Nijhuis Saur Industries delivers full-scale DAF installation for KLM Catering Services at Schiphol Airport, in the Netherlands

What started as a rental water treatment solution has evolved into a full-scale installation. At KLM Catering Services (KCS) at Schiphol Airport, Nijhuis Saur Industries recently commissioned a full-scale DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) installation – a direct continuation of the successful deployment of a rental unit from our Service Center Mobile Water Solutions.

This project demonstrates the flexibility and forward-thinking approach of Nijhuis Saur Industries: by leveraging our in-house knowledge, experience, and broad range of solutions across the group, we can quickly deliver tailored water treatment systems. This ability to create synergies across our capabilities sets us apart from others in the market. We start with a temporary solution to ensure operational continuity and, based on real-life performance data, develop a sustainable, permanent installation that fully meets the customer’s needs.

Published on 17.11.2025

The challenge: Wastewater from industrial dishwashing processes

KCS provides daily catering for hundreds of KLM flights departing from Schiphol. Operating from two locations – KCS North, where goods from suppliers are received, and KCS Central, where meals are assembled and delivered to the aircraft – the company washes and reuses large quantities of dishes, trays, and cooking equipment.

During this process, wastewater is generated by the large industrial dishwashing systems. This wastewater contains fats, food residues, and other organic matter that cannot be discharged directly into the sewer. To comply with local discharge requirements, treatment is essential.

The mobile solution: rental DAF unit

To quickly and efficiently treat the wastewater, KCS initially chose a temporary rental DAF unit from the Mobile Water Solutions fleet of Nijhuis Saur Industries.

This mobile installation offered the flexibility and scalability needed to:

effectively treat the wastewater,
comply with all applicable discharge standards, and
ensure operational continuity while defining a long-term water management strategy.

Over the two years the mobile unit was in operation, the system was continuously monitored and optimized. The results were clear: the installation met all discharge criteria, significantly reduced pollution units, and provided KCS with complete peace of mind through chemical supply, maintenance, and service delivered by the NSI team.

The next step: A permanent DAF installation

Following this successful trial period, KCS decided to transition from the temporary setup to a permanent, tailor-made DAF installation.
This new system is designed to:

treat the contaminated water from the dishwashing lines quickly and efficiently,
ensure the treated water meets the strictest discharge regulations, and
provide a sustainable, future-proof solution that delivers both operational and environmental benefits.

Building on the insights gained during the mobile phase, the permanent DAF unit incorporates all lessons learned from two years of continuous monitoring and optimization. With its customized design and advanced automation, the installation now enables KCS to maintain consistent treatment performance, minimize pollution load units (PLU), and further reduce operational dependencies. Supported by ongoing chemical supply and technical service from the Nijhuis Saur Industries team, KCS can rely on a robust, long-term solution that secures compliance and operational peace of mind.

NSI: Shaping the future of sustainable water treatment

This project perfectly illustrates how Nijhuis Saur Industries supports customers with flexible, step-by-step water management solutions.
By combining technology, operational data, and our group-wide expertise, we create synergies that allow us to implement sustainable, full-scale systems quickly and effectively – something that truly distinguishes us from others in the market.

At KCS, this collaboration has resulted in:

full compliance with all applicable discharge regulations,
a significant reduction in pollution load units (PLU),
the implementation of a sustainable and efficient on-site water treatment process, and
the establishment of a strong, long-term partnership founded on continuous improvement and mutual trust.