The history of Evac Group
Our history dates back to the 1970s
From Finnish origin to international expansion
Our growth strategy is based on a combination of organic growth – supported by our strong offering and an extensive network of partners – and strategic acquisitions.
Evac’s history started in 1975 as a development project of the Finnish Ifö-Wärtsilä Vacuum Systems (a joint venture of Oy Wärtsilä AB) and Euroc AB Sweden). A separate company, Evak, was formed in 1979.
The early years, 1979–1985
During its early years, the company provided vacuum toilets and other vacuum collection systems for the marine, building, and railroad industries. In 1985, Evak merged with Electrolux Environment Division (Envirovac USA), adding the first wastewater treatment systems to its offering. At the same time, the company’s name was changed from Evak to Evac.
Expanding the Evac offering,
the late 1980s–2012
In 2007, the Evac offering was further broadened with dry and wet waste systems, including food waste management, with the acquisition of the Norwegian company Norsk Inova. Evac gained expertise in freshwater treatment and seawater desalination systems with the acquisition of the Maritime Solutions & Services division of the German company Triton Water in 2012.
At the end of the 1980s, the business expanded to the aviation industry. In 2005, the aviation, railroad, and building sectors were spun off from Evac, with the building sector re-acquired in 2007.
Further extension of system and service portfolio in 2018 – 2019
In 2018, Evac extended the scope of solution offerings through the acquisition of the Cathelco Group whose products include marine growth prevention systems, corrosion protection, as well as HEM freshwater systems for superyachts. In early 2019, the offering was further strengthened by the acquisition of UK-based Transvac Systems and German-based Virtus GmbH.
part of Cathelco Group in 2018
Envirovac, Electrolux Environment division (1985)
Envirovac Inc. was a company operating in the USA and Canada that served the aviation, marine, building, and railroad industries. Evac, under the name Evak, acquired the company from Electrolux through a vital merger that resulted in the formation of Evac Group.
AquaMar GmbH (1999)
With this acquisition, we entered the marine biological wastewater treatment business. By refining designs, combining treatment technology with vacuum waste collection, and exposing the local product to global supply chains, Evac Group quickly became one of the world’s leading suppliers of marine biological waste treatment systems.
Norsk Inova (2007)
Norsk Inova AS was a Norwegian provider of dry and wet waste management systems for the marine and offshore industries. The company’s origins date back to 1979 with the installation of the world’s first three-deck incinerator system on the luxury cruise liner SS Norway.
Triton Water maritime business (2012)
With the acquisition of Triton Water’s maritime business, our offering grew to include seawater desalination units using reverse osmosis (RO), as well as potable water treatment equipment using mineralization and disinfection. These solutions were designed mainly for large passenger vessels.
Headworks – moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology (2014)
After successfully developing our world-leading membrane bioreactor (MBR) waste treatment technology, we expanded our portfolio with Headworks’ moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology, which included cruise ship-sized treatment systems. Headworks’ MBBR technology came in turn from their acquisition of Hydroxyl Services Inc. of Canada, a leading provider of MBBR and integrated fix-film activated sludge (IFAS) technologies for the marine wastewater industry since 1993.
Deerberg-Systems GmbH (2015)
Germany-based Deerberg-Systems was a developer and producer of solid, wet, and food waste systems. Its acquisition brought with its solutions for a wide variety of marine applications, including cruise ships, ferries, naval vessels, luxury yachts, river cruise vessels, offshore vessels and platforms, as well as merchant ships. The company was founded in 1982 and was based in Oldenburg, Germany.
Uson Marine (2016)
This Swedish provider of dry and food waste management systems for the marine and offshore industries was founded in 1983. At the time of its acquisition, Uson Marine AS had offices in Sweden, Norway, and Holland.
Cathelco Group (2018)
Established in 1956, Cathelco Group, including also Hydro-Electrique Marine (HEM) and Echo Marine, was headquartered in Chesterfield, England, with sales offices in the UK, France, India, Singapore, South Korea, UAE, and Spain, as well as an R&D center in Kiel, Germany and manufacturing units in the UK and France. The Group had 176 employees and sales agents in 46 countries.
Transvac Systems (2019)
Transvac Systems, based near the South coast of England, were distributors of Evac products for more than 38 years, prior to becoming a member of the Cathelco Group in January 2019. The acquisition of Transvac supports Evac’s future growth in the navy and offshore sectors where the company has developed excellent customer relationships.
Virtus GmbH (2019)
Virtus GmbH is a German company which specializes in spare parts and servicing of all types of waste, wastewater and vacuum sanitary systems for ships and offshore platforms. Since 1977, Virtus has developed strong customer relationships with shipyards in the Elbe-Weser triangle which includes the ports of Hamburg, Bremen and Bremerhaven.
Allied Marine Services, Environmental Systems (2020)
Allied Marine Services (Allied), and Environmental Systems (ESI) have been Evac’s largest distributors in USA. The companies mainly serving US Navy and Coast Guard. Allied focuses on providing new equipment, field service and spare parts mostly in the area of sewage handling, and ESI provides repair services for pumps and valves for sewage equipment in their authorized service center. The companies have storage, distribution and service center facilities in Stevensville, MD., USA.
Vacuum spare part business of EPE in Greece (2022)
Evac Group acquired the vacuum spare part business of Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE), which has been acting as Evac´s agent in Greece for the past 35 years.