IBP NEWS
PURETEC SEPARATIONS:
ENGINEERING A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR
BEVERAGE WATER
PROCESSING CEO VINCE PAYNE ON INNOVATION, CIRCULAR WATER USE,
AND WHY SUSTAINABILITY MAKES BUSINESS SENSE
In the drinks industry, water is both the main ingredient and one of the
biggest costs. Producers are under growing pressure to use it more
responsibly, cutting waste, energy use, and emissions while keeping
quality high.

That’s where PureTec Separations
comes in. A UK-based specialist in
process and purification technologies
for industrial and beverage
water treatment, focussing on
sustainability, modular design, and
circular water recovery.

PureTec helps manufacturers run
more efficiently and sustainably
by turning water from a cost into a
controllable asset.

CEO and founder Vince
Payne spoke to International
Bottler & Packer about
how sustainability drives
everything they do, and why
it’s good for business as well
as the planet.

6 Q How does PureTec define
sustainability within the beverage
industry? A For us, sustainability isn’t
something we add on at the end.

It’s built into how we design every
system. The goal is simple: produce the
best quality process water while using
as little energy, salt, and chemicals as
possible, and creating as little water
waste as possible.

We’ve seen the industry move away
from the old “use it once and dump
it” model towards one where water is
reused and recycled. Every litre you
can save, or reuse is money in the bank
and a step towards a cleaner operation.

That’s what we mean when we say we
help clients turn water into an asset,
something that delivers value, as well
as a cost saving.

Q What makes PureTec’s approach
different? A We always start by understanding
the problem properly. Using a Front-
End Engineering Design (FEED) process,
we look at what the customer needs,
what’s possible, and what the savings
could be in cost, water, and energy.

Automation and control systems
play a big role too. By using smart
monitoring, we can fine-tune flow,
pressure, and cleaning cycles so that
the system always runs efficiently.

That means less waste, fewer
chemicals, and consistent water quality.

The main thing is we design for the
long term. A system that performs well
for ten years is far more sustainable
than one that needs constant fixes.

In every case, we want water to work
harder for the business.

Q Can you give an example of how
this works in practice?
A We’ve helped a lot of major drinks
producers, from small water recycling
setups to full membrane and softening
systems. One good example is our EcoSoft
High-Efficiency Water Softener, which
uses far less water and salt than a
standard unit. It’s already running
at several UK sites and typically cuts
INTERNATIONAL BOTTLER & PACKER | DECEMBER 2025