Headworks International

What Headworks International does

Headworks International is a Houston, Texas-based designer and manufacturer of wastewater treatment equipment and biological process systems, founded in 1993 by Michele LaNoue and Gerald Seidl. The company operates through two principal divisions: a mechanical screening line (flagship MS Series Bar Screens, plus Eliminator band screens, Perforator perforated plate screens, and Transpactor/Transporter/Screwpactor/Spiralman conveyors and compactors) and a biological treatment line under Headworks BIO built around proprietary ActiveCell media and Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) / Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) technology, with extensions including EnergyCell anaerobic MBBR, ActiveMox Anammox, UltraCell ceramic-membrane MBBR, and the modular HIT System package plant. Multiple US and international patents and a deep trademark portfolio underpin the technology stack, and the MS Bar Screen alone has more than 2,000 installations worldwide.

The company sells custom-engineered, quote-based capital equipment and systems to municipal wastewater treatment plants and to industrial customers in food and beverage (dairy, meat/poultry, bottling, brewery/distillery), pharmaceutical, chemical and petrochemical, pulp and paper, textile, mining, refining, and landfill leachate segments. Headworks generates revenue primarily through one-time capital sales of equipment and biological treatment systems, supplemented by an aftermarket segment covering spare parts, preventative maintenance, technical support, and rebuild/retrofit services. Distribution combines a direct enterprise field sales force with regional manufacturer representatives and local sales/engineering offices in the USA, Canada, India, and Dubai (MENA), supported by channel partnerships such as Glan Agua (2021) and Sebigas (2022).

Operationally, Headworks is a privately held, woman-owned business (WBENC-certified since 2012) with 51-100 employees, customer relationships spanning large municipal authorities (e.g., Houston 69th Street, Los Angeles Hyperion, Village Creek) and named industrial accounts (McCain Foods, House of Raeford, Tanmiah Food, Disneyland Hong Kong, Inland Empire Paper, Seabee Gold Mine), and continuous new product launches (ActiveMox 2022, UltraCell 2023, 2025 Houston WWTP award). The business model is project-driven and cyclical with capital spending, with addressable tailwinds from tightening nutrient discharge standards, water reuse mandates, and energy recovery from high-strength industrial waste.

Name

Headworks International

Legal name

Headworks International Inc.

Website

https://headworksinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Headworks International, founded 1993 in Houston, designs and manufactures wastewater screening equipment and proprietary MBBR/IFAS biological treatment systems for municipal and industrial customers across food and beverage, chemical, pulp and paper, mining, and landfill leachate segments globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Equipment

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment equipment
• Biological treatment systems
• MBBR IFAS technology
• Bar screening equipment
• Municipal water treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Screening Equipment Sales: Sale of capital equipment including bar screens, band screens, perforated plate screens, and conveying/compacting equipment for preliminary wastewater treatment.
2. Biological Treatment Systems (MBBR/IFAS): Design, manufacture, and sale of biological wastewater treatment systems including MBBR, IFAS, anaerobic MBBR, and Anammox processes for municipal and industrial applications.
3. Aftermarket/Service/Parts: Spare parts, technical support, service, preventative maintenance, and rebuild/retrofit services for existing equipment.
4. Compact Treatment Systems (HIT Systems): Modular compact wastewater treatment package plants for decentralized systems, housing complexes, resorts, and small communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Headworks International designs, manufactures, and supplies wastewater treatment equipment and biological process systems. The company operates two divisions: (1) mechanical screening equipment for preliminary wastewater treatment, including bar screens, band screens, perforated plate screens, conveyors, and compactors; and (2) Headworks BIO biological treatment systems based on Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) technologies, including proprietary ActiveCell media, Anammox (ActiveMox), anaerobic MBBR (EnergyCell), and UltraCell membrane bioreactor systems for municipal and industrial applications.

