Factor UTB awarded the Malcolm Kinnaird Award (best project) and Environmental Engineering award for the Matua Marlborough Winery Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Awards
The best overall project, as determined by the judges, is given recognition by the awarding of the Malcolm Kinnaird Engineering Excellence Award.
The Malcolm Kinnaird Engineering Excellence Award is only given to the most outstanding
entry and will be considered from the winners across all categories.
CHIEF JUDGE MESSAGE
Factor UTB has developed the expertise to tailor and optimise the treatment process to deal with the particular waste stream of each customer.
The jury also noted the potential for the future, both in Australia and for export, as environmental standards tighten up for wine producers worldwide.
- Ross Milton FIEAust CPEng (Ret)
FACTOR UTB awarded both the ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD and MALCOLM KINNAIRD ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD
“This project represents a fine example of local ingenuity in design, integrated manufacturing using local suppliers and export potential realised through a world-class technological solution to a universal issue.”
- Jerome Argue MIEAust CPEng. Head Judge, Environment Category
‘Winery wastewater treatment poses a complex and challenging set of problems for
professional design engineers. Winery wastewater varies hugely in its nature, volume and
load on an hourly and daily basis. It is subject to very high seasonal peaks as the different
wine making and bottling process stages are undertaken.
Factor UTB from South Australia has designed and built 36 wastewater treatment plants
since 2001 with several plants treating winery waste. Each plant uses the same base
control and process technology. Its small staff including three professional engineers and
water science professional has designed and built each plant. They are supported by
three specialist contractors and selected specialist suppliers.
The 25,000-tonne crush Matua Marlborough Winery is located in New Zealand’s South
Island region famous for Sauvignon Blanc wines. The wastewater load from Matua during
vintage is equal to that of the sewage flow from a town of 23,500 people. The treatment
plant was required to fit within the constraints of the existing winery, squeezed into an
area less than 1,500m2.
The solution offered included a two into one, two-stage design based on a highly controlled
Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) which together achieves the removal efficiency and
load balancing capacity required. In 22 weeks from order the design, Council approval,
manufacturing, construction and commissioning were completed with waste treated in
automatic mode in mid-April 2013.’