KWI History

Our History
Click Here To View

KWI designs and deploys water and wastewater treatment systems for most industrial and municipal applications. With more than 3,600 installations in 77 countries, KWI is a world leader in Potable Water Treatment, Biological Treatment and Industrial Waste Water Treatment and Recycling. KWI Water Solutions are based on proven process designs incorporating exclusive, patented equipment and technology.

Founded over 50 years ago by Dr. Milos Krofta as Krofta Engineering Corporation, the company started by building water treatment and fiber recovery installations for the paper industry. It is considered one of the pioneers of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) technology and is the oldest operating DAF equipment builder.

Today, KWI develops and deploys floatation, clarification and filtration technologies in the paper, food, textile, rubber, chemical and process water recycling sectors. Additionally, KWI's experienced process engineering teams have effected the design, fabrication and installation of Compact Biological Treatment (CBT) and Drinking Water Plants in five continents.

The company has constantly evolved to meet these growing markets. In 1987, a dedicated fabrication and Production Engineering facility (ISO 9001, 14001) was founded in Austria to augment the sales/engineering companies operating around the world. In the 1990's, an advanced R & D facility was established in France.

In 2000, Krofta Engineering and Krofta Waters changed their names to KWI. KWI embarks on a comprehensive restructuring plan. The new organization creates an equity structure and management team more fully aligned with existing and future markets.

In order to better serve the needs of KWI's worldwide partners and clients, operational headquarters have been relocated to Austria. Engineering and Business development are now centered in France and Austria and KWI maintains sales and plant engineering groups in 13 countries. Benefiting from this global network KWI provides advanced research and development, unique technology, efficient fabrication and unequalled process knowledge.

1949	Krofta Engineering SpA. founded in Milan, Italy by Dr. Milos Krofta.
1958	Krofta Engineering Corp. incorporated in Lenox, MA, USA.
	Krofta France S.A. incorporated.
1959	Krofta Engineering UK incorporated
1972	First Supercell deployed
1980	First ADT (air dissolving tube) deployed
1982	The company installs its first Potable Water plant in Lenox, MA, USA.
1983	Krofta Waters Inc. incorporated
1984	The company reaches 500 installations worldwide
1987	Koreko - KWI is founded in Ferlach, Austria as a dedicated manufacturing and product engineering center.
1989	The company reaches 1000 installations worldwide
1992	Appointment of Dr. Erich Puhar as President of the Krofta group companies
	Incorporation of Krofta Russia
1995	The company reaches 2000 installations worldwide
1997	Acquisition of Chemasia Engineering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Dr. Krofta inducted the Paper Industry Hall of Fame
1998	The company reaches 3000 installations worldwide
1999	Peter Sprague, Tjasa Krofta Sprague and Krofta Engineering Corp. purchase Milos Krofta's interest in the Krofta Companies.
	At the age of 89, Milos Krofta severs all ties to his former companies.
	Megacell™ Patent issued
	Dr. Erich Puhar passed away in Lugano, CH
2000	Krofta Waters, Inc., Krofta Engineering and all subsidiary companies change their names to KWI. KWI, Inc becomes the parent company with Peter Sprague as Chairman.
	Klaricell RJ patent issued
2001	KWI embarks on a comprehensive restructuring plan. The new organization creates an equity structure and management team more fully aligned with existing and future markets.
2002	Milos Krofta passes away in Lenox, MA
2003	The KWI Group successfully completes its reorganization. All companies are unified under the family's control with the directors having more than 50 years cumulative experience with the company. The new management team of KWI Worldwide was appointed Mr. Di Bella, Director Mr. Kaltchev, Technical Director Mr. Woollen, Marketing Director
	Operational Headquarters are established in Ferlach near Klagenfurt, Austria. Group Engineering is centered in Le Bourget du Lac, France.
	The company reaches over 3,600 installations in 77 countries.
2004	The KWI Group decided to sell the shares of KWI Far East. The activities in Far East are now directed by KOREKO-KWI in Austria.
2005	Signing of the USD 10 Mio International Paper Project for Svetogorsk, Russia The company reached the best sales result since its foundation.
2006	Appoint of Mr. Di Bella as CEO of the worldwide company
2007	KOREKO-KWI renamed KWI INTERNATIONAL Environmental Treatment GmbH to be in line with the rest of the organization