ClearFox

What ClearFox does

ClearFox, the commercial brand of PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH, is a Bayreuth, Germany-based manufacturer of modular and containerized wastewater treatment systems serving municipal, industrial, and decentralized domestic customers in more than 50 countries. The company's technology portfolio spans biological processes (Fixed Bed Biological Reactor, Sequencing Batch Reactor, Membrane Bioreactor), physical separation (Dissolved Air Flotation, lamella clarifiers, screw screens), sludge treatment (thickener, screw press, dewatering bags), and advanced electrochemical oxidation (the ClearFox DiOx line, using boron-doped diamond electrodes to degrade PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, and dyes). ClearFox reports more than 40,000 installed treatment systems and a cumulative daily treatment capacity of 25 million liters. All systems are designed and manufactured in-house in Germany and offered as containerized plug-and-play plants, packaged systems, or equipment kits for retrofit into existing tanks.

The business model blends one-time equipment sales — both custom-engineered projects and standardized packaged units — with a recurring rental and leasing fleet of containerized equipment and ongoing service contracts covering installation, commissioning, operations, and maintenance. Pricing is project-based in EUR with defined service rates (EUR 45-200 per hour for technical staff, EUR 1,250 per day on-site, plus travel and accommodation). Go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales for large industrial and municipal tenders, complemented by a global network of regional sales, installation, and OEM partners including euTecK, Waterplan System, Abwassertechnik Schubert, AquaVerde, Marco Glück, Köster-Bauservice, Klärtechnik Garsoffke, Aquaplast (licensed tank supply), and Breizho (French distributor). The company is a privately held German GmbH with no evidence of external venture or private equity ownership, managed by Dipl.Ing. Wolfgang Pöhnl, and holds DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001, and EN12566-3 certifications.

Name

ClearFox

Legal name

PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH

Website

https://clearfox.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ClearFox, the brand of PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH, manufactures modular and containerized wastewater treatment systems — biological, separation, sludge, and advanced oxidation (DiOx) — for municipal, industrial, and decentralized customers in 50+ countries, with 40,000+ systems installed and 25 million liters of daily treatment capacity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment

NAICS

Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ), PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Removal (AFFF/Trace Organics) (EUANADAJ), Municipal Wastewater & Sewage Treatment Chemicals (IMAEAJAB)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment systems
• Containerized water treatment
• Industrial effluent treatment
• Municipal sewage treatment
• Modular biological reactors

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayreuth

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales (Custom and Packaged): Sale of custom-engineered, modular, and packaged wastewater treatment systems. Includes biological reactors (FBBR, SBR, MBR), separation equipment (DAF, lamella clarifiers, screw screens), sludge treatment, and advanced oxidation units. Sold as containerized plug-and-play systems, packaged plants, or equipment kits for installation into existing structures.
2. Rental and Leasing: Fleet of containerized and modular rental equipment for temporary or project-based wastewater treatment needs. Includes dissolved air flotation, biological treatment, clarifiers, and sludge treatment equipment. Supports short-term leasing and longer-term project leasing.
3. Professional Services: Full-service offering including wastewater analysis, system design and engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance. Also includes technical support (remote and on-site) with hourly and daily rates for service outside maintenance contracts.
4. Service Contracts: Separate maintenance, repair, and operation service contracts for ongoing system support, offered in addition to equipment supply. Billed at defined rates per contract terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ClearFox designs, manufactures and supplies modular, containerized and packaged wastewater treatment systems for municipal and industrial clients. The portfolio spans biological reactors (FBBR, SBR, MBR), physical separation equipment (DAF, lamella clarifier, screw screen), sludge treatment (thickener, screw press, dewatering bags) and advanced electrochemical oxidation (DiOx) for persistent pollutants. Systems are sold, rented or leased, with optional installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance services.

Product overview

ClearFox® is a modular wastewater treatment brand from PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH offering a comprehensive portfolio of biological, separation, and advanced oxidation technologies. The product lineup includes three core biological process technologies: FBBR (Fixed Bed Biological Reactor), SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor), and MBR (Membrane Bioreactor), complemented by separation technologies (DAF, Lamella Clarifier, Screw Screen) and sludge treatment equipment (Thickener, Screw Press, Dewatering Bags). Small household solutions include the non-electric Nature system and EN12566-3 certified QuickOne SBR. The advanced DiOx system provides electrochemical oxidation for persistent pollutant removal. Products are available as containerized plug-and-play units, packaged systems, or equipment kits for installation in existing structures. Manufacturing is done in-house in Germany with global deployment across 50+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ClearFox® DiOx: Advanced oxidation process technology for removal of persistent substances including PFAS and dyes using diamond electrodes.
• ClearFox® FBBR
• ClearFox® SBR
• ClearFox® Nature
• ClearFox® QuickOne
• ClearFox® MBR
• ClearFox® DAF

