Hatenboer-Water

Can you tell us something about your company?

Hatenboer-Water has a long history in the field of water management. For over 100 years, we have been widely recognized as an international specialist in the water treatment market. Hatenboer-Water designs, constructs, and supplies potable, freshwater systems.

Scope of supply:

  • Custom-made potable systems (reverse osmosis water makers, distribution, and treatment modules)
  • Disinfection solutions with chlorine, UV, copper/silver ionization
  • Dosing systems (chlorination, pH correction, etc.)
  • Water quality services: courses, sampling, audits, water management plans
  • Global supply of spares and consumables for water systems

Benefits to our customers:
Our proven, heavy-duty designs, tailored to our customers’ often challenging needs for harsh environments like offshore installations and maritime vessels have become a trusted asset for our clients.

Besides the design and manufacturing of new-build systems, Hatenboer-Water is a renowned partner for retrofits as well. Coupled with our consultative expertise and analysis, service technicians, and course instructors, Hatenboer-Water is a true “One-Stop-Shop” for customers when it comes to the delivery of ‘safe water’ from the sea to the tap. Our offices across the globe (Rotterdam, Singapore, Houston & Dubai) and worldwide network of agents ensure that Hatenboer-Water is there when (and where) you need us.

Organization:
With our track record of thousands of maritime water treatment units (RO desalination systems) delivered worldwide, our ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and VCA/SCC certifications, and technologies that are certified and approved by regulatory bodies around the globe, Hatenboer-Water is the leading name in the maritime potable water industry!

Why did Hatenboer-Water choose Texas?

The Netherlands boasts one of the oldest bilateral relationships with the United States, with strong commercial ties, and as a global company it is no wonder that we would have a presence in world’s largest economy. But within the United States, Texas on its own is in the top 10 globally by GDP – bigger even than Canada or Russia. Its favorable business climate and unique breadth of natural resources supporting maritime commerce, energy exploration and production, renewable projects, and agriculture make Texas an obvious choice for Hatenboer Water.

Our location in the USA was always going to be Houston, “the Energy Capital of the World,” with its concentration of intellectual capital and proximity to many of our clients, their customers, and consultants in our diverse markets. Hatenboer-Water provides water production and treatment solutions for all vessels and assets in our oceans, as well as emerging technologies as the world navigates the energy transition. Plus, the Dutch look good in Astros oranje.

Personal contact
Clients engage us to provide safe water on board their vessels, rather than simply to buy a piece of equipment. We strongly believe that, even though the world gets smaller through internet-based services and remote capabilities, to guarantee good water quality on board, it’s still important to see a face in the office, a partner at the shipyard, providing personal contact, direct consultancy, and readily available inventory.

Local presence adding value
By setting up our office in Houston we are able to service our existing and future US clients in the offshore energy market fast and efficiently, with the added bonus of being closer to our cruise customers in Florida, commercial fishing in the Northwest, and ports in South America. Being ‘local’ has always helped us to become a trusted household name for many vessel-, rig- and platform-owners in Europe, Singapore and most recently Dubai. We now proudly add Houston to this list of Hatenboer-Water offices!

What kind of advice can you give to Dutch entrepreneurs who want to do business in Texas?

Cliche or Truism?
My advice for any entrepreneur or any company that wants to successfully do business here in Texas is ‘Think big’. Of course, we’ve all heard ‘Everything is bigger in Texas’ – and while that could be dismissed as cliché, it is better thought of as a guiding principle.

It’s no accident that “Texas Hold’em” is the most popular version of poker. You can’t just accept the cards you’re dealt, sit back and hope to see the one card you need to win on the river. You must adapt, leave yourself options, play the odds. Be ready to pivot, see beyond what is in front of you, and respond to your customers and market conditions. Shell Oil started out literally importing seashells until it revolutionized the petroleum industry transporting oil. Being successful here means adapting to a more open, market-driven approach. This is not only common in Texas, but across the USA.

By Jack Highberger, Managing Director, Hatenboer-Water Americas Corp.

If you want to know more about Hatenboer-Water Americas
Visit their website