“That you make time for us in the evening says a lot about who you are.”

Written by: Luuk Talens

Van Remmen UV Technology has built a strong network of loyal partners and customers, both domestically and internationally, over the past 25 years. How do they look back on our collaboration? What memories immediately come to mind when they think of Van Remmen? But also; what does the future hold? How do they work together to ensure clean and safe water, both now and in the years to come? Long-standing partners Andrew Langford of UVO3 and Raymond Visser of Lotec share their stories.

The first steps

At the start of this century, Ton van Remmen found himself tinkering with his first UV-C systems in a room in Boerhaar. With four young children, a new mortgage, a borrowed car, and one unshakable belief: UV disinfection has the potential to do far more for the world. And he was determined to prove it. Armed with a compelling story, solid knowledge, practical experience, and boundless energy, Ton travelled far and wide to share his story and demonstrate its value. And it worked. Bit by bit, Ton managed to reach and convince more and more people.

A headstrong pioneer

One of the people Ton inspired is Andrew Langford. At the time, Andrew had just started working at a small UV company, UVO3, located near Cambridge, when he first met the unconventional expert from the Netherlands. ‘In the UV market, not much was happening. You had the same players with systems that barely evolved. But Ton was different. He was constantly exploring new ideas and designs. He was a true pioneer, always striving to improve the product. We recognized that ambition and drive, so it was a perfect match.

A solid partnership

UVO3 has grown to become van Remmen’s trusted sales partner in the United Kingdom, a collaboration that has now lasted over 20 years. ‘And it’s been going really well, ‘ says Andrew. ‘We share a passion for UV and genuinely believe in what we create. That shared vision creates a great synergy, allowing us to help more customers even better.’ This partnership has even led to new innovations. ‘Together, we developed the Agri-system,  a robust UV reactor designed to withstand the harshest condition in the agricultural sector. We still sell it widely to farmers in the UK, helping to improve food safety and reduce water consumption. That project remains a particularly special memory.’

Knowledge partner

Raymond Visser, director of Lotec Zwembadtechniek, also recalls the technical collaboration. ‘The Van Remmen team has strong technical expertise. We once managed a location where the swimming pool was severely overburdened. High water consumption and significant energy use to meet legal standards. Van Remmen worked with us to address the issue, helped develop a solid, well-founded plan and installed a UV unit. The legal parameters were no longer exceeded, and we used significantly less water. The partnership can be described as downright good. ‘

Family business

While the technical expertise is impressive, it’s the personal connections that make the partnerships with UVO3 and Lotec special. ‘Lotec and Van Remmen are both family businesses,’ says Raymond. ‘That means short lines of communication, little hierarchy, and a strong work ethic. It’s a good match.’ Andrew agrees. ‘The relationships are friendly, even though we come from different countries and cultures. We always feel very welcome with the family and the company. When we visit the Netherlands, they don’t just make time for us during working hours, but also make an effort in the evenings to do something together, or share a meal. That means a lot to us. That you make time for us in the evening says a lot about who you are. ‘

A bright future

As far as the men are concerned, they expect little to change in their collaboration in the coming years. Andrew: ‘It’s great to see that, as Ton gets a bit older, Wessel, Dorien, and Thomas are taking on bigger roles in the company. They are very capable people who will continue to move the company forward as the new generation. They also give us confidence that the distinctive family culture will remain, along with our way of working together. I see a bright future for our businesses.’ Raymond: ‘We love challenges and finding solutions to problems. We like to continue with that.

Saving the planet

What do they hope to achieve with Van Remmen over the next 25 years? ‘We’re working together on pilots where we test new products, and we regularly discuss which additional markets we can serve,’ says Raymond. Andrew and his UVO3 team have even bigger dreams. ‘We see water quality under pressure everywhere in the world, posing a serious threat to both people and the environment. The importance of good water treatment is growing, and Van Remmen’s UV and advanced oxidation systems can truly make a difference. That’s why we want to raise awareness together, create clean and safe water with more organizations and in doing so.. well, maybe even save the planet a little.’