Product overview

Headworks International is a wastewater treatment equipment and biological process company offering two main product divisions: mechanical screening equipment (screens, conveyors, compactors, and accessories) and biological treatment systems (MBBR/IFAS processes). The screening division includes the MS Series Bar Screen flagship line, Eliminator Band Screen, Perforator Perforated Plate Screen, Transporter/Transpactor conveyors, Screwpactor, and Spiralman screening equipment, plus Performance Monitor and Chain Tension Meter accessories. The biological division centers on MBBR/IFAS technology with products including HIT System (compact package plants), DAF System, ActiveMox Anammox, EnergyCell Anaerobic MBBR, Anoxic MBBR, Selenium Removal, UltraCell (MBBR + ultrafiltration), and Water Reclamation solutions. The portfolio serves municipal, industrial (pharmaceutical, chemical/petrochemical, food/beverage, pulp/paper, textile, mining, refining), and landfill leachate applications with equipment ranging from preliminary screening through tertiary treatment and water reuse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MS™ Series Bar Screen Industry-leading multi-rake bar screen for deep channels, high flows, combined sewers, and large debris removal in wastewater treatment. Features front-raked, front-return design with auto-reverse obstruction removal; available in MS1, MS2, and MS3 models engineered for flow capacities over 300 MGD per unit.
• Eliminator™ Band Wastewater Screen Center-Flow Bandscreen with perforated stainless or plastic elements traveling parallel to channel walls; water enters through the center and passes through elements to the outside. Equipped with Dual-Surge spray header system to remove captured screenings.
• Perforator® Perforated Plate Wastewater Screen Perforated-plate screen with perforated elements forming a continuous band facing perpendicular to the channel. Features Dual-Surge wash system and Multiplex Sealing for effective screenings capture with minimal bypass.
• Transpactor™ High-capacity shaftless spiral conveyor/compactor that dewaters, transports, and compacts screenings material in one unit, with optional wash zone for organic removal and capacities up to 210 ft/hr.
• Transporter™ Shaftless spiral conveyor for conveying screenings with a polyethylene-lined stainless steel trough; optional wash zone removes organics and accepts screenings from multiple screens.
• Screwpactor™ Shafted spiral conveyor/compactor for dewatering screenings and reducing volume, with sieve zone, optional wash zone, press zone, and capacities up to 106 ft/hr.
• Spiralman™ In-channel shaftless spiral screen combining screenings removal, conveying, and compacting in one unit, with U-trough design and brush in sieve zone for continuous cleaning.
• HIT System™ (Headworks Integrated Treatment) Modular compact wastewater treatment plant using MBBR/IFAS technology to generate reuse-quality water; a single train treats up to 230,000 GPD and includes screening, grit removal, MBBR/IFAS, clarification, tertiary filtration, and disinfection in compact, skid-mounted, field-erected, or frac-tank configurations.
• DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) System Highly efficient solids separation technology optimized for MBBR wastewater treatment; achieves high suspended solids and oil & grease removal within a small footprint using minimal polymer with low lifecycle costs.
• ActiveMox™ (PN/A Anammox) Single-stage ammonia and total nitrogen removal process using Anammox bacteria on proprietary ActiveCell media, achieving 75% lower cost per kg nitrogen removed, 60% less energy, 90% less sludge production, and 50% smaller footprint vs. conventional processes.
• EnergyCell™ (Anaerobic MBBR) Anaerobic MBBR for high-strength wastewater treatment (>3000 mg/L COD) using proprietary in-house media, producing biogas (~60% CH4, 40% CO2) for energy recovery with 80-85% COD reduction and significantly lower sludge production.
• Anoxic MBBR Process Biological process for total nitrogen and selenium removal using proprietary in-house media; microorganisms reduce nitrate/nitrites to nitrogen gas and selenate/selenite to elemental selenium without aeration.
• Selenium Removal Anoxic MBBR-based ActiveCell technology for biological reduction of selenate and selenite to elemental selenium, eliminating the need for large chemical quantities required by precipitation methods.
• UltraCell™ Integrates MBBR with ceramic membrane ultrafiltration, eliminating secondary clarifier or DAF and achieving BOD and TSS <2 mg/L with reduced power, cleaning chemicals, and extended membrane lifespan compared to conventional MBR.
• Water Reclamation MBBR/IFAS biological treatment solutions for wastewater recovery and reuse when non-potable water quality is required for irrigation, industrial use, wash water, and flush water applications.
• New Plant (MBBR/IFAS) Complete greenfield MBBR/IFAS wastewater treatment plant design for BOD reduction, nitrification, and total nitrogen removal with a compact footprint and minimal maintenance requirements.
• Landfill Leachate Treatment MBBR-based biological treatment for high ammonium, organic matter, toxic compounds, and heavy metals in landfill leachate; self-sustaining process that eliminates periodic sludge wasting.
• Plant Enhancements & Upgrades MBBR/IFAS retrofit solutions enabling customers to increase capacity and improve performance of existing biological treatment systems without major construction or downtime.
• Performance Monitor™ Early warning system that senses movement outside preset ranges to detect mechanical misalignment and faulty chains, activating alarms for operations and maintenance staff.
• Chain Tension Meter™ Device to determine optimal chain tension using a load cell mounted between the drive shaft and Take-Up Assembly frame, eliminating guesswork in bar screen chain adjustment.

