Item 1. Business
Item 1.
Business
Overview
LiqTech International, Inc. is a clean technology company that provides state-of-the-art gas and liquid purification products by manufacturing ceramic silicon carbide filters and membranes as well as developing industry-leading and fully automated filtration solutions and systems. For more than two decades, we have developed and manufactured products of re-crystallized silicon carbide. We specialize in three business areas: ceramic membranes for liquid filtration systems, ceramic diesel particulate filters (DPFs) to control soot exhaust particles and black carbon emission from diesel engines, and plastic components for usage across various industries. Using nanotechnology, we develop proprietary products using patented silicon carbide technology. Our products are based on unique silicon carbide membranes that facilitate new applications and improve existing technologies. We market our products from our offices in Denmark and through local representatives and distributors. The products are shipped directly to customers from our production facilities in Denmark.
The terms “LiqTech”, “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or any derivative thereof, as used herein, refer to LiqTech International, Inc., a Nevada corporation, together with its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, which we collectively refer to herein as our “Subsidiaries”.
At present, we conduct our operations in the Kingdom of Denmark. Our Danish operations are located in the Copenhagen area, Hobro, and Aarhus.
Our Products
We manufacture and sell a broad range of systems and products based on the application of our ceramic filters and membranes for the filtration of liquids and gases within a range of uses, such as industrial wastewater, oil & gas, commercial pool, non-road machinery, marine, chemicals/petrochemicals and other industrial applications. We also provide engineered plastic parts and products for various internal and external industrial applications in the food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
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Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membranes for Liquid Filtration
For more than two decades, LiqTech has developed, manufactured, and sold innovative silicon carbide ceramic membranes for liquids purification. Based on our continuous R&D efforts, patented technologies, and advanced production methods, we produce state-of-the-art silicon carbide products for various applications with the current membrane portfolio consisting of:
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Silicon Carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes, a unique patented technology designed as a tubular membrane. It utilizes a crossflow structure to handle high concentrations of suspended solids found in produced water from the oil & gas and chemical industries, wastewater from industrial processes and manure filtration, and other applications. It offers consistent removal of oil and suspended solids at high throughput rates regardless of feed conditions. We offer onshore and offshore solutions and have experience within petrochemicals, chemicals and produced water streams. We believe our SiC filters are the best alternative to microfiltration and walnut shell filters due to the operational efficiencies of our SiC filters including operating cost savings, reduced installation cost, and product resilience. Our chemically inert, plug-and-play membranes are extremely hard, chemically resistant, and consist of durable ceramics with high flux (flow). SiC membranes are stronger, harder, longer-lasting, more temperature-resistant, and perform more efficiently than conventional ceramic or polymeric membranes;
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Hybrid Technology Membranes (HTM) , a patented asymmetric membrane that combines the desired properties from silicon carbide (SiC) and zirconia (ZrO₂) ceramics. With a pore size of 60 nanometers (nm), it is suitable for ultrafiltration applications. This state-of-the-art membrane technology facilitates new separation processes and new filtration applications; and
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Aqua Solution ®, which integrates an enclosed structural design with cutting-edge membrane technology in a solution specifically designed for applications including pre-treatment, wastewater treatment, and swimming pool and spa water filtration. Our Aqua Solution® offers the same water purification as conventional sand filters, which typically require up to 400 times more space and have pore sizes at least three times larger than our Aqua Solution® SiC membrane. The Aqua Solution® also reduces the number of membrane elements, pressure vessels, and both water and energy consumption as well as CO2 footprint by offering high-flow capabilities at very low pressure with improved filtration characteristics.
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Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) for Gas Purification
We offer diesel particulate filters for exhaust emission control solutions to the verified retrofit and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) markets through our direct sales force and distributors specializing in sales to end-users. We use a proprietary “nano wash coat” to provide a catalytic coating for anything from diesel particulate filters to catalytic converters. Our DPF products are sold worldwide under the LiqTech brand.
