After a grueling 26-hour journey to Amsterdam, Ben Shultz, who has been instrumental in testing and commercialising Aqua Membranes’ technology, arrived with unwavering enthusiasm. Winning the award only reinforced their mission: to make printed spacers the new industry standard for RO systems.

But what makes this technology so disruptive? Reverse osmosis has been a cornerstone of water treatment for decades. While incremental improvements in membranes and energy efficiency have been made, the fundamental design of RO spacers has remained largely unchanged—until now.

Aqua Membranes’ Printed Spacer Technology® challenges convention by embedding 3D-printed structures directly onto the membrane surface, replacing traditional plastic mesh spacers. This novel approach delivers higher permeability, reduced fouling, and lower energy consumption, making RO systems more productive, cost-effective, and sustainable.

“Reverse osmosis has seen a lot of great advancements, but we’re bringing the next iteration—lowering energy costs, improving productivity, and enabling more sustainable water reuse in ways never done before.”– Ben Schultz, Aqua Membranes

From a government project to industry disruption

The origins of this innovation trace back to Rodney Herrington, Aqua Membranes’ founder, who developed the concept a decade ago while working on a government project to create a portable water treatment system for soldiers. Though the initial vision didn’t materialise at the time, it laid the foundation for what would become a transformative technology in large-scale water treatment.

Now, Aqua Membranes is poised to redefine the role of RO in water reuse and resource security worldwide, particularly in brackish water treatment and industrial applications.

Looking ahead: becoming the industry standard

Aqua Membranes has ambitious goals—to set a new benchmark in water treatment efficiency. Their vision extends beyond just improving existing systems; they seek to establish printed spacers as the norm in reverse osmosis, making water reuse more viable and securing global water resources for the future.

“We want our printed spacers to dramatically improve the way reverse osmosis is used worldwide—to help reuse more water, enhance sustainability, and secure global water supplies.” – Ben Schultz, Aqua Membranes

With a growing body of successful implementations, increasing industry validation, and a prestigious Aquatech Innovation Award under their belt, Aqua Membranes is set to make a lasting impact. Their printed spacer technology isn’t just an innovation—it’s a long-overdue revolution in water treatment.

This recognition at Aquatech is not just an award; it is a validation of the rigorous approach that BlueTech Research takes in curating the Innovation Pavilion. Each company featured in the Pavilion has been selected not just for its technical ingenuity but for its ability to drive real change in global water management. Aqua Membranes exemplifies this standard, with installations spanning the US, Asia, and Australia, and a growing body of case studies demonstrating measurable improvements in performance and cost efficiency. Their partnerships with Micron Technologies, Osmoflo, and the University of New Mexico are tangible proof points of the technology’s viability in diverse applications.

At BlueTech Research, we are extremely proud of this achievement. It reaffirms the rigor of our selection process, the calibre of companies in the Innovation Pavilion, and the value of our work in identifying, supporting, and accelerating the technologies that will define the next generation of water management. The recognition of Aqua Membranes at Aquatech reinforces what we have always known: the future of water innovation is already here, and the companies leading the charge are the ones bold enough to rethink what is possible.

Read more about other category winners on Aquatech.