Aquatan

What Aquatan does

Aquatan (Pty) Ltd is a South Africa-based specialist geosynthetics material supply and installation contractor founded in 1966 in Johannesburg, currently headquartered in Kempton Park. The company provides durable containment solutions spanning hazardous solid waste, mining tailings, potable water reservoirs, canals, earth dams, landfills, and aquacultures, serving mining (primary), municipal, industrial, waste management, agricultural, aquaculture, building, and public services sectors across South Africa, 14+ African countries, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, and Indian Ocean Islands.

The company's product portfolio comprises 15 application-specific solutions (Bund Liners, Tailings Storage Facilities, Heap Leach Pads, Floating Covers, Landfills, Earth Dams, Canal Linings, Tunnels, etc.) backed by 8 proprietary material brands including Hi-Driline (HDPE), Driline (LLDPE), Hyperliner (EVA), Coolpro (RFPP), Oasis (floating cover membrane), and Geosynthetic Clay Liners. Core technical differentiation rests on proprietary seaming technologies — Electric Double Wedge Welding and a 40-year-proven Extrusion Welding system with unique heated front piece design — plus the AQ-Cloud digital quality control platform, the first electronic data capturing system in the geosynthetic installation field (2011), which enables real-time remote project monitoring and SANS 10409 compliance verification. The company holds IAGI Approved Installation Contractor status (one of only two in South Africa), ISO 9001:2015 certification from TÜV Rheinland, NSF Standard 61 and AS 4020 potable water certifications, and Level 4 B-BBEE status.

Aquatan operates an enterprise field sales model under its TOTAL SOLUTION approach, providing direct project engagement from design consultation through materials supply, installation, and quality verification on a project quotation basis. Revenue derives from one-time materials supply and professional installation services, with 101-250 employees supporting over 5,500 hectares of cumulative installation experience. The company has completed signature projects including a 4.2 million m² Tailings Storage Facility and 80+ floating covers globally, with material warranties ranging from 10-30 years. Leadership transitioned to Walter Meyer as Managing Director effective October 2020, driving technological and digital transformation initiatives.

Name

Aquatan

Legal name

Aquatan (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://aquatan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aquatan is a South African specialist geosynthetics contractor founded in 1966 that supplies and installs proprietary containment liners (HDPE, LLDPE, EVA, RFPP) and floating covers for mining, municipal, industrial, waste, agricultural, and water infrastructure projects across Africa, UAE, Brazil, and Indian Ocean Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geosynthetics Installation and Containment Solutions

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydropower Plant EPC (Dam, Run-of-River, Pumped Hydro Civil Works) (EUAEAAAD), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM), Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization (EUANAFAK)

Keywords

• Geosynthetics installation
• Geomembrane liners
• Containment solutions
• Dam lining systems
• Mining liner contractor

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geosynthetic Materials Supply: Supply of proprietary geosynthetic materials including HDPE (Hi-Driline), LLDPE (Driline), EVA (Hyperliner), RFPP (Coolpro), Oasis floating cover materials, Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs), and drainage products (Leakdrain, Pozidrain). Materials come with warranties ranging from 10-30 years depending on product type.
2. Installation Services: Specialist installation contractor services for geosynthetic applications. Aquatan is one of only two IAGI Approved Installation Contractors in South Africa. Services include Electric Leak Detection, Service Life Determination, and complete project execution with real-time quality control.
3. Quality Assurance Services: Additional services including Electric Leak Detection (ELD) to detect defects as small as pinholes, and Service Life Determination to assess remaining lifespan of installed geomembranes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aquatan is a specialist geosynthetics material supply and installation contractor providing proprietary geomembrane products (HDPE, LLDPE, EVA, RFPP, GCLs), application-specific containment systems, and certified installation services for hazardous waste containment, mining tailings facilities, water reservoirs, dams, canals, and landfills. The company delivers a TOTAL SOLUTION encompassing materials, systems, and services, supported by real-time quality control via its AQ-Cloud platform.

Product overview

Aquatan is a specialist geosynthetics material supply and installation contractor offering a comprehensive portfolio of geomembrane products and services for liquid containment and pollution control. The product line spans 15 application-specific products including Bund Liners, Canal Linings, Earth Dams, Enhanced Barrier System, Floating Baffle Curtain, Floating Cover, Heap Leach Pads, Insulation Floating Cover, Internal Concrete Reservoir, Landfills, ARMTAN-K, AQUADAM, Tailings Storage Facilities, Thickener Tanks, and Tunnels. These products are supported by 8 material types: Hi-Driline (HDPE), Driline (LLDPE), Leakdrain, Pozidrain, Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs), Hyperliner (EVA), Coolpro (RFPP), and Oasis. The company also provides installation services including Electric Leak Detection, Service Life Determination, and professional Seaming Systems using Electric Double Wedge Welding and Extrusion Welding techniques. The portfolio is unified through the company's TOTAL SOLUTION approach, combining state-of-the-art materials with expert installation backed by ISO 9001:2015 quality standards and IAGI Approved Installation Contractor status. Aquatan serves the mining, municipal, industrial, waste, agricultural, aquaculture, building, and public services sectors across South Africa and 14 African countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AQ-Cloud: Cloud-based quality control mobile application for real-time monitoring of geosynthetic installation projects, ensuring compliance with SANS 10409 standards
• TOTAL SOLUTION