We have developed a robust silicon carbide diesel particulate filter that is especially effective for vehicles, generators, marine and non-road applications that produce a high soot load. If properly maintained, a LiqTech DPF can last as long as the application machinery or engine. Our DPFs are ideal for both on- and off-road vehicles and machinery because of their strength, chemical non-reactive nature, temperature resilience, and thermal conductivity.
Our DPF filters can handle higher soot loads than filters that do not use a silicon carbide membrane, making them ideal for situations in which engines infrequently reach high enough temperatures to burn off the soot. Examples include:
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Garbage trucks and port vehicles;
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Diesel pickup trucks not carrying a full load;
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Intra-city vehicles that do not reach highway speeds;
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Off-road construction vehicles that idle for long periods of time;
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Marine “black carbon” exhaust applications; and
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Back-up generators and general “gen-set” applications.
Liquids Filtration Systems & Solutions
LiqTech develops, manufactures, and sells liquid filtration systems using our patented silicon carbide technology (sometimes also referred to herein as our “Aqua Solution®, SiC, and HTM membranes”). Our current focus is to strengthen our position within certain industrial applications such as difficult industrial water streams and hydrocarbon production-derived contaminated water, which we refer to herein as “produced water”. Furthermore, we remain focused on our legacy segments within marine scrubber wastewater, pool, metal & mining, and other energy applications.
Our filtration systems have been used in the following applications by our clients:
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Pool and Spa Water: We have supplied turnkey water filtration systems for medium to very large public swimming pool installations in Europe and Asia Pacific. Our Aqua Solution® ceramic membranes provide unique advantages for the commercial pool filtration industry in terms of reduced energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions, smaller footprint, reduced water and chemical consumption, and consistent, high-quality water filtration.
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Produced Water: Our systems can be used for the filtration of produced water, which is a byproduct of oil & gas production. The amount of produced water varies from 0.1 to 10 times the amount of oil produced. We have an installation with a major international oil & gas company operating with stable performance. Our solution is market-proven and applicable for onshore and offshore operations.
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MEG: Our silicon carbide membrane technology can be deployed in filtration systems related to monoethylene glycol ("MEG") recovery within the oil & gas industry. MEG is widely used by oil & gas producers in wellheads and pipelines to prevent hydrate formation. In deep-water, offshore gas production facilities, where the exposure to lower temperatures in subsea pipelines is common, MEG is used for hydrate inhibition. Together with our clients, we have demonstrated the performance of SiC membrane technology and validated significant performance improvements to the MEG regeneration process when compared to other membrane technologies.
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Marine Scrubber Wastewater: We supply water filtration systems for marine scrubber systems that may be deployed on ships to reduce sulfur emissions stemming from heavy fuel oil (HFO) operations, allowing vessels to comply with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 sulfur cap. To date, more than 170 water treatment systems have been installed, with orders from European and Asian scrubber technology providers, shipyards, and ship owners. Recently, we are evaluating new opportunities for water treatment units in dual-fuel engine exhaust gas recovery.
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Industrial Applications: We have delivered complete liquid filtration systems for aggressive fluid applications such as heavy metal removal for energy providers and water treatment systems for mining wastewater. Furthermore, our systems have been deployed successfully to reduce OPEX and enhance product quality in chemicals/petrochemicals applications.
Highly Flexible & Innovative Plastic Manufacturing
LiqTech provides highly flexible and innovative plastics manufacturing, focusing on machining, welding, bending, and solvent cementing. With an intense focus on customer demand, LiqTech serves market leaders in the clean technology, pharmaceuticals, foods, healthcare, and graphics industries. Furthermore, LiqTech delivers benefits through vertical integration by manufacturing some key components for the fabrication and assembly of liquid filtration systems for pool and marine scrubber applications.
Our Competitive Strengths
Our products and systems compete with other filtration technologies that are made of ceramic, aluminum oxide and polymeric materials. Most of our competitors are large industrial companies; however, we believe our patented technology allows us to produce high-quality products that provide an advantage over many of our direct and, in many cases, larger competitors. We intend to continue investing in R&D with the aim of developing new technologies and improving our existing products to strengthen our competitive advantages, retaining our existing customers, and acquiring new customers.
