Ecolab will acquire Montreal-based Ovivo’s electronics business for $1.8 billion, expanding its presence in ultra-pure water technology as demand from AI and semiconductor industries accelerates. The deal, subject to customary adjustments, adds a business projected to generate $500 million in sales next year and employ more than 900 people worldwide.
The acquisition will push Ecolab’s high-tech revenue to over $800 million annually, with double-digit growth expected as data centers and chipmakers scale up. Ovivo’s water treatment technologies and patents, critical to semiconductor manufacturing, are expected to strengthen Ecolab’s position as a supplier to industries driving the digital economy.
The rising water risk in chipmaking
Semiconductor production is among the world’s most water-intensive industries, with a single fabrication plant using up to 10 million gallons of ultrapure water (UPW) a day, equivalent to the daily consumption of 33,000 U.S. households.
Chipmaking’s reliance on ultrapure water (UPW), treated to the highest levels of purity and free from virtually all impurities, is essential for rinsing silicon wafers. However, producing 1,000 gallons of UPW requires 1,400 to 1,600 gallons of municipal water. With the semiconductor market projected to reach $697 billion in 2025 and capital spending set to hit $185 billion to expand capacity for AI, data centers, 5G and electric vehicles, demand for ultrapure water is only growing.
The acquisition gives Ecolab access to advanced purification technologies vital to chipmaking, where even microscopic impurities can compromise performance.
Ovivo’s edge in advanced water solutions
Headquartered in Montreal and active in over 15 countries, Ovivo delivers high-performance treatment systems spanning ultrapure water, membrane filtration, biological processes, and zero-liquid-discharge technologies. Its recent innovations, from PFAS removal to water treatment plant monitoring, enable industries to cut water use, meet tightening regulations, and adapt to mounting resource pressures.
A new way to make the world’s purest water for chipmaking
Producing ultrapure water (UPW) is critical for semiconductor fabrication, where even trace levels of metallic particles, ions, or organic compounds can damage nanoscale devices. Traditional polishing systems rely on separate UV reactors, ion exchange units, and catalysts, which not only take up significant space but also expose the water to metallic surfaces that risk contamination.
U.S. Patent No. 12,077,456 describes an apparatus and method for providing ultrapure water through a compact cylindrical reactor design. The system uses concentric inner and outer quartz shells, with UV emission devices housed in the inner shell and water flowing through the annular space between shells. The outer shell incorporates reflective coatings to maximize UV efficiency, while additional design features such as spiral quartz components generate turbulent flow, ensuring thorough exposure and oxidation of trace organic impurities.
The reactor can be enclosed within a larger vessel that integrates subsequent polishing stages, such as ion exchange resins and immobilized catalysts, reducing the number of separate devices required. By minimizing contact with metals and consolidating treatment steps into a smaller footprint, the invention delivers ultrapure water at the sub-pot and even ppq impurity levels demanded by modern semiconductor processes.
The patent, titled “Apparatus and method for providing ultrapure water,” was filed on March 28, 2019, and granted on September 3, 2024. The patent listed Philippe Rychen, Dominik Saladin, and Sylvain Keav as inventors. Legal representation was provided by Thomas M. Freiburger.
Ovivo: Patenting Activity
Ovivo’s patenting activity has mirrored its strategic expansion in water treatment technologies over the past decade. From modest filings in 2015 and 2016, the company saw a significant rise in 2018, the same year it partnered with Denmark-based Cembrane to license silicon carbide flat plate membrane technology for electronics and North American markets. The innovation push continued in 2020, supported by the acquisition of the U.S.-based ALAR Engineering, which strengthened Ovivo’s presence in niche industrial wastewater sectors such as food and beverage, metals, and coatings.
After a slowdown in 2021 and 2022, Ovivo regained momentum in 2023. The rebound coincided with its exclusive partnership with EnviroMix, integrating advanced mixing technologies into Ovivo’s Carrousel® treatment systems. With newer filings, the company is sustaining its innovation pipeline, combining R&D with targeted acquisitions and partnerships to solidify its global footprint in sustainable water and wastewater solutions.
Ovivo: Top Legal Representatives
Ovivo’s patent portfolio is managed by a concentrated group of legal representatives, with Thomas M. Freiburger leading at 42 processed applications. Beijing Zhongsuo follows, highlighting Ovivo’s reliance on both U.S. and China-based expertise in securing IP protection. Other contributors include Canada’s Finlayson & Singlehurst and Shanghai Huihui.
Smaller but notable players include Wilson Lue, Gowling WLG, Ruff, Wilhelm, Beier, Dauster & Partner, Murgitroyd & Company, and Tsingyihua IP. .
Ovivo: Top Technology Areas
Ovivo’s patent filings are heavily concentrated in the treatment of water, wastewater, sewage, or sludge (C02F). Display control circuits (B01D) and climate change mitigation technologies related to waste management (Y02W) follow, highlighting Ovivo’s focus on water treatment systems, filtration technologies, and sustainability-driven innovation.
Beyond these top categories, Ovivo’s portfolio spans a diverse set of environmental and process engineering technologies. Patents in sewers and cesspools (E03F) and chemical or physical processes (B01J) reflect investments in infrastructure and industrial water solutions. Smaller but notable shares include mixing (B01F), adaptation to climate change (Y02A), and solid separation methods (B07B), which demonstrate Ovivo’s applied expertise in handling complex water treatment challenges. Additional filings in non-metallic elements (C01B) and cement or slag compositions (C04B) further highlight diversification into supporting materials and chemical processes, rounding out a portfolio that reinforces Ovivo’s leadership in sustainable water technologies.