Products and services

• Bund Liners Geomembranes used as primary containment in tanks and secondary containment in bund areas, providing chemical resistance and strength for long-term exposure. Designed for industrial facilities storing hazardous liquids.
• Canal Linings Geomembranes that prevent earth erosion, vegetation growth, and provide improved flow rates with considerably less seepage in canal systems. Used for irrigation canals and water conveyance infrastructure.
• Earth Dams Geomembrane-lined earth constructed dams for cost-effective storage of large volumes of water, from small farm dams to large process water dams for mines.
• Enhanced Barrier System Innovative technology that passes fluid under negative pressure through a pervious zone adjacent to the barrier to remove diffused VOCs, control geosynthetic temperature, and achieve post-loading hydration of GCLs.
• Floating Baffle Curtain Floating barriers installed in wastewater treatment works to increase detention time and improve plant efficiency or capacity.
• Floating Cover Engineered flexible geomembrane barrier designed to float on the surface of contained liquids in earth dams, concrete reservoirs, or steel tanks for long-term storage with 20-year life expectancy.
• Heap Leach Pads Geomembrane lining systems for gold and precious mineral extraction that intercept pregnant solution and prevent seepage into earth and aquifers.
• Insulation Floating Cover Modular insulating floating cover providing cost-effective insulation, algae and odour control for liquid containing structures with 10-year warranty.
• Internal Concrete Reservoir Rehabilitation and lining solutions for existing and new concrete reservoirs using EVA geomembrane that accommodates movement from differential settlement.
• Landfills Landfill capping and base liner systems for general and hazardous waste landfills, meeting SANS 1526 and GRI GM standards.
• ARMTAN-K Free standing rigid structured containment unit using pre-radiused hot dipped galvanized steel panels with Hi-Driline or Driline geomembranes for waterproofing.
• AQUADAM Free standing instant dam system made of HDPE that folds for transport, needs no concrete support, weighs 25kg to 35kg, and can be handled by two people.
• Tailings Storage Facilities Lining systems for tailings storage facilities to prevent environmental contamination from waste stream produced after mechanical and chemical processing of ore.
• Thickener Tanks Lining solutions for thickener tanks to protect concrete and steel from aggressive liquids and restore leaking structures to watertight condition.
• Tunnels High-quality geomembranes and cuspated drainage membranes for tunnels to prevent liquid migration, with proven track record including Drakensberg Scheme Headrace tunnels.
• Electric Leak Detection Proven technology service to detect defects as small as pinholes in lined structures using electric leak detection methods.
• Service Life Determination In-depth expertise service in determining the remaining lifespan of installed geomembranes based on 50+ years of industry experience.
• Seaming Systems Installation Services Specialist installation services using Electric Double Wedge Welding and Extrusion Welding systems that produce homogeneous seams under challenging conditions, with over 40 years of proven reliability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.2 million m² TSF project completed
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for geosynthetics industry. Aquatan maintains membership for industry visibility and professional development.
• Geosynthetic InstituteminorOthersTechnical institute focused on geosynthetics research and standards. Aquatan maintains membership for access to technical resources and standards development.
• International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquatan is one of only two IAGI Approved Installation Contractors in South Africa. Participates in AIC and CWT certification programs requiring adherence to professional standards, business practices, and ethics requirements.
• TÜV RheinlandcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party certification body that has certified Aquatan's ISO 9001:2015 compliance. Provides independent verification of quality management systems.
• Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA)minorOthersRegional industry association for geosynthetics in South Africa. Aquatan maintains membership for local industry engagement.
• ABG (Feature Drainage/Geocomposites)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAquatan distributes ABG Pozidrain and Leakdrain drainage geocomposite products. Pozidrain provides pre-formed drainage and gas venting solutions; Leakdrain is designed for leak detection between multiple linings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Naue GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of geosynthetics including GCLs, geomembranes, and geotextiles serving mining, landfill, and water infrastructure — overlaps directly with Aquatan's portfolio and certification-driven value proposition.
• Solmax (formerly GSE Environmental / TenCate Geosynthetics): Global leader in geosynthetic manufacturing and installation, including HDPE/LLDPE geomembranes used for mining, water, and waste containment. Directly comparable to Aquatan across product portfolio and customer verticals.
• HUESKER: German manufacturer of geosynthetics including geogrids, geotextiles, and GCLs used in mining and infrastructure containment. Comparable on materials side though less focused on installation contracting.
• AGRU: Austrian manufacturer of HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes, geogrids, and protective liners with strong presence in mining and environmental containment — directly comparable product portfolio and applications.
• Atarfil: Spanish geomembrane specialist (HDPE, LLDPE, PVC) supplying mining, water, and environmental containment projects globally, including Africa. Closely comparable material range and end-markets.

Regional players

• Kaytech Geosynthetics: South African manufacturer and supplier of geosynthetic products (geotextiles, geomembranes, drainage composites) serving mining, roads, and environmental markets — direct regional competitor with overlapping product range and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sika (Geosynthetics and Roofing): Global construction chemicals and materials company with a geosynthetics / waterproofing membrane portfolio serving mining, water, and infrastructure — broader incumbent with overlapping containment offerings.
• Maccaferri: Large established geotechnical and environmental solutions provider offering geosynthetics, erosion control, and mining containment — broader portfolio than Aquatan but overlapping in geomembranes and mining tailings.
• Tensar International: Established geosynthetics manufacturer with broad product range across ground stabilization and containment. Overlaps with Aquatan in mining/infrastructure geosynthetics though Aquatan is more installation-led.

Emerging players

• Fibertex Nonwovens: Manufacturer of geotextiles and geosynthetic products for civil engineering and environmental applications; partial overlap with Aquatan's geosynthetics range in Africa and emerging markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aquatanliningsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquatan

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Aquatan