We believe the following strengths underpin our ability to increase revenue and profitability:
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Advantages of Silicon Carbide Membranes and Filters: Our liquid filtration and diesel exhaust products utilize silicon carbide substrate and membrane technology, which have unique qualities that we believe make our products more effective than those of our competitors. Unlike filtration products made of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide membranes are chemically inert and temperature-resistant. Furthermore, silicon carbide membranes exhibit a high degree of hydrophilicity (the tendency of a surface to become wet or absorb water), which results in uniquely high flux (and correspondingly low energy consumption). Silicon carbide is also very durable, and its hardness is only surpassed by select unique material compositions such as diamonds, making it a highly desirable material for various abrasive fluids in industrial applications. As a result, we believe that such superior physical properties make our products desirable in both liquid filtration products and exhaust emission control products.
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Complete In-house Systems Fabrication: LiqTech provides full fabrication and integration of our membranes into complete filtration systems made from corrosion-resistant materials and components. We possess in-house engineering capabilities for process design, 3D modeling, automation, and control. Our professional staff of dedicated engineers and craftsmen assume responsibility for the specification, engineering, fabrication, and commissioning process. We believe that supplying our customers with a modular-based solution built upon our silicon carbide membranes is unique in the market, considering our vertical integration with in-house manufacturing of silicon carbide products and engineered plastic components, coupled with the design, engineering, and assembly of the integrated systems.
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Broad Application of LiqTech Membranes: Our membranes can be applied in a variety of applications, including the filtration of industrial wastewater, separation of metals from liquids in industrial processes, marine scrubber wastewater, chemicals and produced water within oil & gas, oil emulsion separation, bacteria removal, commercial swimming pool water treatment, food and beverages, chemicals/petrochemicals, and other applications.
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Marketing and Manufacturing in Key Markets and Expanding to Other Markets: While production is centered in Denmark, we have distribution and sales activities across multiple jurisdictions. We also sell our products through distributors and agents in many other countries and regions such as China, Korea, Spain, UK, France, Middle East, Singapore, Australia and the U.S. Moreover, we have established customer relationships in more than 25 countries.
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Strong and Experienced Management Team: Our management team has deep experience in the clean technology and filtration industries and drives growth through developing new applications and technologies and cultivating relationships with customers.
Our Strategy
Our strategy is to leverage our core competencies in material science, advanced filtration, and systems integration, creating differentiated products with compelling value propositions to penetrate attractive end markets with regulatory and ESG tailwinds. Essential imperatives associated with our strategy include the following:
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Develop and reinforce new products and applications to provide clean water and reduce pollution. We currently provide water filtration systems for commercial pool owners, scrubber technology providers, shipowners, and ship operators as well as tailored filtration systems for oil & gas operators and services companies. We are expanding our range of products to better leverage existing customer relationships and develop new relationships within the oil & gas, marine, chemical, and other industries.
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Better penetration of existing end markets where our value proposition is strong. We have successfully sold products and installed systems into several end market segments--including automotive/transportation, clean water and pool filtration, marine, industrial wastewater, chemicals/petrochemicals, and oil & gas applications. We are focused on targeting and developing new customers in these end markets while working with distributors, agents, and partners to access other important geographic markets.
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Develop new end markets for our core products and applications . Our existing products and systems are relevant for and valuable to other end markets, and we regularly evaluate opportunities to develop strategic partners to perfect new applications and validate associated value propositions.
Our Industry
Overview
We serve primarily two industries: the liquid filtration market and the silicon carbide ceramic membrane & diesel particulate filter (DPF) market. Our goal is to leverage our products and core technology and position our Company to take advantage of favorable market trends.