Products and services

• ClearFox FBBR (Fixed Bed Biological Reactor) Biological wastewater treatment technology using fixed bed carriers for biofilm attachment, suitable for industrial and municipal applications with variable loads.
• ClearFox SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) Batch-based biological treatment system that performs treatment in sequential phases within a single tank, for hotels, schools, small communities and decentralized applications.
• ClearFox MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) Containerized membrane bioreactor combining biological treatment with membrane filtration for reuse-grade effluent quality and water reuse applications.
• ClearFox Packaged FBBR Systems Pre-engineered, packaged fixed bed biological reactor units designed for quick deployment in industrial and municipal wastewater applications.
• ClearFox Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Physical separation system using dissolved air to float suspended solids, oils and fats from wastewater, commonly used for pretreatment in food, beverage and industrial applications.
• ClearFox Lamella Clarifier Inclined plate clarifier system for efficient solid-liquid separation in wastewater treatment, suitable as secondary or tertiary treatment stage.
• ClearFox Screw Screen Mechanical screening device using a rotating screw to separate solids from wastewater stream, providing continuous pretreatment.
• ClearFox Thickener Sludge thickening system to reduce volume and increase solids concentration of waste sludge before further processing or disposal.
• ClearFox Screw Press Mechanical dewatering equipment using a screw mechanism to press and drain sludge, achieving high dry solids content for reduced disposal costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ treatment systems installed globally
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• euTecK GmbHregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBased in Kulmbach, Bayreuth, euTecK specializes in energy and environmental technology, offering optimization services for municipal and industrial wastewater plants. Provides expertise and service around environmentally and energy-saving wastewater treatment systems.
• Waterplan SystemregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocated in Bayreuth, Waterplan System focuses on affordable environmentalism and easy-to-operate wastewater treatment technologies.
• AquaplastcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAquaplast produces high-quality polyethylene tanks and components for water and sewage treatment, available as septic tanks, rainwater tanks, or under license. ClearFox uses Aquaplast tanks as licensed components in its system offerings.
• Abwassertechnik Schubert GmbHregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBased in Zschorlau, Abwassertechnik Schubert specializes in upgrading old wastewater systems and implementing new low-energy-consumption systems. Offers complete wastewater treatment systems in cement or plastic and retrofitting kits.
• BreizhoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBased in Brittany, France, Breizho distributes the ClearFox Nature range (4EH, 6EH, 8EH) — non-electric compact biological filters. Markets the products as reliable, robust, and German-manufactured with groundwater installation approval.
• Abwassertechnik WeigandregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional service partner for septic tanks and rainwater tanks in the Olbernhau area. Produces plastic and cement tanks and offers complete service for wastewater treatment needs.
• AquaVerderegionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialists in low-tech, energy-independent wastewater treatment systems. Based in Seegebiet Mansfelder Land, Germany. Provides low-tech solutions with high-tech effects.
• Marco Glück (Bau- und Montagebetrieb)regionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction and installation company offering delivery and installation of wastewater treatment systems throughout Germany, with particular coverage in Thuringia, Franconia, and surrounding regions.
• Köster-BauserviceregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering office for energy and environmental technology based in Priestewitz, Saxony. Provides regional service and construction support.
• Klärtechnik GarsoffkeregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional service partner for septic tanks, rainwater tanks, and pumping equipment based in Stolpen. Covers the Polenztal area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smith & Loveless: US manufacturer of factory-built, packaged wastewater treatment systems (e.g., FAST, Omni) for municipal and industrial customers. Comparable on package plant architecture and decentralized/municipal target market.
• BioMicrobics: Manufacturer of decentralized and packaged wastewater treatment systems (e.g., RetroFAST, MicroFAST) targeting small communities, commercial sites, and decentralized applications. Direct competitor in the same modular/package plant space.
• WPL Limited: UK-based manufacturer of package and containerized wastewater treatment plants (e.g., HiPAF, EcoFAS) for municipal and industrial applications. Closely matches ClearFox on packaged/containerized biological treatment and decentralized plant focus.
• Fluence Corporation: Fluence provides modular, containerized, and packaged wastewater and water reuse systems (e.g., Aspiral, NIROBOX) for municipal and industrial customers globally. Highly comparable to ClearFox on product architecture (containerized/modular), target segments, and decentralized-deployment model.
• Orenco Systems: US designer and manufacturer of decentralized wastewater treatment systems, including AdvanTex textile-media biological systems for residential, commercial, and decentralized municipal sites. Comparable to ClearFox on decentralized and packaged treatment focus.

Emerging players

• De Nora Water Technologies: Provider of advanced electrochemical and oxidation systems (e.g., ozone, BOROPLATE electrodes) for industrial water and wastewater applications. Comparable to ClearFox on advanced oxidation/PFAS treatment ambitions, though De Nora is a larger, listed industrial player.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Water Technologies: Global water and wastewater treatment giant offering biological, MBR, and advanced treatment systems including packaged and modular solutions. Comparable end-markets but much larger scale, broader portfolio, and global service network.
• Kingspan Environmental: Division of Kingspan Group supplying packaged wastewater treatment plants, septic tanks, and grease traps across Europe. Overlaps with ClearFox on packaged/decentralized plant offerings within a much broader building products portfolio.
• SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water treatment major providing municipal and industrial wastewater solutions including MBR, SBR, and advanced oxidation. Overlaps with ClearFox across most technologies and customer segments, but at significantly greater scale and capital base.
• HUBER SE: Large German manufacturer of water and wastewater treatment equipment including screens, sludge handling, MBR, and packaged plant components. Comparable on equipment portfolio and German industrial manufacturing base, though broader and larger than ClearFox.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9TDu_z3T5rFlYL3TYcURKQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClearFox.wastewater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ppu-umwelttechnik

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ClearFox