Heritage - Nijhuis Saur Industries

1920 – 1960

Focus on designing and manufacturing slaughterhouse equipment

During the mid-twenties the company gradually applied more focus on designing and manufacturing slaughterhouse equipment. In 1927, Nijhuis provided the local slaughterhouse in Winterswijk with the latest, state-of- the-art slaughterhouse technology, - a unique piece of equipment in the Netherlands back then. In the 1930s, Nijhuis introduced a new division aimed at repairing, designing, and manufacturing Nijhuis pumps. G.J. Nijhuis proved to be a great inventor and was personally responsible for the introduction of the self-priming centrifugal pump. Nijhuis pumps continued to grow in popularity, particularly in the shipping and fire pump industry where the Nijhuis name became a household brand for decades.

1960 – 1980

A critical eye on water treatment

The growing demand for the purification of wastewater in slaughterhouses in the sixties and seventies led to the development of the Augias bandfilter and flotation system. Capable of separating solids from slaughterhouse wastewater, the newly developed system met the discharge requirements imposed by the government. The flotation system was an idea originally inspired by the oil industry.

In 1977, Machinefabriek G.J. Nijhuis employed 200 employees across three divisions: Pumps, Slaughter Technique and Wastewater. Each division had their own symbol and specialized in engineering, manufacturing and delivery of products across a wide range of industries. The idea behind the company’s logo, showing the Nijhuis eye was also established during this time. It meant to visualize “a critical eye on water treatment”.

1980 – 1993

Nijhuis Water division

To allow the company to specialize further and meet the growing demand for purifying wastewater, Nijhuis started the Nijhuis Water division, aimed at developing wastewater technologies to accommodate for a new range of other markets at the end of the seventies and eighties. The GDF (the Gerrit Drupsteen Flotation unit) and IPL (Inclined Plate Lamella separator) were developed during this period, as well as the temporary wastewater rental solutions. Throughout the mid-eighties, Nijhuis Pumps were separated all together which resulted in Nijhuis Water and Nijhuis Slaughter Technique operating as separate entities.

Expansion of primary and secondary treatment technologies

Nijhuis continued to expand its wastewater technologies in primary and secondary treatment all over the world under the leadership of G.J. Nijhuis, grandson of the original founder. He was director of Nijhuis Water from the late seventies until 1990. It was also at this time that the business started operating in Poland. In 1993, Nijhuis Water moved from Winterswijk to Dinxperlo with approximately 40 employees. The new location provided Nijhuis with its own facility for the in-house production of robust stainless steel wastewater solutions, such as the famous Dissolved Air Flotation system.

1993 – 2012

The introduction of a new range of products and services

The new office and production location introduced a whole new range of added value services like engineering, project management, manufacturing, and service of complete wastewater treatment systems. The company’s expertise continued to grow across a wide range of industries, especially in the oil and gas market where the famous Nijhuis flocculation-flotation technique was based on the latest safety standards.

At the beginning of 2000, the demand to create value out of waste material was growing. To accommodate this requirement Nijhuis developed the first concept of a system which combines waste and wastewater in one stream.

In the years that followed, waste to value continued to develop itself as an important new theme in the industry. Not only were primary and secondary treatment important for the complete delivery of wastewater treatment plants, but Nijhuis also developed its own Sand Filter and Carbon Filter for tertiary wastewater treatment and an inside fed rotary filter for primary treatment.

2010 witnessed the start of a new period through the acquisition of a biogas company (Thecogas), aimed at expanding the company’s biogas activities to create more value out of waste(water). After a period of 18 years, the Nijhuis logo changed from blue to black and yellow but still included the ever-watchful eye which had been unique to the Nijhuis identity since the 1970s.

2012 – 2019

Start of the growth strategy

With the appointment of Menno M. Holterman and Ronald Ruijtenberg to the Board in November 2012, Nijhuis began accelerating its growth strategy.

In 2013, Nijhuis acquired Excellent Ozone Solutions (now Nijhuis Ozone Solutions) and H2OK (now Nijhuis Saur Industries UK & Ireland) to expand the Nijhuis group with ozone disinfection technology and turnkey solutions. In 2014, new offices were established in Latin America, Singapore, and China - and at the end of the year, Nijhuis Ozone Solutions relocated from Eerbeek to join the team in Doetinchem.

Introducing innovations and Global Water Intelligence Awards

From 2014 until 2020, Nijhuis introduced a record-breaking number of innovations in the water treatment market, following the growing demand for water solutions. Innovative products and applications such as the High Rate i-DAF, AECO-FAT, GENIUS, i-DOSE, MediOxi, Nijhuis Screw Press, and Nijhuis Membrane Solutions changed the water market. In September 2019, Nijhuis acquired Deba UK Ltd to complement its existing portfolio of services in cooling water in the UK. A major highlight is the awarding of the Global Water Intelligence Awards in 2020 for the Industrial Project of the Year (L’Oréal Warsaw Water Reuse Station, Poland) and Desalination Plant of the Year (Keppel Infrastructure - Marina East Desalination Plant, Singapore).