Quantifiable outcome

• ActiveMox reduces cost per kg of nitrogen removed by 75%
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SebigasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022US Headworks International partnered with Italian Sebigas to create energy from wastewater, combining anaerobic digestion expertise.
• Glan Agua LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Strategic channel partnership announced in 2021 for expanded market reach in water treatment solutions.
• Water Environment FederationminorOthersMember organization in water environmental sector; Headworks participates in WEF activities and events including WEFTEC
• International Water AssociationminorOthersMember organization supporting global water industry networking and knowledge sharing
• District Export Council - HoustonminorOthersMember organization supporting US export activities; CEO served as Chair from 2006-2008
• Texas A&M University SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadworks BIO Inc. signed exclusive option agreement with Texas A&M University System for use of Electron Beam Technology
• Infilco Degremont, Inc.minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHeadworks BIO Inc. granted Infilco Degremont full rights to continued use of the Activecell Biofilm Carriers for MBBR Wastewater Treatment

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Xylem Inc. Xylem is a major water technology company offering biological treatment (including Wedeco, Leopold, and Sanitaire brands) as well as a broad range of pumps, filtration, and disinfection equipment. Following its 2023 acquisition of Evoqua, Xylem is one of Headworks' most relevant diversified competitors in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.
• SAVe (Severn Trent Services / De Nora): De Nora (via its acquisition of Severn Trent Services' water purification business) supplies disinfection and wastewater treatment solutions to municipal and industrial customers. It overlaps with Headworks in biological/tertiary treatment applications, though De Nora is broader and more established.
• Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions: Veolia operates one of the world's largest water technology platforms, including the AnoxKaldnes MBBR brand — historically the originator of MBBR technology. It competes head-to-head with Headworks in municipal and industrial MBBR/IFAS, screening, and biological treatment, but offers a much broader portfolio of treatment processes, chemicals, and services.
• Evoqua Water Technologies (now part of Xylem): Evoqua specialized in biological treatment, filtration, and disinfection across municipal and industrial water and wastewater applications. Its portfolio and customer base directly overlap with Headworks', making it a relevant broad incumbent comparable — particularly for industrial customers in chemical, F&B, and pharmaceutical segments.

Direct peers

• Fluence Corporation: Fluence provides decentralized and packaged MBBR/MABR-based wastewater treatment plants and proprietary biofilm carriers (Submersed Attached Growth Reactor), competing directly with Headworks' HIT Systems and ActiveCell MBBR offerings in industrial and municipal applications worldwide.
• Biowater Technology: Biowater is a specialist MBBR/IFAS technology provider offering biofilm carriers and process design for industrial and municipal wastewater. As an independent MBBR-focused peer with comparable proprietary carrier IP, it is a direct comparable to Headworks BIO.
• Parkson Corporation: Parkson is a US-headquartered water and wastewater equipment manufacturer offering screening, biological treatment (including moving bed biofilm reactors), and DAF systems for municipal and industrial customers. Its product portfolio and target segments closely align with Headworks' screening and MBBR lines, making it a strong direct peer.
• Huber Technology: Huber specializes in mechanical and biological wastewater treatment equipment, including fine and coarse screening, grit removal, and sludge treatment — directly overlapping with Headworks' preliminary treatment product line. It serves the same municipal and industrial customer base globally, particularly in Europe.

Regional players

• Doosan Enerbility / Doosan Heavy Industrial Water: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction operates a wastewater treatment business with biological and membrane treatment technologies serving municipal and industrial customers, primarily in Asia/Middle East. Comparable to Headworks' biological treatment offering on a regional basis, particularly for large infrastructure projects.

Emerging players

• Aqwise (now part of Veolia): Aqwise developed MBBR and moving bed biofilm technologies for industrial and municipal wastewater, comparable to Headworks BIO. It was acquired by Veolia, illustrating the consolidation pressure on independent MBBR specialists and validating Headworks' market positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/headworksintl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCn1VioP
• Facebookfacebook.com/headworksinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/headworks-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Headworks International