Liquid Filtration Systems and Aftermarket
Water is essential to life on earth and clean water shortages are affecting billions of people. Today, 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, and 3 billion people worldwide lack basic handwashing facilities at home. In addition, more than 700 million people could be displaced due to water scarcity (according to the UN). According to the World Health Organization, approximately 361,000 children die every year due to unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation. In this context, the Company seeks to deploy our unique filtration systems across industries to help unlock a more sustainable future with lower resource consumption and more efficient and responsible operations, with the objective of creating both economic value and environmental benefits.
According to relevant industry research published in 2022, the global ceramic membrane market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%, from $5.4 billion in 2021 to $14.3 billion in 2030. LiqTech is differentiated by what we believe is our superior SiC membrane technology and our ability to provide a complete water treatment system for select industries and applications.
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Our applications within industrial wastewater and more specific applications such as chemicals/petrochemicals purification represent a core part of our strategic plan. We seek to leverage our innovative and patented SiC ceramic membrane technology by designing and deploying our filtration systems into complex and demanding industrial applications where our clients can benefit from both operational benefits and value creation. Recent deployments have showcased attractive returns on investment, as our solutions yield improved product characteristics, lower operational costs, and higher output. We are currently focused on evaluation future market potential in order to more accurately assess the commercial potential within each industrial end-market segment. Based on industry research, the growth within the global industrial water & wastewater treatment market is projected to reach $7.7 billion by 2030.
In the oil & gas market, we see growing global demand for high-quality re-injection water. In addition, we see tightening water discharge legislation, increasing public awareness of water scarcity, and growing adoption of reuse as key growth drivers in this end market. In the past two years, we have worked closely with industry partners to validate and accelerate our ultrafiltration technology applications within the global oil & gas industry, in both onshore and offshore environments, evidenced by a commercial installation in the Middle East for produced water and in the Mediterranean Sea for monoethylene glycol (MEG) recovery. Presently, we have initiated activity to penetrate the U.S. onshore oil & gas market.
The market for marine water filtration systems is dependent on the development of new regulations for sulfur and ballast water emissions. In 2020, IMO issued Marpol VI with clear regulation of SOx emission for marine ships. The regulation can be reached in one of two ways: 1) use of fuel with low SOx content for a cost that is 150-200 $/MT higher than normal bunker fuel; 2) installation of open-loop, hybrid or closed-loop scrubbers. Only hybrid and closed-loop systems can be use in ”ECA” zones (Emission Control Areas). For hybrid and closed-loop systems, there is a need to install a water treatment system. Up to now, approximately 6,000 vessels have installed a scrubber of which 1,200 include hybrid or closed-loop systems. Since 2018, LiqTech has sold and installed more than 170 water treatment units (WTU) for marine scrubbers, with an estimated market share of 14%. In the future, we will further develop and reposition our WTU to match the emerging new opportunity for exhaust gas recirculation in dual-fuel engines. This new market development supports the energy transition for the marine industry and will be a major trend in the coming years.
In addition to our industrial, oil & gas, and marine applications, our Company offers industry-leading commercial pool filtration systems globally through distributors and local partners. Based on more than 20 years of experience in the filtration industry, we have developed a superior and cost-effective industrial pool filter system with a smaller footprint, lower chlorine consumption, and higher quality of water filtration. Conventional technologies use large amounts of chemicals for disinfection, whereas our superior commercial pool system reduces chemical consumption. We believe our offering is uniquely positioned to unlock future growth in the context of the global focus on ESG, since our commercial pool application delivers safe, clean, and clear water to our clients with lower energy consumption and reduced lifecycle costs. The market for commercial pools in Europe alone was $1.5 billion in 2021 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2021 to 2028 based on relevant industry research published in June 2022. We remain committed to expand our geographical reach outside Europe through new partnerships and distribution agreements.
