Ciemme acquires the Hydro Italia brand, creating an Italian hub for industrial water and solvent treatment
Ciemme S.r.l., based in Modena, has been designing and manufacturing solvent recovery distillers and industrial washing systems for 45 years. The company now announces it has acquired the brand and technological assets of Hydro Italia. Hydro Italia is a leading name in industrial wastewater treatment. It specialises in chemical-physical treatment plants, flotation units, evaporators, oil separators and filter presses. In addition, it has its own line of dedicated chemical products.
Continuity for Hydro Italia customers and markets
Ciemme’s first priority is to ensure continuity for Hydro Italia’s business in its core sectors. First of all, this means guaranteeing chemical products, technical assistance and spare parts for installed plants. Secondly, Ciemme will resume building new plants under the same brand.
Water and solvent: one integrated approach for industry
The strategic value of the deal lies in combining the two technologies.
Many industries generate both wastewater and waste solvents. However, these streams are often handled by different suppliers, with uncoordinated solutions. With Hydro Italia, Ciemme can therefore offer an integrated approach:
- Solvent: recovery through distillation and reuse in a closed loop, with Ciemme distillers handling up to 20,000 litres/day.
- Water: treatment of aqueous effluents from washing, processing and water-based printing processes, through to compliant discharge or reuse.
- Washing: solvent and detergent washing systems, combined with treatment of the related effluent.
As a result, customers have a single partner for the entire process fluid cycle. This means lower disposal costs, greater sustainability and simpler environmental compliance.
From Ovit to Hydro Italia: a coherent path of development
The deal comes two years after Ciemme acquired Ovit, a historic manufacturer of automatic washing systems for the printing industry. Active since 1964, Ovit enabled Ciemme to combine solvent recovery with the washing of printing components. Now, Hydro Italia adds water treatment. As a result, three complementary areas of expertise – washing, solvent recovery and purification – come together under one industrial direction.
This path is also supported by solid organic growth. In 2025, on a like-for-like basis, Ciemme’s revenues grew by about 30% over the previous year. This was thanks to a stronger sales, production and service organisation.
“Hydro Italia is a well-known name in industrial water treatment,” says Emanuele Galaverni, CEO of Ciemme. “It has over thirty years of plant engineering experience. Moreover, its wealth of formulations and projects should not have been lost. For us, it is a natural complement. For 45 years we have helped companies recover and reuse solvents. Now we can also take care of water.”
“Our first commitment is continuity,” Galaverni continues. “Anyone using a Hydro Italia plant or its chemical products must be able to count on supplies, assistance and spare parts. Electroplating, tanning, food, automotive and the other Hydro Italia sectors remain central. In fact, we do not want to change the brand. Instead, we want to give it a solid industrial structure so it can grow again.”
“From today, customers who need to recover solvent, treat wastewater or solve washing issues have a single partner,” Galaverni stresses. “Furthermore, our range of solutions is unmatched on the market.”
“Ciemme, Ovit and Hydro Italia bring together more than 130 years of industrial experience,” Galaverni concludes. “So it will be interesting to see what these three companies can build together in the coming years. Above all, we will start from our customers’ needs.”
Original chemicals, spare parts and technical support are available again.
Contact us: sales@ciemme.it
About the companies
Ciemme S.r.l. – Based in Modena, for 45 years it has been designing, manufacturing and marketing distillers for solvent recovery and industrial washing systems using solvent or detergent, also under the Ovit brand. It serves the printing, photopolymer, paints and coatings, chemical and extraction sectors, with the aim of reducing costs and environmental impact and protecting people’s health. www.ciemme.it
Ovit – A Lombardy-based brand active since 1964, it designs and produces automatic washing systems for the offset, flexographic and gravure printing industry. Part of Ciemme since 2024. www.ovit.it
Hydro Italia – Based in Medicina (Bologna), for about 30 years it has designed and built plants for the treatment of industrial wastewater and sludge, and formulates chemical products for purification. It has collaborated with major international engineering companies and has worked with local partners in China, Poland and Turkey. www.hydroitalia.com
