm. It uses a form of technology called hydrocavitation to increase dissolved oxygen in water by breaking down its molecular clustering. When water is oxygenated, the nutrifying bacteria, or good bacteria, can break down waste in the water, allowing it to be treated and reused. DPA is 'green' as it treats water without using chemicals and does not require electricity to function. Industry sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals as well as hospitality have embraced this system. For a couple of years, Dr Seneviratne had tried to market the innovation but he lacked a proper business structure and found it difficult to break into the market. He then approached Mr Tan, a 17-year veteran of sales and marketing, to join the company. Mr Tan wasted no time in putting together a business plan and applied for funds from Spring Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme (Seeds). At the end of 2004, which was about one year after Mr Tan joined the company, they received good news when Seeds approved a $300,000 funding that proved crucial as it helped SIF Technologies to get going. 'It gave us the kick-start,' said Mr Tan, now chief executive of SIF. His next step was to patent Dr Seneviratne's innovation and bring in two full-time engineers. The firm now employs six people. Dr Seneviratne is the chairman of SIF. Things started to turn around after the Seeds funding, but Mr Tan knew that a common hurdle new innovations face is the lack of evidence to support what might appear to be extravagant claims. He set about documenting laboratory reports and trial results from pilot studies and sought third-party scientists to verify the findings. The process helped SIF differentiate itself from its competitors, said Mr Tan, who hopes to license and franchise the technology worldwide. He also kept testimonials from satisfied customers. This sort of feedback is helpful not only in keeping track of progress but in identifying new business ventures as well. That new venture turned out to be aquaculture, which had not figured in Mr Tan's initial business plan. One of his customers, who runs a fish farm, noted that fish bred in water treated by DPA grew faster and produced better-quality meat than those raised in untreated water. Mr Tan believes aquaculture has huge potential for growth, particularly as food stocks in the oceans are being depleted, so 'land-based farming is going to be the biggest thing'. The DPA system, which costs about $15,000, enables farms to be self-sustainable by recycling water, so farmers need not worry about scarcity and wastage. Besides commercial clients, SIF attracts individuals who install the DPA system for personal use. Mr Tan cited one who used the system for his koi pond and after six weeks found that the bacteria count had reduced significantly. Over the last few years, DPA has recycled an estimated 500 million litres of water. That translates into a cost saving of several hundred thousand dollars in water bills. The company's track record has helped to bring in several investors, including angel investor Francis Chua, who was attracted by the various areas in which the system can be applied. SIF recently signed several major contracts here, including one to supply DPA in Singapore's first eco-precinct, Treelodge@Punggol. Mr Tan has highlighted the possibility that SIF could be acquired by a listed environmental engineering company, perhaps within nine to 12 months. He believes this would enable the firm to take 'quantum leaps' and 'play the big boys' game'. ynlee@sph.com.sg

20-02-2011, 11:03 PM	#15
icy_windkin Guest Posts: n/a	Dear AFC team, thank you for organizing the event. The seminar was very enriching with the presentation on cavitation. if I have understood the seminar correctly, the device is to bring about an increase in Dissolved Oxygen & saturation and reduction of harmful bacteria in the water. By any way, could that be a group buy on the blower and UV sterilizer? or are any products that can help hobbyist achieve the above in blue?

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