Furthermore, we have recently intensified focus on aftermarket sales through service & maintenance agreements and general sale of spare parts to our clients and partners. We intend to leverage the installed base of our filtration systems delivered and commissioned over the last decade by engaging with both new and existing clients to develop a closer and more comprehensive partnership structure and ultimately bundle our filtration system and aftermarket offering. We believe the aftermarket segment benefits from robust growth fundamentals as clients and technology providers are increasingly focused on unlocking value through close collaboration, for which service and maintenance will yield improved customer satisfaction and growth.
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Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membrane & Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Market
Our legacy business related to the provision of DPF filters is expected to continue growing across Asia, Europe, and North America as regulators require diesel engines to comply with new and more stringent environmental rules and regulations. In Europe, for example, cities in Germany and the Benelux countries are enforcing increasingly stringent requirements for diesel engines to include DPF filters, with the same trend also taking place in select Asian countries.
Furthermore, our proprietary DPF technology has paved the way for new market opportunities such as black carbon emission reduction in the marine industry, where our solutions allow both ocean-going and inland marine vessels to comply with current and future regulatory thresholds as defined by both IMO and regional regulators.
According to industry research, the global market for new DPF filters manufactured by OEMs is expected to grow at approximately 13% per year. Diesel emissions consist of several toxic gases and particles, including particulate matter (soot), carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. Soot has been linked to a variety of human health problems. Reducing diesel emissions will have both health and social benefits along with reduced costs.
In response to these health impacts, governments have been implementing legislation to regulate emissions from diesel engines. California implemented the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, and New York City implemented binding directives for the retrofitting of buses, garbage trucks, and construction machines. In the European Union, Directive EC 715/2007 of June 20, 2007, defines particle count limits for certain cars and light utility vehicles. Also, low emission zones have been implemented locally in various places in Europe, creating a patchwork of regulation.
The Asian markets have shown an improved standard of living due to economic growth, which has led to increased sales of vehicles in the region. At the same time, pollution in major cities has reached high particulate matter levels. As a result, for example, the Chinese government has introduced additional regulations, including new emissions standards, faster than previously anticipated. We also believe the high pollution levels will increase the need to retrofit existing vehicles.
Historically, our business has predominantly sold our ceramic membranes through integrated filtration system offerings with SiC, HTM, and Aqua Solution® membranes embedded in the filtration systems offered to our partners, distributors, and end clients. Recently, we have intensified focus on the direct sale of SiC and HTM membrane products to clients and integrators across jurisdictions to directly access the global market for ceramics membrane solutions in the context of the growing need for clean water and responsible handling of industrial wastewater, while also placing value-enhancing applications across core industrial processes such as chemicals/petrochemicals, enhanced oil recovery, and other applications. We intend to work on accelerating market penetration and further validate perspectives on market potential and value proposition through detailed market studies and associated estimates of total addressable markets.
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Research and Development
We have eight (8) full-time employees that are primarily engaged in R&D activities pertaining to the development of technology and intellectual property rights related to silicon carbide product formulas, applications, and manufacturing processes.
Manufacturing
We currently manufacture our ceramic membrane and DPF products in Ballerup, Denmark (Copenhagen area). We assemble our liquid filtration systems in Hobro, Denmark, and we manufacture plastic products at our facility located in Aarhus, Denmark. We plan to consolidate, optimize, and expand our production capacity within the existing facilities with further support from existing partnerships across Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
Raw Materials and Components
The main raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are silicon carbide, steel, pumps, electrical components, plastic, platinum, and palladium. We purchase these commodities from various sources generally based upon availability, lead time, quality, and price.
Sales, Marketing and Business Intelligence
Our products and services are sold both directly and indirectly to end clients across multiple jurisdictions and end-markets through direct sales, systems integrators, distributors, agents, and partners.
Our Company initially focused on selling DPF filters to the automotive industry to reduce exhaust gas emissions in diesel engines. In 2014, we acquired Provital Solutions, a Danish filtration system manufacturing company that enabled our Company to broaden our offering of products and systems for ceramic filters, SiC membranes, and modular liquid filtration systems. The liquid filtration systems business has become a highly complementary offering to our SiC membrane and DPF business.
