CEO Bernd Sydow on strategy and focus, recent activities and future plans.


FOCUS

Our focus remains on the initiation of pilot commissions in the fields of soil remediation, railway gravel decontamination and surface cleaning. Several projects are already underway, while others are currently in preparation. We’re putting particular focus on the collaboration with technology partners who are active in our areas of operation and want to collaborate with us to test the application possibilities of Arvox.

Priority is being given to soil remediation ex situ, especially in collaboration with operators of soil remediation facilities. A number of talks on this subject have taken place in recent weeks; laboratory tests have been done; and the first test treatments in the facilities have been arranged.

A significant simulation of trackbed and gravel decontamination will take place this summer. In addition, we see an attractive business segment in the in-situ cleaning of contaminated soil, such as the remediation of filling stations and fuel depots.

In addition, we are currently developing our product line for surface cleaning and decontamination together with partners. Applications include the degreasing of metal parts from industrial processing, the decontamination of precast concrete parts or the cleaning of external facades and organically contaminated parts of buildings.

Geographically, we’re approaching the European markets in German-speaking countries and in Italy. Outside of Europe, our focus is on North America, Israel and several countries of the former Soviet Union.


PROCEDURE

Since the beginning of the year we’ve made significant progress in the development of our treatment in intensive laboratory tests with source-based contaminated soil, gravel and surfaces. Remarkable results included the outstanding degradation of the herbicide glyphosate in railway ballast.

The use of Arvox for surface cleaning also appears very promising. The test series with oil-contaminated concrete surfaces and green growth on garden walls showed consistently good results.


PROJECTS

The Austrian railway companiy ÖBB has undertaken a large-scale test with us on two track beds within two nine-meter-long experimental basins. Using a complex experimental setup with comprehensive chemical analysis, we cleaned original railway gravel, a simulated oil spill and gravel contaminated with glyphosate. The results will form the basis for guidelines on our treatment’s application to public railway tracks.

We carried out several volume tests with both Germany’s and Austria’s largest waste management companies and operators of soil remediation facilities. The trials provided us with further insights into the treatment’s efficiency, required volume and costs.

In addition, various large-scale tests for the decontamination of concrete surfaces as well as facades and outdoor facilities contaminated with organic pollutants are underway.

We’re also preparing contracts with our first license partners. We’ve signed letters of intent with several international companies and are currently discussing pilot projects.


VALUES AND VISION

We joined forces with a strategy consultant to develop our values and shared vision. We developed clear guidelines for our internal collaboration as a team as well as our client relationships and our corporate image.

Central questions in this process included: What values determine our work? Why are we working for Arva? How are we doing this? And what are we doing? The values developed by the team have been formulated in this first version of our self-image:

“We aim to use green technology to develop Arva into an international enterprise. We are convinced that we can solve environmental problems in an efficient and sound manner by using innovative yet simple approaches, thereby making a significant contribution to a cleaner, greener environment. We believe that green technologies are the technologies of the future and stand for economic growth.”

Our claim to “make the world a greener place” finds itself altogether confirmed.

The question of “what”–that is, what we are offering, what we are capable of–can be answered at this time by the following:

“Arva is the only company able to offer an oxidation treatment that degrades a broad spectrum of contaminants in an environmentally friendly way. This includes hydrocarbons found worldwide in railway properties, contaminated soils and mineral waste.”

What are we doing right now? How will we approach the future? How are we dealing with each other within the company? Our answers are a very good description of our current strategy for a successful market entrance.

“We are currently working on pilot projects with experts from interested partner companies. The results will deliver the knowledge required for the development of innovative and individualised solutions. In the future we will collaborate with established license partners and offer the solutions worldwide.”

With regard to teamwork, we have chosen the values of passion, self-criticism, openness and trust as lodestars. Written out, it reads as follows:

“Arva needs colleagues whose work exudes passion and enthusiasm. We are open to new things. We question what is established. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Motivation results from working independently and from the trust we have in team members and their expertise.”


NEW SUBSIDIARY – NEW NAME

In 2017, we founded the German subsidiary Arva Greentech GmbH, a name chosen with great consideration. The acronym of our hitherto corporate form has, in conversations, begged the question of what it stands for. Our strategic reorientation has made the reference to oil in Man Oil Group more difficult to explain and reliant on a reference to the company’s history.

Arva is Latin for soil, land or field and hence suits our corporate objective very well. Moreover, the term is easy to pronounce in our target markets and has not yet been taken as a company name in our field, which is of equal importance.

Renaming the holding company will be discussed and agreed upon at the upcoming shareholders’ meeting.


INVESTORS – SHAREHOLDERS

Since our treatment’s effectiveness has been impressively documented in numerous tests and independent analyses, we’ve been preparing an increase in capital in tandem with our market entrance.

The next phase of development will initiate the aforementioned volume tests, which will be accompanied by investments in equipment and scaling of technical implementation.

We’re currently in talks with Arva’s shareholders and partners about who can and would like participate to what extent in the new shares.