German water purification specialist inge AG signs a milestone deal in China

Chinese global player MIDEA launches new product for drinking water purification for households – heart of the technology is an ultrafiltration module of the German company of inge AG. MIDEA, based in Shunde, Guangdong Province, China and one of the largest and most well-known household appliance and equipment manufacturers in China and world, has signed a cooperation agreement with German inge AG, which is located in Greifenberg near Munich. Under this agreement, inge will develop, design and manufacture UF membrane modules specially for MIDEA, which will be used by MIDEA to launch a new

product for home drinking water purification . Such product is equipped with ultrafiltration technology of inge AG.

As a UF membrane specialist, since its establishment in 2000 inge has been mainly active in municipal drinking water and industrial process water purification, this cooperation represents the move into a new, promising market segment as well as a milestone for its sales activities in China. By signing this deal, inge becomes the only international UF membrane manufacturer to enter the home UF water purification market in China. Under this Agreement, inge will add around one million Euro turnover in 2007, which expects to increase to eight million Euro for the next few years according to the MIDEA projection.

The MIDEA group has a very high reputation in China and overseas market with its diversified product portfolio including air-conditioners, water dispensers, microwaves, rice cookers, water foundations, etc. which are sold and distributed throughout the world. The products of MIDEA enjoy a high reputation for their quality and services, thus most of them lead in the China and even international market. MIDEA is constantly ranked as a TOP 100 Chinese company. The estimated turnover of 2006 of the whole group was 5.5 billion Euro.

MIDEA, through its Water Purification Equipment Section, which also manufacturers and sells water dispensers, will officially launch such product in the first half of 2007. Such product will be mainly used to purify the residential Chinese tap water at home. The unique Multibore® membrane which is developed and patented by inge AG filters reliable all particles including viruses and bacteria out of the water. The water quality in China varies sharply all over the country. The distribution piping system is outdated and also the water purification plants of many municipalities do not meet the technology requirements of today. The new MIDEA product therefore offers the Chinese consumers a simple and secure possibility to get germ-free and clean water.

The decision of MIDEA to use the German technology has been the result of long-term and comprehensive tests which were carried out for all different membrane brands – including suppliers from Korea, Japan, , and China – by the MIDEA research department.