We plan to actively market our existing products to new customers as we penetrate new end markets and optimize our manufacturing capacity. As of December 2023, we employed eleven (11) full-time sales, marketing and strategy personnel in addition to partnership and distribution agents. We promote our products through direct sales to potential customers and marketing activities such as participation in tradeshows and exhibitions, with a new focus on digital marketing.
In certain instances, our products are delivered to the end customer through system integrators. These system integrators use our filtration products and membranes in larger filtration systems, which eventually are installed in systems used by the end customers. Due to legislative regulation, system integrators are often required by the end customers to receive approval for their systems, including the components used in such systems, which requires significant time and expense. As a result, we believe that certain system integrators using our products will not replace our filters with competitive products unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
Intellectual Property
We have one issued patent in the United States that we co-own with a third party, two issued patents in Denmark, three issued foreign patents (Germany, China, and South Korea) that we co-own with a third party, and one pending European patent application that we co-own with a third party. The United States patent that we co-own is generally effective for 20 years from the filing date (July 8, 2004) of the earliest U.S. or international application to which it claims priority. The scope and duration of each of our foreign patents vary in keeping with local laws. On July 7, 2014, we obtained a new Danish patent application related to our silicon carbide membrane technology. In 2023, we have submitted 3 patent applications to further strengthen our intellectual property for SiC membranes.
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We also rely on trade secret protection for our confidential and proprietary information. Trade secrets, however, can be difficult to protect. We may not be able to maintain our technology or know-how as trade secrets, and competitors may develop or acquire equally valuable or more valuable technology or know-how related to the manufacture of comparable silicon carbide products. We also seek to protect our confidential and proprietary information, in part, by requiring all employees, consultants, and business partners to execute confidentiality and/or nondisclosure agreements upon the commencement of any employment, consulting arrangement, or engagement with us. These agreements generally require that all confidential and proprietary information developed by the employee, consultant, or business partner, or made known to the employee, consultant, or business partner by us, during the course of the relationship with us and thereafter, be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties.
We also believe that having distinctive names is an important factor in marketing our products and therefore use trademarks to brand some of our products. As of March 2024, we had three trademark registrations in China and four trademark registrations in Denmark (AQUA SOLUTION, CoMem, CDPX, and FUTURE FILTRATION). We are also in the process of proactively renewing and developing new trademarks in select geographic areas.
Government Regulation
We do not believe that we are subject to any special governmental regulations affecting our products in the countries in which we operate, although we are subject to numerous health and safety laws and regulations. We actively seek to maintain a safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly workplace for all of our employees and other stakeholders.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to a broad range of environmental laws and regulations that govern, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, and the handling, storage, disposal, and release of waste and hazardous substances. It is our policy to comply with all applicable environmental requirements at each of our facilities.
Competition
Our products compete with other filters that are made using polymer, silicon carbide ceramic, and aluminum oxide membranes. Most of our competitors are large industrial companies; however, we believe our patented technology, manufacturing know-how, and trade secrets allow us to produce high-quality products that provide an advantage over most of our competitors, many of which have greater financial, technological, manufacturing and personnel resources. We intend to continue to devote resources to the development of new technologies and the improvement of our products to retain existing customers and acquire new customers.
Employees
At December 31, 2023 we had 119 employees, including 83 in production; 15 in administration; 8 in research and development; 11 in sales, marketing and strategy; and 2 in executive management.
Certain employees in Denmark are represented by workers’ councils that have collective bargaining agreements. With the exception of such Danish employees, no other employees are members of a labor union or are represented by workers’ councils that have collective bargaining agreements. We believe that we have good relations with our employees.
Corporate Information
We filed our Articles of Incorporation on July 1, 2004, and are incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada. Our principal executive office is located at Industriparken 22C, 2750 Ballerup, Denmark, and our telephone number is +45 3131 5941. We maintain an Internet website at www.liqtech.com . Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or furnish them to the SEC and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy. The information contained in, or accessible from, our website is not a part of this Annual Report.
Additionally, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
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