2020 – 2025

Further growth and introducing Mission Water & Nijhuis Saur Industries

In June 2020, Nijhuis was acquired by Saur Group, becoming responsible for leading the Saur Group’s Industrial Water Solutions Division, a leading player in industrial water. The acquisition was a major step into the transformation of Saur towards a more international group, with a strengthened technological, innovative, and digital differentiation – along with a stronger growth profile thanks to a leading position in the fast growing Industrial Water business.

Therefore, the new brand and company name ‘Nijhuis Saur Industries’ was created to bring together two power brands in the industrial and municipal industry. In 2022, the Saur Group launched the new Mission Water purpose: Engineering innovative solutions models to preserve one of the most precious resources on our planet, contributing to a sustainable and resilient future! We call it Mission Water.

NSI acquisitions

Between 2020 and 2025, Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI), part of the Saur Group, completed more than 12 acquisitions to expand its global presence and capabilities in industrial water and resource recovery solutions. These acquisitions were part of NSI's strategic growth plan to strengthen its portfolio and address the increasing demand for sustainable water solutions worldwide.

These acquisitions reflect NSI's commitment to its Mission Water purpose, aiming to provide sustainable and resilient water solutions globally.

Nijhuis Industries (2020) – The foundational acquisition that established Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI) as Saur's Industrial Water platform.

Econvert (2020) – Anaerobic treatment expert, enhancing NSI's biogas capabilities.

Unidro (2020) – Water treatment engineering expert for the energy sector, enhancing NSI's heavy industries capabilities and manufacturing facility in Italy.

Riventa (2020) - Riventa specializes in optimizing the performance and energy efficiency of pumps, blowers, and turbines

Nortech Group (2021) – UK-based engineering company, enhancing NSI's engineering capabilities and now part of the engineering capabilities of NSI UK & Ireland.

Byosis (2022) – Specialist in ammonia recovery systems, enhancing NSI's resource recovery capabilities

PWNT (2022) – Commercial subsidiary of PWN, bringing advanced drinking water purification technologies.

Flootech (2022) – Finnish provider of (inhouse) water treatment technologies, expanding NSI's reach in Scandinavia and expertise in Pulp and Paper.

Sodai S.p.A. (2022) – Italian engineering and water management company, expanding NSI's operations in Italy.

Aqua-Chem (2022) – U.S.-based water purification company, strengthening NSI's presence in North America with a manufacturing facility and expertise in the pharmaceutical and beverage market.

Mobile Water Solutions (2022) – Company specializing in mobile water treatment solutions.

Suez Industrial Water Ltd (2023) – UK-based industrial water services provider, enhancing NSI's O&M services and changed into NSI Industrial O&M Solutions.

CirTec (2023) – Dutch company specializing in sustainable water, cellulose recovery and sludge treatment technologies.

Natural Systems Utilities (NSU) (2024) – U.S. provider of turnkey water treatment and decentralized reuse solutions.

One group tackling global water challenges

Combining our longstanding expertise and know-how, we design, manufacture, deliver, and maintain our innovative solutions with the highest level of innovation to meet today’s challenges, as well as those of the future With this vision, we advocate for water and support industries across the globe—industries that are as dynamic and ever-evolving as we are. It’s the same entrepreneurial mindset that Gerrit Jan Nijhuis embodied when he founded his workshop in 1904: to build solutions that serve both people and the planet. Since the appointment of Menno M. Holterman and Ronald Ruijtenberg 13 years ago, our transformation has been extraordinary. What started as a single company has grown into a global group. NSI’s turnover increased from just over €20 million to more than €600 million, with a backlog exceeding €800 million. Today, Nijhuis Saur Industries stands as a healthy, financially sound, and highly professional organization—supporting customers around the world in solving the world's most critical water challenges.

120 years of Heritage – The Future is Water

In 2024, Nijhuis Saur Industries proudly celebrated its 120-year anniversary milestone that reflects our enduring legacy of water innovation, dedication, and impact. Since 1904, we have evolved from a local enterprise into a global leader, driven by a purpose to serve, protect, and preserve water, #missionwater

This remarkable journey has shaped not only who we are today but also how we look to the future. Our long-standing commitment to sustainability and technological excellence naturally flows into our vision: "The Future is Water." This forward-looking mission is a continuation of our heritage, a recognition that the challenges of tomorrow must be met with the same pioneering spirit that defined our past.

As we mark 120 years of progress, our legacy inspires us to remain bold, responsible, and innovative. We carry the strength of our history into a future where water will define resilience, prosperity, and life itself.

Building on more than a century of strong heritage